Appointment scheduling is common in today’s transportation industry. It allows for the orderly receipt of shipments, reduces waiting time and increases routing and operations productivity. When all goes according to plan, the supply chain flows with optimal efficiency.

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region grew in August at the slowest pace since November, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Tuesday.

Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region grew in July, showing expansion for the tenth straight month, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Friday.

For more than 15 years, Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania candy maker of Peeps and of Mike and Ike, transported newly made confections from its Bethlehem plant to two warehouses 75 miles away.

U.S. manufacturing activity showed expansion in June for the 11th straight consecutive month but dropped from may, the Institute for Supply Management said Thursday.

Ryder System Inc., Miami, said it won a patent for supply chain management tools and methods that pool data from shippers, carriers and consignees on the Web.

Manufacturing activity levels in the Chicago region declined this month but continued to show expansion this month, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Wednesday.