Global Trade This Week

John Deere on Ag Tech Innovations – Uptime Logistics

From satellites to sensors and AI powered analytics and visualizations, new technologies are positively impacting Agriculture.  

Brian Orwig with John Deere shares all sorts of Ag Tech trends, insights, and innovations. As Manager of John Deere's Connected Support™, Brian is on the front line of taking productivity-enhancing technologies from R&D and bringing them to the actual customers with support for implementation and maximizing uptime. These new technologies can benefit the users economically and also help provide more sustainable agricultural products for the world at large.

From field prep, planting, resource applications, to harvesting, John Deere's Precision Ag is helping farmers to farm even better. Watch or listen to today's episode of Uptime Logistics to learn more!

LINKS:
https://www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/9/22/john-deere-on-ag-tech-innovations-uptime-logistics
https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/connected-support/
https://www.deere.com/en/technology-products/precision-ag-technology/

Notice: This podcast contains copyrighted footage and photography from John Deere used with permission. All rights reserved.

Managing Aircraft on Ground (AOG) – Uptime Logistics

Today on Uptime Logistics, Doug Draper of the Denver Transportation Club interviews “Chip”, an anonymous AOG Manager with a major US airline. After learning a bit about Chip’s background, they discuss all things Aircraft on Ground (AOG) – from what the term means, to overcoming challenges in the supply chain, and why it’s so important to get it right.

Downtime is expensive for businesses generally and in the case of passenger airplanes, each individual flight is important to the people needing to travel. Parts naturally break down and replacements are needed. Other times Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services are required. Either way, it’s critical to keep a cool head during an AOG crisis, and it definitely helps to have great suppliers and transportation partners on board to help keep flight operations running smoothly – or return to uptime as soon as possible.

Listen today to learn and gain a new level of appreciation for those behind the scenes that keep the aircraft we know and love up and running! https://www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/9/10/managing-aircraft-on-ground-aog-uptime-logistics

316 Aviation on Supporting Aircraft Uptime – Uptime Logistics

Today on Uptime Logistics, Doug Draper interviews Steven & Denice Marin, the founding team behind 316 Aviation based in in Pembroke Pines, Florida. 316 Aviation is a full-service aviation support company. They provide technical support in locating part numbers, freight quotes, order consolidation and service after the sale, helping from start to finish.

Since an aircraft on ground (AOG) situation represents significant cost, there are challenges in finding, sourcing, and delivering these critical parts in a timely fashion. They describe AOG and the importance of having ongoing relationships with quality vendors in order to become a reliable source for clients. One thing that makes them so uniquely helpful is through leveraging volume and relationships in order to stock, source, and ultimately deliver aircraft parts and repair services at the best prices and in the quickest time periods.

They also discuss the business strategies they applied in planning for the supply chain disruptions of COVID-19 to keep the business going, support employees, and help customers as much as possible. If you help your customers get through the hard times, they’ll be around when things return to prosperity, and they’ll remember how you were able to support them.

Watch the episode or learn more here: https://www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/9/4/316-aviation-uptime-logistics

Iliff Aircraft, #1 in the #2 Business – Uptime Logistics

Today on the Uptime Logistics podcast, Doug Draper interviews Brent Wells - president of Iliff Aircraft Repair & Services. They talk about uptime and logistics in the aircraft industry with a special emphasis on Iliff’s expertise in airplane lavatory repair and services. They are #1 in the #2 business!

Watch or listen to learn more about what Iliff Aircraft does for its clients, why they love aircraft lavatories so much, and the importance of aircraft uptime.

https://www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/9/2/iliff-aircraft-1-in-the-2-business-uptime-logistics

USMCA Takes Effect. What Does It Mean? – Uptime Logistics

Today - July 1st, 2020 - marks the beginning of the USMCA taking effect. Sometimes referred to as NAFTA 2.0, this free trade agreement updates, modernizes, and extends trade rules between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Many are celebrating the news – as designing and negotiating international trade agreements can be challenging, though expanding quality trade relationships can provide a lot of extra value and benefits.

To dive into this topic, Doug Draper is joined by Stéphane Lessard, Consul General of Canada in Denver. Stéphane has been in this position for the last four years helping, representing, facilitating, and developing relationships between Canada, Colorado, and other US States in the region including Montana, Utah, Kansas, and Wyoming.

Doug and Stéphane start off the USMCA discussion with adopting a longer time frame perspective – looking at the origins and benefits of NAFTA and even earlier trading. As Stéphane notes, “Our people, our countries have always traded. We’ve traded for centuries.” Then with NAFTA in particular, the three countries changed the way they trade and began actually making things together by integrating the other countries more deeply into their supply chains. In this collaborative way, North America as a whole has become more competitive with other trading regions around the world. As one example statistic of this prosperity, in 2019 US-Canada trade was roughly $2 billion each day!

