C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Identifies Corpus Christi As Prime Expansion Area
Corpus Christi, TX, December 3, 2008 — C.H. Robinson Worldwide, one of the world’s largest third party logistics (3PL) providers of transportation and supply chain services, has expanded its operations into Corpus Christi, Texas.
Eric Marshall, manager of C.H. Robinson – Corpus Christi, said, “We offer strong and competitive transportation solutions for our customers through our global network and can handle anything from small shipments to complete transportation outsource packages. With the knowledge of our people, our technology, our logistics expertise and our flexible business model, we create effective ways to improve service metrics and reduce overall supply-chain spend.”
With the opening of the Corpus Christi office, C.H. Robinson now has an office in each port city in the United States. The C.H. Robinson- Corpus Christi office provides transportation services to companies with freight needs and will focus on providing supply-chain and transportation solutions ranging from truckload, less than truckload, rail, refrigerated transportation, and complete transportation outsourcing.
Marshall said, “C.H. Robinson has a proven track record of financial strength and stability. We earn and value the loyalty of our contracted carriers and shippers, and we work hard to support their success. This region has shown a steady economic growth and I look forward to working with the local business community. Corpus Christi is a great area with amazing beaches, attractions, and recreational opportunities. I am very excited to be a part of the growing community and to be able to utilize the talent from Texas A & M for hiring and internship opportunities.”
Prior to opening the Corpus Christi office, Marshall gained sales experience at C.H. Robinson’s Detroit office and has been with C.H. Robinson for 13 years. Marshall is joined by Glenn Harkin, who has over seven years of industry knowledge. Marshall plans on hiring two to three employees within the next three months. The office is located at 2820 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX and can be reached at 877.764.7439.
About C.H. Robinson
Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., is a global provider of multimodal transportation and logistics services, serving over 29,000 customers through a network of more than 224 offices and approximately 8,000 employees in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The company works with 48,000 transportation providers worldwide, many of whom are small trucking companies and owner operators. C.H. Robinson is a Fortune 500 company and the largest provider of truckload transportation in North America, with annual gross revenues of approximately $7.3 billion. Through the company and its Foundation, C.H. Robinson contributes millions of dollars annually to a variety of organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Children’s Hospital of Minnesota, and the United Way. The company is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has been publicly traded on the Nasdaq since 1997. For more information about C.H. Robinson, visit our Web site at www.chrobinson.com.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Penske Truck Leasing teams up with PeopleNet
READING, Pa., Dec. 3, 2008 – Today, Penske Truck Leasing announced it has teamed with PeopleNet for onboard commercial truck technology solutions. The move marks a shift in Penske’s Fleet I.Q. strategy from offering a single private-labeled product to a suite of products and services.
“We are very pleased to be working with PeopleNet,” said Jim Feenstra, Senior Vice President, Marketing – Penske Truck Leasing. “We selected them based on their ability and commitment to offer our customers a high level of customer service as well as a quality product with robust functionality.”
“We’re excited to work with Penske to offer their customers excellent integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems,” said Ron Konezny, chief executive officer for PeopleNet. "Our alliance with Penske is a natural fit. We both are customer-oriented companies. Together, we offer fleet managers an effective way to reduce operating costs and improve fleet productivity."
Penske’s move to begin working with PeopleNet is part of its wider technology and decision support strategy to support its customer’s fleet productivity needs. Fleet I.Q. will become a portfolio of services and solutions at various price points that will include onboard technology solutions from a variety of high-caliber, value-added suppliers, like PeopleNet. Penske will also provide a new financing option and in-house consulting to help its customers analyze and get the most from the data captured by these on-board fleet technology systems.
“Over the last several years, we offered customers one Fleet I.Q. product through one vendor,” said Feenstra. “At the time this was right because of the various vendor business models and our customers weren’t yet comfortable with these systems. However, today the market is maturing. Companies are looking to optimize fleet productivity and reduce transportation costs. Also, through our experience we understand that one size doesn’t fit all and different customers need different solutions. That’s why Fleet I.Q. is becoming a broader offering of solutions with more choices, price points and functionality but based on the foundation of solid and indisputable customer service. This is why we chose a partner like PeopleNet.”
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture among Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, transportation and warehousing management, and supply chain management solutions. Visit www.gopenske.com to learn more about the company and its products and services.
