Census Bureau Contest Seeks Provide Chain Information Concepts

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The shifting logistics challenges fueled by the expansion of e-commerce are the catalyst for a nationwide competitors sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau that seeks modern methods to supply new or improved provide chain info.

Known as the Provide Chain Problem, the three-part initiative will search new and higher methods to seize “extra well timed, granular and sturdy provide chain information, together with info on manufacturing, imports and exports, transportation and supply of products, and different key elements of worldwide provide chains,” the Census Bureau mentioned. The company is in search of concepts from “any U.S.-based entities or people,” and mentioned it goals to boost its skill to measure provide chains, together with manufacturing, imports/exports, transportation and supply of products.

The primary part of the initiative launched final 12 months when a name for contestants was issued. In Might, 11 winners have been chosen with proposals together with use of satellite tv for pc imagery, improvement of standardized web enterprise paperwork utilizing Digital Information Interchange for enterprise transactions, creation of impression dashboards, pairing of {hardware}/software program merchandise, enabling computer systems to carry out pure language processing evaluation, and partnerships with native governments and academia.

The general objective of the initiative is for the Census Bureau to enhance the time it takes to supply provide chain information by transferring nearer to real-time info. Central to that objective, it mentioned, is bettering info high quality that’s extra detailed with higher metrics that embody a wider view of each the U.S. and international provide chains.

The second part asks contributors to construct implementation highway maps that exhibit feasibility of their plans, together with an funding define for the Census Bureau. Individuals are inspired to suggest out-of-the-box methods to acquire information past the normal assortment of survey info. Presently, the bureau measures provide chain info via surveys of U.S. companies and official information.

The Census Bureau has been holding webinars to assist contributors study how the company works, authorized and privateness constraints, restrictions on distributors and different constraints that would impression the feasibility of highway maps. Classes embody knowledgeable audio system who take questions.

Data is on the market at https://coil.census.gov/statventures/. Submissions for Section 2 will likely be accepted from Oct. 13 to Nov. 9.

“We consider there are alternatives to seize and combine new sources of information to supply extra well timed and granular details about our nation’s transportation and provide chain infrastructure in addition to the circulation of products and supplies via the worldwide provide chain,” a contest assertion mentioned.

StatVentures, a Census Bureau unit created to hunt technological improvements from exterior the federal authorities, is dealing with the competitors. “With the appearance of e-commerce, adjustments in logistics processes and applied sciences and adoption of latest forms of information streams, we’ve recognized the necessity to discover further information sources and measurement methods to complement or evolve present merchandise and methodologies,” StatVentures acknowledged.

As much as $350,000 in prizes will likely be awarded to as much as eight winners/groups, who will obtain an invite to proceed within the final problem contest phase.

In the course of the last part, slated for subsequent 12 months, contributors will likely be requested to maneuver from a highway map idea to an illustration prototype that reveals how their ideas would truly work. These will likely be examined in real-world eventualities and evaluated on their skill to serve the Census Bureau’s mission and objectives. Successful proposals might obtain federal funding and be adopted by the Census Bureau.