Doug then asks the broader questions about what will change for businesses and citizens as the new USMCA agreement takes effect. As it is a continuation of free trade, it appears that not too much will change between NAFTA and the USMCA – or CUSMA as it’s known in Canada. In the early process of negotiating and renegotiating, there was a lot of uncertainty which introduced risk and costs for everyone involved. So broadly speaking, the main benefit of this new agreement resides in reintroducing certainty, predictability, and stability – allowing businesses and investors to do what they do best, while more fully connecting the the countries citizens and companies.

Watch or listen to the full show to learn more about the big picture of the USMCA, as well as some of the specific new changes impacting labeling requirements for auto manufacturing, increased market access for grain & dairy producers, and new rules encompassing digital trade. Additionally, there are some new features on dispute settlements as well as higher labor & environmental standards

More information about the Consulate General of Canada in Denver, United States can be found at their website here:
https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/denver.aspx?lang=eng

Customs Clearance & Crossing at the Mexico Border – Uptime Logistics

On today's episode, Doug Draper is joined by Fernando G. Noriega, president of BTS Group, Inc. They specialize in certain activities in freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution, and Mexican customs documentation preparation and are headquartered in Laredo, TX with presence in El Paso, TX and Nogales, AZ.

The two discuss Fernando's career background, the scope of BTS group, and then dive into what actually happens during the border clearance process, step by step. There are many variables and considerations to factor into the equation, though the episode today provides quite a lot of good insight.

Additional expertise can be found by contacting Fernando Noriega and CAP Worldwide:
fernor@nadglobal.us

https://www.capwwide.com/

 

Full show post link: www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/6/25/customs-clearance-amp-crossing-at-the-mexico-border-uptime-logistics

Mexico Manufacturing 101: How to develop a Successful Manufacturing Strategy – Uptime Logistics

On this episode of Uptime Logistics, Doug Draper of the Denver Transportation Club interviews Veronica Contreras, President of Zavero Consulting, Inc.

Doug introduces Veronica and they dive in to discuss the trends, considerations, opportunities and pathways of manufacturing in Mexico. Veronica’s company helps US Manufacturers that are in the process of evaluating whether or not they want to set up a factory in Mexico. She generally works with the owners or CEOs, CFOs, and presidents to help them gather all the information they need to decide if it makes good business sense to move their supply chain to Mexico.

This helpful information can include financial analyses, major steps in the process, and projected timelines. She also explains what a “shelter” company is in the context of the maquiladora program. This allows US manufacturers to partner with Mexican factories in a very short period of time, becoming fully operational as quickly as 2-3 months. The shelter company provides liability protection for the US manufacturer as they take responsibility. This type of program can have favorable trade agreement benefits.

To find out more about Veronica and Zavero Consulting, you can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-contreras-60a2386/

The video podcast can be found on the full show post: https://www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/6/9/mexico-manufacturing-101-how-to-develop-a-successful-manufacturing-strategy-uptime-logistics

Musings from a 3rd Generation Miner – Uptime Logistics

Today on Uptime Logistics, Doug Draper with the Denver Transportation Club interviews a 3rd generation miner and logistics professional, James Hillman.

They discuss his career journey and then go into what mining technology looks like in 2020, the crucial role of uptime logistics to the mining industry, and how the mining industry's products positively impact people's daily lives around the world – "if it's not grown, it's mined."

James shares how small incremental improvements through technology, process design, and uptime logistics can have a huge impact on productivity - and ultimately the bottom line. "Logistics is life."

RFID & Retail Supply Chains – Uptime Logistics

Today on Uptime Logistics Doug Draper interviews Brian Kilcourse with RSR Research about retail logistics and the use of RFID in Retail Supply Chain. While some of the technology has been around for years, overall the technology has been coming a long way in recent years. As a former technical-level developer, innovator, and implementer and now as a systems level advisor, Brian has unique skills and perspectives to share with everyone on RFID technology for retailers, including both challenges, and opportunities.

The video podcast can be found on the full show post: www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/5/18/rfid-amp-retail-supply-chains-uptime-logistics

Manufacturing Supply Chains and Logistics with Susan Pfuetze of Otterbox – Uptime Logistics

Today on Uptime Logistics, brought to you by CAP Logistics, host Doug Draper of ACME Distribution and the Denver Transportation Club visits with Susan Pfuetze, Global Logistics Manager at Otterbox. Otter Products is a leading producer of protective cases for smart phones and other equipment for outdoor enthusiasts.

They first explore Susan's background and the history of Otterbox before diving into product development and supply chain strategies for manufacturing and distributing consumer goods globally. The key importance of time-to-market for newly designed smart phone cases emphasizes the importance of uptime in the entire supply chain.

They also discuss the changing trade relations with China and other countries before answering questions from the audience. Susan shares valuable insights and advice from the front lines to her colleagues working today, as well as to students looking to get into the industry.

The video podcast can be found on the full show post: https://www.caplogistics.com/cap-logistics/2020/4/21/manufacturing-supply-chains-and-logistics-with-susan-pfuetze-of-otterbox-uptime-logistics