PeopleNet, based in suburban Minneapolis, is North America's leading provider of Internet-based and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems. Its transportation products are used by top truckload, LTL, private, and service fleets in the U.S. and Canada. PeopleNet was the first major technology provider to offer Internet-based communications to the transportation industry 14 years ago and now serves more than 1,500 customers, including several Fortune 500 companies. PeopleNet is on the web at www.peoplenetonline.com.
“We are very pleased to be working with PeopleNet,” said Jim Feenstra, Senior Vice President, Marketing – Penske Truck Leasing. “We selected them based on their ability and commitment to offer our customers a high level of customer service as well as a quality product with robust functionality.”
“We’re excited to work with Penske to offer their customers excellent integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems,” said Ron Konezny, chief executive officer for PeopleNet. "Our alliance with Penske is a natural fit. We both are customer-oriented companies. Together, we offer fleet managers an effective way to reduce operating costs and improve fleet productivity."
Penske’s move to begin working with PeopleNet is part of its wider technology and decision support strategy to support its customer’s fleet productivity needs. Fleet I.Q. will become a portfolio of services and solutions at various price points that will include onboard technology solutions from a variety of high-caliber, value-added suppliers, like PeopleNet. Penske will also provide a new financing option and in-house consulting to help its customers analyze and get the most from the data captured by these on-board fleet technology systems.
“Over the last several years, we offered customers one Fleet I.Q. product through one vendor,” said Feenstra. “At the time this was right because of the various vendor business models and our customers weren’t yet comfortable with these systems. However, today the market is maturing. Companies are looking to optimize fleet productivity and reduce transportation costs. Also, through our experience we understand that one size doesn’t fit all and different customers need different solutions. That’s why Fleet I.Q. is becoming a broader offering of solutions with more choices, price points and functionality but based on the foundation of solid and indisputable customer service. This is why we chose a partner like PeopleNet.”
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture among Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric. A leading global transportation services provider, Penske operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, transportation and warehousing management, and supply chain management solutions. Visit www.gopenske.com to learn more about the company and its products and services.
PeopleNet, based in suburban Minneapolis, is North America's leading provider of Internet-based and integrated onboard computing and mobile communications systems. Its transportation products are used by top truckload, LTL, private, and service fleets in the U.S. and Canada. PeopleNet was the first major technology provider to offer Internet-based communications to the transportation industry 14 years ago and now serves more than 1,500 customers, including several Fortune 500 companies. PeopleNet is on the web at www.peoplenetonline.com.
Ohio’s $100 Million Investment in Logistics Infrastructure Launched at Hyperlogistics Group
Columbus, Ohio - Hyperlogistics Group’s state-of-the-art warehouse facility was the setting on November 21, 2008 when Ohio’s leaders launched the $100 million Jobs Stimulus Package for development of infrastructure to expand and support logistics and distribution business in Ohio. Governor Ted Strickland addressed the crowd and provided an overview of the Jobs Stimulus Package and its impact on Ohio’s economic outlook. Lt. Governor and Ohio Director of Development Lee Fisher presented more detailed information about how the package will spur job creation. Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jim Beasley closed the presentation by summarizing current ODOT initiatives to concentrate on inter-modal transport.
”Ohio’s economic development strategy is built on the back of our logistics and infrastructure systems and Hyperlogistics Group was a perfect stage to showcase this $100 million investment from our Ohio Jobs Stimulus Plan,” said Lt. Governor Fisher. “Enhancing the movement of freight allows Ohio companies to launch Ohio products into new markets and better support our existing manufacturing and retail sectors.”
Located in Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s new Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park, Hyperlogistics Group provided an appropriate backdrop for the presentation. One of the country’s most advanced logistics hubs, Columbus Regional Airport Authority holds 1300 acres surrounding Rickenbacker airport with plans to develop 22 million square feet of warehousing and distribution space. As a Foreign Trade Zone approved warehousing and distribution center in Ohio, Hyperlogistics Group sits adjacent to Norfolk Southern’s Intermodal Terminal. This is the first facility ready to receive loaded-to-capacity containers on a roadway built specifically by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to allow transport of overweigh loads.
Founded in 1973, Hyperlogistics Group performs warehouse, distribution and transportation functions in a unique and flexible manner in the logistics arena. Hyperlogistics Group works with each client on an individual and customized plan to improve efficiencies and reduce supply chain costs. For more information, visit www.hyperlog.com.
