A strategic partnership with the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management aimed at improving the global competitiveness of the nation’s supply chains was signed by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.  “Through this new partnership, we hope to encourage ports around the country to increase efficiency by adopting new technologies that will provide more information on the flow of goods to port users and stakeholders,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.  “The ability to move cargo quickly through our ports is critical to national and regional trade, economic growth, and our nation’s overall competitiveness.”  The partnership with USC Marshall will allow for collaboration on digitalization of the nation’s supply chains, including applications related to IoT (Internet of Things).

This is great news and a hugely important topic.  US seaports are critical funnels for trade but presently there is insufficient information on the flow of goods through these seaports and onward into their respective supply chains. The value of such information will be for port operational efficiency, but also for managing transport planning before & after those goods move through the seaport.  Obvious benefits are in planning national infrastructure investments, but if its done right there will be further benefits to economic development planning as well.  Congratulations to USC, DoC & PoLA.

See the article in Supply Chain 24/7:      US Dept of Commerce Partners w USC Marshall Center to Advance Nation’s Supply Chain