Operations | Industrial Distribution

Catching Up With...MHS Industrial Supply

ID editor Mike Hockett re-connects with Mansfield, Oh-based MHS Industrial Supply to learn what they've been up to since visiting the small MRO distributor in May 2016.

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The Joys of Working from Home

Integrating work life into the home has rarely been easy, but measures to contain the virus have brought those worlds into sudden and sharp collision.

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DOL Regulations Suggest Sea Change in Liability

The DOL has updated standards that were nearly 60 years old.

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When to Think Like a Startup

ID executive editor Anna Wells ponders if small businesses spend more time thinking about their advantages or about their disadvantages.

An artist rendering of Berkshire eSupply's new Novi, MI headquarters facility, which is expected to open this summer.

ID In-Depth: Berkshire eSupply Builds Out its Capabilities for Independents

It’s been all-go for the new master wholesaler since its launch less than three years ago.

HD Supply Says It's Taking Precautions, Though No Material Disruptions Yet

HD Supply detailed how its supply chain will remain intact amid potential COVID-19 impacts and touched on how the construction market may be affected.

In this March 13 photo, a worker disinfects a turnstile at the Government Center transit stop, in Boston. As the global viral pandemic grows, the need for cleaning and disinfecting has surged. Cleaners and domestic workers are essential in the effort to contain the virus.

Amid Virus, Cleaners are Vital, Vunerable

The unsung people doing all this cleaning earn low wages, frequently lack sick leave and paid days off and can be fired with no warning.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks, with Vice President Mike Pence behind him, during a briefing about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Washington.

Trump Invokes War-Time Law

The Defense Production Act of 1950 was first enacted amid concerns about supplies and equipment during the Korean War.

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Distributors Must Forge Through the Chaos

This is truly March Madness, and for the worst reason.

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COVID-19 Disruption: What Distributors Should Do Next

As we won't see 'business as usual' for a while, here are critical steps distributors need to take now to strengthen their positions for a new normal.

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Reducing Sales Rep’s Role in Forecast Errors

Sales reps tend to hoard customer information, often leading to forecasting errors that can hurt both the company and customer. Here's how to bridge the customer intelligence gap.

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Why Acquisitions Fail

According to KPMG, more than half of acquisitions destroy shareholder value.

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The Benefits of Measuring KPIs in "Red Dots"

KPIs often lag behind the point of occurrence of factory problems as they happen. Here, learn about a better alignment between KPIs and the actual processes.

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Implementing a Proactive Inside Sales Team is Easier Than You Think

It might be time to consider creating a proactive inside sales team to kickstart results from within.

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Study: Telecommuting Has Little Impact on Corporate Careers

New research debunks the stigma that employees who work remotely have difficulty with career advancement.

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Avoid a Price War: Don’t Be Everything to Everyone

If distributors don't optimize the value of their customer relationships, they're missing opportunities.

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Is Your Distributor Website ADA Compliant?

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the past decade challenging the accessibility of business websites. Here's how to make sure your company's website is ADA-approved.

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Warehousing's Race Towards a High-Tech Future

Warehouse technology is advancing at a rapid pace, but are businesses keeping up their end of the bargain?

At 10 feet tall and made of 3.5 tons of solid stainless steel, this hex nut sitting at the edge of Packer Fastener's Green Bay, WI headquarters location is the world's largest.

Catching Up With ... Packer Fastener

We chat with Green Bay, WI-based Packer Fastener to find out what the company has been up to since ID visited the company back in November 2017.

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Electrical Safety Tips for the Industrial Workplace

Industrial workers are surrounded by potential electrical hazards, which makes following safety instructions critical.

Moving company U-Haul has a new hiring policy and smokers need not apply. Starting this month the company will screen out people who use tobacco or nicotine when making new hires in certain U.S. states.

Company Anti-Tobacco Efforts Often Fail

Research shows little evidence that company wellness plans improve employee health or lower health care costs.

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5 Solutions for Distributor Technology & Customer Experience

Distributors tend to be slow to change with technology, but here are five manageable solutions that distributors can utilize to improve technology and the customer experience.

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Industrial Distribution's 2020 Watch List

Now in its ninth year, ID's 2020 Watch List recognizes a select group of distributors nominated for their recent growth, innovation, or just for being a well-run company.

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ID's January/February 2020 Digital Edition

ID's January/February digital edition features our 2020 Watch List, which sheds light on small- and mid-sized distributors nominated by associations and buying groups. Other features include an ID In-Depth on Motion Industries.