”Ohio’s economic development strategy is built on the back of our logistics and infrastructure systems and Hyperlogistics Group was a perfect stage to showcase this $100 million investment from our Ohio Jobs Stimulus Plan,” said Lt. Governor Fisher. “Enhancing the movement of freight allows Ohio companies to launch Ohio products into new markets and better support our existing manufacturing and retail sectors.”
Located in Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s new Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park, Hyperlogistics Group provided an appropriate backdrop for the presentation. One of the country’s most advanced logistics hubs, Columbus Regional Airport Authority holds 1300 acres surrounding Rickenbacker airport with plans to develop 22 million square feet of warehousing and distribution space. As a Foreign Trade Zone approved warehousing and distribution center in Ohio, Hyperlogistics Group sits adjacent to Norfolk Southern’s Intermodal Terminal. This is the first facility ready to receive loaded-to-capacity containers on a roadway built specifically by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to allow transport of overweigh loads.
Founded in 1973, Hyperlogistics Group performs warehouse, distribution and transportation functions in a unique and flexible manner in the logistics arena. Hyperlogistics Group works with each client on an individual and customized plan to improve efficiencies and reduce supply chain costs. For more information, visit www.hyperlog.com.
DB Schenker - Siemens Alliance: Customers Big Winners
(Sydney, December 3, 2008) Schenker Australia Pty Ltd has been providing import and export services for Siemens medical products for more than eight years. From now on, this will extend to all Siemens Australia and New Zealand international and domestic import and export activities and domestic freight, providing a consolidated, streamlined service that ultimately benefits the customer.
According to Ron Koehler, CEO of Schenker Australia Pty Ltd, the contract extension is the result of significant improvements in the company's supply chain across its businesses during the last two years, and a responsive approach to reducing the environmental impact of its freight services. “We are proud to have been awarded the Siemens contract for import and export services across Australia and New Zealand, and will transfer solutions originally developed to meet the demands in the Healthcare business, to strengthen and develop Siemens supply chain in other sectors,” said Mr Koehler.
“We have also considered ways of reducing the environmental impact of our international and domestic freight services. By providing an optimised combination of transport modes and reducing paper in freight documentation and invoicing, Schenker Australia Pty Ltd reduce environmental impacts in the supply chain, which is in line with Siemens principles of environmentally responsible practice.”
Jeff Connolly, Siemens Ltd Chief Financial Officer, said that of the tenders received, Schenker Australia Pty Ltd was best placed to deliver a consolidated, time and cost effective international and domestic import and export service for Siemens customers.
“Having provided freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution services for Siemens medical products and for large projects since the late 90’s, Siemens is pleased to extend our relationship with Schenker Australia Pty Ltd to include freight forwarding services for import and export activities across Australia and New Zealand, including transport and distribution services throughout both countries,” said Mr Connolly.
“DB Schenker provides the optimal solution for Siemens freight services, with the ability to deliver some very challenging cargo, from an extremely large power generation turbine, to delicate medical devices within very tight timeframes and cost effectively. Priority medical products have always been deliverable from Europe within just two days, but now this exceptional turnaround rate can be provided to customers for all priority products across Siemens three sectors – Industry, Energy and Healthcare. The delivery time for goods other than priority medical products was previously nine days.”
Mr Connolly said DB Schenker also offered Siemens customers complete visibility throughout the entire journey, with ready access to the online track and trace system, and improved order and invoicing processes. “As Schenker Australia Pty Ltd is now the single preferred provider of international and domestic import and export services for Siemens customers in Australia and New Zealand, customers will be able to check online where a product is at any time throughout its journey. This streamlined, all encompassing freight service is another example of how Siemens is working proactively to improve business outcomes for our customers.”
The development of the electronic interface between DB Schenker and Siemens also means a vast reduction in paperwork, and timely receipt and issuing of invoicing, with all related documents to now be processed electronically.
According to Ron Koehler, CEO of Schenker Australia Pty Ltd, the contract extension is the result of significant improvements in the company's supply chain across its businesses during the last two years, and a responsive approach to reducing the environmental impact of its freight services. “We are proud to have been awarded the Siemens contract for import and export services across Australia and New Zealand, and will transfer solutions originally developed to meet the demands in the Healthcare business, to strengthen and develop Siemens supply chain in other sectors,” said Mr Koehler.
