Material Handling and Logistics Industry Sets Future Priorities at Inaugural Summit

The 2007 Material Handling and Logistics Summit identified the leading priorities of material handling and logistics professionals.

Among the top priorities for the industry are: Creating a funding source that supports material handling and logistics initiatives in research, education, innovation and development; Building a vision and roadmap for next generation supply chains and material handling and logistics strategies that support them; Developing the workforce of the future for distribution, warehousing and manufacturing; Expanding industry and academia collaboration especially in research and technology transfer; Creating better interoperability between material handling and supply chain hardware/software.

The Summit was a meeting of more than 30 industry professionals from four groups (academics, end users, industry consultants, and industry solution providers). During the three-day event, participants discussed the current trends and challenges facing material handling and logistics, discussed the impact of those trends and challenges, and developed a prioritized list of initiatives to address those trends and challenges. The Summit was sponsored by Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) and the College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE).