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Defense logistics expert Alan F. Estevez moves up at DOD

Senate confirms 2004 DC Velocity Rainmaker to high-level logistics and procurement post in Defense Department.

Do we know how to pick 'em? Back in 2004, we chose Alan F. Estevez as a DC Velocity Rainmaker. At that time, he was assistant deputy under secretary of defense (supply chain integration), with responsibility for developing global supply chain management and distribution policies and processes. Since then, the capable Estevez has received a steady stream of promotions, and on the last day of October was confirmed by the Senate as principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics.

In his new position, Estevez—who moves up from assistant secretary of defense for logistics and materiel readiness—takes on a greatly expanded portfolio. He'll support the under secretary of defense in all matters related to acquisition; logistics and materiel readiness; research and engineering; nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons; operational energy; installations and environment; and the defense industrial base.


How high up does this take Estevez? "This is the inner circle of the Office of the Secretary of Defense," says Editor at Large Steve Geary, a longtime supply chain consultant who specializes in defense logistics.

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AI firm Augury banks $75 million in fresh VC

The New York-based industrial artificial intelligence (AI) provider Augury has raised $75 million for its process optimization tools for manufacturers, in a deal that values the company at more than $1 billion, the firm said today.

According to Augury, its goal is deliver a new generation of AI solutions that provide the accuracy and reliability manufacturers need to make AI a trusted partner in every phase of the manufacturing process.

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Indian AMR firm Anscer expands to U.S. with new VC funding

The Indian warehouse robotics provider Anscer has landed new funding and is expanding into the U.S. with a new regional headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Bangalore-based Anscer had recently announced new financial backing from early-stage focused venture capital firm InfoEdge Ventures.

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Report: 65% of consumers made holiday returns this year

Report: 65% of consumers made holiday returns this year

Supply chains continue to deal with a growing volume of returns following the holiday peak season, and 2024 was no exception. Recent survey data from product information management technology company Akeneo showed that 65% of shoppers made holiday returns this year, with most reporting that their experience played a large role in their reason for doing so.

The survey—which included information from more than 1,000 U.S. consumers gathered in January—provides insight into the main reasons consumers return products, generational differences in return and online shopping behaviors, and the steadily growing influence that sustainability has on consumers.

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Automation delivers results for high-end designer

When you get the chance to automate your distribution center, take it.

That's exactly what leaders at interior design house Thibaut Design did when they relocated operations from two New Jersey distribution centers (DCs) into a single facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2019. Moving to an "empty shell of a building," as Thibaut's Michael Fechter describes it, was the perfect time to switch from a manual picking system to an automated one—in this case, one that would be driven by voice-directed technology.

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In search of the right WMS

IT projects can be daunting, especially when the project involves upgrading a warehouse management system (WMS) to support an expansive network of warehousing and logistics facilities. Global third-party logistics service provider (3PL) CJ Logistics experienced this first-hand recently, embarking on a WMS selection process that would both upgrade performance and enhance security for its U.S. business network.

The company was operating on three different platforms across more than 35 warehouse facilities and wanted to pare that down to help standardize operations, optimize costs, and make it easier to scale the business, according to CIO Sean Moore.

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