“We have also considered ways of reducing the environmental impact of our international and domestic freight services. By providing an optimised combination of transport modes and reducing paper in freight documentation and invoicing, Schenker Australia Pty Ltd reduce environmental impacts in the supply chain, which is in line with Siemens principles of environmentally responsible practice.”
Jeff Connolly, Siemens Ltd Chief Financial Officer, said that of the tenders received, Schenker Australia Pty Ltd was best placed to deliver a consolidated, time and cost effective international and domestic import and export service for Siemens customers.
“Having provided freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution services for Siemens medical products and for large projects since the late 90’s, Siemens is pleased to extend our relationship with Schenker Australia Pty Ltd to include freight forwarding services for import and export activities across Australia and New Zealand, including transport and distribution services throughout both countries,” said Mr Connolly.
“DB Schenker provides the optimal solution for Siemens freight services, with the ability to deliver some very challenging cargo, from an extremely large power generation turbine, to delicate medical devices within very tight timeframes and cost effectively. Priority medical products have always been deliverable from Europe within just two days, but now this exceptional turnaround rate can be provided to customers for all priority products across Siemens three sectors – Industry, Energy and Healthcare. The delivery time for goods other than priority medical products was previously nine days.”
Mr Connolly said DB Schenker also offered Siemens customers complete visibility throughout the entire journey, with ready access to the online track and trace system, and improved order and invoicing processes. “As Schenker Australia Pty Ltd is now the single preferred provider of international and domestic import and export services for Siemens customers in Australia and New Zealand, customers will be able to check online where a product is at any time throughout its journey. This streamlined, all encompassing freight service is another example of how Siemens is working proactively to improve business outcomes for our customers.”
The development of the electronic interface between DB Schenker and Siemens also means a vast reduction in paperwork, and timely receipt and issuing of invoicing, with all related documents to now be processed electronically.
Monday, December 1, 2008
DHL expands partnership with UNICEF to India and Peru in the fight against child mortality
Bonn, December 1, 2008: DHL has given UNICEF a $ 650,000 grant to fund a three-year pilot project to empower communities to improve child survival rates in 1,000 villages in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra, India. DHL extends its partnership with UNICEF to include India, along with Kenya and Peru.
Working together with the Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra, NGOs and other partners, UNICEF will use the funds to strengthen the health system. This will include educating villagers in the prevention and treatment of common communicable diseases as well as providing immunizations and micronutrients to infants and young children. The grant from DHL will be used to develop and implement village health and nutrition plans, to set up village information posts and train midwives and other workers.
Along with the municipal and regional government, UNICEF in Peru - supported by DHL funds - is also developing an integrated program against child mortality and chronic malnutrition, including an information campaign on the importance of immunization for children. Hermann Ude, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding and Freight and Board Member of Deutsche Post World Net recently visited the Rosaspata community in the Ayacucho region of Peru to inform himself about the progress of the project. “I wanted to get a real picture of the situation first hand and show my support to the local management and to the entire Group for this endeavor," Ude said. “As a father of three children myself, I can understand how important this is to the local people. As a manager, I am impressed by the organization of the project because it is well implemented within the local community and its culture instead of being brought onto the people from outside.”
In Peru four out of ten Peruvians live in poverty. In regions like Ayacucho, poverty affects 68 percent of the population. The program covers selected municipal districts in the Andean regions of Ayacucho, Apurimac and Amazonas where up to 3,000 pregnant women and up to 7,000 children under age three will receive assistance. The program’s goals by 2010 are to reduce infant mortality by ten percent, to reduce low-weight births, chronic malnutrition and anemia in children under three by ten percent, to increase the immunization rate among children under 18 months to 95 percent and increase birth registration to 90 percent.
In Kenya, another 13 DHL employees have supported the "Malezi Bora" campaign as volunteers, a country-wide education program in Kenya to improve the health of children and mothers. This was carried out by UNICEF in consultation with the Kenyan Ministry of Health in the district of Kwale, located in southern Kenya. The Deutsche Post World Net employees, recruited from all entities and all geographical regions where the company is operating in, visited eight remote villages and assisted local staff to prepare meals for 600 mothers and their children. During the 14-day-visit, about 2,500 children received health services.
Focusing on “Young Child Survival and Development”, all three UNICEF projects – in Peru, Kenya and India – are specifically funded by contributions from DHL and its employees. Both the India and Peru projects are extensions of DHL’s partnership with UNICEF. In September 2006, DHL’s parent company Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) agreed to provide UNICEF with long-term support in its worldwide fight to reduce child mortality.
Media Inquiries:
DHL Express USA
Robert Mintz
Sr. Manager, Public Relations
Tel.: (954) 888-7114
E-Mail : usa.pressoffice@dhl.com
DHL
Corporate Communications
Claus Korfmacher
Tel.: +49 (0)228-182-9944
E-Mail: pressestelle@deutschepost.de
About DHL
DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. Some 300,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.
DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of more than 63 bn euros in 2007.
For the latest news and happenings about DHL in Asia Pacific, please visit: http://press.ap.dhl.com
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Working together with the Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra, NGOs and other partners, UNICEF will use the funds to strengthen the health system. This will include educating villagers in the prevention and treatment of common communicable diseases as well as providing immunizations and micronutrients to infants and young children. The grant from DHL will be used to develop and implement village health and nutrition plans, to set up village information posts and train midwives and other workers.
Along with the municipal and regional government, UNICEF in Peru - supported by DHL funds - is also developing an integrated program against child mortality and chronic malnutrition, including an information campaign on the importance of immunization for children. Hermann Ude, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding and Freight and Board Member of Deutsche Post World Net recently visited the Rosaspata community in the Ayacucho region of Peru to inform himself about the progress of the project. “I wanted to get a real picture of the situation first hand and show my support to the local management and to the entire Group for this endeavor," Ude said. “As a father of three children myself, I can understand how important this is to the local people. As a manager, I am impressed by the organization of the project because it is well implemented within the local community and its culture instead of being brought onto the people from outside.”
In Peru four out of ten Peruvians live in poverty. In regions like Ayacucho, poverty affects 68 percent of the population. The program covers selected municipal districts in the Andean regions of Ayacucho, Apurimac and Amazonas where up to 3,000 pregnant women and up to 7,000 children under age three will receive assistance. The program’s goals by 2010 are to reduce infant mortality by ten percent, to reduce low-weight births, chronic malnutrition and anemia in children under three by ten percent, to increase the immunization rate among children under 18 months to 95 percent and increase birth registration to 90 percent.
In Kenya, another 13 DHL employees have supported the "Malezi Bora" campaign as volunteers, a country-wide education program in Kenya to improve the health of children and mothers. This was carried out by UNICEF in consultation with the Kenyan Ministry of Health in the district of Kwale, located in southern Kenya. The Deutsche Post World Net employees, recruited from all entities and all geographical regions where the company is operating in, visited eight remote villages and assisted local staff to prepare meals for 600 mothers and their children. During the 14-day-visit, about 2,500 children received health services.
Focusing on “Young Child Survival and Development”, all three UNICEF projects – in Peru, Kenya and India – are specifically funded by contributions from DHL and its employees. Both the India and Peru projects are extensions of DHL’s partnership with UNICEF. In September 2006, DHL’s parent company Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) agreed to provide UNICEF with long-term support in its worldwide fight to reduce child mortality.
Media Inquiries:
DHL Express USA
Robert Mintz
Sr. Manager, Public Relations
Tel.: (954) 888-7114
E-Mail : usa.pressoffice@dhl.com
DHL
Corporate Communications
Claus Korfmacher
Tel.: +49 (0)228-182-9944
E-Mail: pressestelle@deutschepost.de
About DHL
DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. Some 300,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.
DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of more than 63 bn euros in 2007.
For the latest news and happenings about DHL in Asia Pacific, please visit: http://press.ap.dhl.com
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS NOT READY FOR CHALLENGING TIMES
Survey Shows Businesses Ignore Risks, Raise Vulnerabilities
ATLANTA, Dec. 1, 2008 – Nearly half of companies with global supply chains say they fear major disruptions in their ability to source, produce and ship goods around the world. And they’re not doing much to prevent it.
In a new survey sponsored by UPS, 47 percent of companies say they need to pay more attention to risk mitigation compared to just 16 percent that believe they pay an adequate amount of attention. As a result, only 38 percent of those surveyed rate the resilience of their supply chain above average, while a troubling 42 percent say the expansion of their global supply chains has outpaced their ability to manage risk.
The global survey of nearly 350 senior executives was released today by UPS and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The survey itself was supplemented with interviews of academic experts and leading supply chain practitioners.
“Businesses appear to be increasingly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions that can have a catastrophic impact on business performance,” said Dan Brutto, president, UPS International. “Success in the global economy depends in large part on building successful risk mitigation strategies that can turn a resilient supply chain into a competitive advantage.”
Kim Andreasson, senior editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit and the editor of the report, points out that companies today already are more vulnerable as a result of having created tighter and leaner supply chains. “A lean organization is a requirement for competitiveness, but that can also expose a business to an increasing number of risks,” he adds.
The survey pointed out some troubling findings, reinforcing the point that rising risks to supply chain resilience are too often ignored in the rush of day-to-day business -- and companies know it.
For example, insufficient monitoring, risk assessment and contingency planning are leaving companies ill-prepared when crises hit. One of every 10 companies do not monitor suppliers for anything. About half of the remainder look only at immediate suppliers. Furthermore, in almost half the companies surveyed, formal risk assessment takes place only annually.
“Although some companies are taking sensible precautions to address risk, too many firms are leaving themselves open to unanticipated dangers,” said Brutto. “And some of the steps companies are taking to improve resilience are not necessarily the best choices.”
For example, a significant minority of businesses are falling back on increased inventory to address resilience problems, an expensive and ineffective approach. Almost half the companies surveyed expect to hold additional stock and raise inventory even more in the future.
Low-cost country sourcing, which has grown significantly in recent years, brings its own set of challenges to global supply chains. Almost half of all survey respondents said low-cost sourcing had posed significant problems, such as the quality received from such suppliers and even their ability to deliver goods as promised. Although most companies intend to increase their low-cost sourcing, 10 percent of those surveyed intend to reduce it.
“We don’t expect to see low-cost sourcing go away,” said Brutto, “but it will look different in the future. The keys to successful sourcing from low-cost countries are like those of supply chain resilience in general: understand the issues, structure the supply chain appropriately, monitor performance and work with suppliers to improve operations.” He also noted that multi-sourcing and near-sourcing to enhance resilience are likely to become part of best practices in the future.
Brutto offered four recommendations that companies should consider as they operate in an increasingly risk-filled environment:
Assess your supply chain
“Companies need to map their existing supply chains to assess points of vulnerability,” said Brutto. “These could be a key supplier critical to your organization, a bottleneck from using a single port of entry for all your products into a continent or a single transportation mode that could make your supply chain susceptible to a strike or some natural disaster. Once these points of failure are identified, you can develop contingency plans to mitigate risks.”
Develop alternative plans
“Critical supplier risk can be mitigated by developing alternate sources of supply,” said Brutto. “A bottleneck can be alleviated through setting up alternate entry points to less-crowded ports. Adopting a multi-modal strategy will give you flexibility to move your product if your primary mode were to fail.”
Ensure visibility across your supply chain
“Supply chain visibility is the key to a resilient supply chain,” said Brutto. “Because supply chains today span multiple continents and multiple partners, you need visibility into the progress of your purchase order through your supplier’s manufacturing process, during the transportation of the product through your freight forwarder and delivery to your facility. In addition, you need order cycle visibility through the distribution process. Having real-time visibility across your supply chain will enable you to identify a problem as soon as it occurs and put your contingency plans in action.”
Develop key partnerships with your logistics providers
“Developing trusted partnerships with your logistics providers can increase the resilience of your supply chain,” said Brutto. “Integrated logistics partners have the ability to provide supplier management services, enable excellent visibility to products within the supply chain and implement a multi-modal strategy. They also enable smooth trans-border movements of goods and can quickly implement an alternate operating plan to get around bottlenecks.”
While the challenges are daunting, there is an upside: an opportunity for competitive advantage. “By pursuing risk mitigation and resiliency strategies, supply chain executives can help their organizations grow and retain customers, increase revenues and profits and improve shareholder value,” Brutto concluded.
View the entire report and more survey results at http://longitudes08.com/Barcelona08/research/white_papers/Barcelona_Survey.pdf
ATLANTA, Dec. 1, 2008 – Nearly half of companies with global supply chains say they fear major disruptions in their ability to source, produce and ship goods around the world. And they’re not doing much to prevent it.
In a new survey sponsored by UPS, 47 percent of companies say they need to pay more attention to risk mitigation compared to just 16 percent that believe they pay an adequate amount of attention. As a result, only 38 percent of those surveyed rate the resilience of their supply chain above average, while a troubling 42 percent say the expansion of their global supply chains has outpaced their ability to manage risk.
The global survey of nearly 350 senior executives was released today by UPS and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The survey itself was supplemented with interviews of academic experts and leading supply chain practitioners.
“Businesses appear to be increasingly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions that can have a catastrophic impact on business performance,” said Dan Brutto, president, UPS International. “Success in the global economy depends in large part on building successful risk mitigation strategies that can turn a resilient supply chain into a competitive advantage.”
Kim Andreasson, senior editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit and the editor of the report, points out that companies today already are more vulnerable as a result of having created tighter and leaner supply chains. “A lean organization is a requirement for competitiveness, but that can also expose a business to an increasing number of risks,” he adds.
The survey pointed out some troubling findings, reinforcing the point that rising risks to supply chain resilience are too often ignored in the rush of day-to-day business -- and companies know it.
For example, insufficient monitoring, risk assessment and contingency planning are leaving companies ill-prepared when crises hit. One of every 10 companies do not monitor suppliers for anything. About half of the remainder look only at immediate suppliers. Furthermore, in almost half the companies surveyed, formal risk assessment takes place only annually.
“Although some companies are taking sensible precautions to address risk, too many firms are leaving themselves open to unanticipated dangers,” said Brutto. “And some of the steps companies are taking to improve resilience are not necessarily the best choices.”
For example, a significant minority of businesses are falling back on increased inventory to address resilience problems, an expensive and ineffective approach. Almost half the companies surveyed expect to hold additional stock and raise inventory even more in the future.
Low-cost country sourcing, which has grown significantly in recent years, brings its own set of challenges to global supply chains. Almost half of all survey respondents said low-cost sourcing had posed significant problems, such as the quality received from such suppliers and even their ability to deliver goods as promised. Although most companies intend to increase their low-cost sourcing, 10 percent of those surveyed intend to reduce it.
“We don’t expect to see low-cost sourcing go away,” said Brutto, “but it will look different in the future. The keys to successful sourcing from low-cost countries are like those of supply chain resilience in general: understand the issues, structure the supply chain appropriately, monitor performance and work with suppliers to improve operations.” He also noted that multi-sourcing and near-sourcing to enhance resilience are likely to become part of best practices in the future.
Brutto offered four recommendations that companies should consider as they operate in an increasingly risk-filled environment:
Assess your supply chain
“Companies need to map their existing supply chains to assess points of vulnerability,” said Brutto. “These could be a key supplier critical to your organization, a bottleneck from using a single port of entry for all your products into a continent or a single transportation mode that could make your supply chain susceptible to a strike or some natural disaster. Once these points of failure are identified, you can develop contingency plans to mitigate risks.”
Develop alternative plans
“Critical supplier risk can be mitigated by developing alternate sources of supply,” said Brutto. “A bottleneck can be alleviated through setting up alternate entry points to less-crowded ports. Adopting a multi-modal strategy will give you flexibility to move your product if your primary mode were to fail.”
Ensure visibility across your supply chain
“Supply chain visibility is the key to a resilient supply chain,” said Brutto. “Because supply chains today span multiple continents and multiple partners, you need visibility into the progress of your purchase order through your supplier’s manufacturing process, during the transportation of the product through your freight forwarder and delivery to your facility. In addition, you need order cycle visibility through the distribution process. Having real-time visibility across your supply chain will enable you to identify a problem as soon as it occurs and put your contingency plans in action.”
Develop key partnerships with your logistics providers
“Developing trusted partnerships with your logistics providers can increase the resilience of your supply chain,” said Brutto. “Integrated logistics partners have the ability to provide supplier management services, enable excellent visibility to products within the supply chain and implement a multi-modal strategy. They also enable smooth trans-border movements of goods and can quickly implement an alternate operating plan to get around bottlenecks.”
While the challenges are daunting, there is an upside: an opportunity for competitive advantage. “By pursuing risk mitigation and resiliency strategies, supply chain executives can help their organizations grow and retain customers, increase revenues and profits and improve shareholder value,” Brutto concluded.
View the entire report and more survey results at http://longitudes08.com/Barcelona08/research/white_papers/Barcelona_Survey.pdf
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Hamilton Port Authority conducts Container Feeder Shipping Trial
November 26, 2008 -Hamilton, Ontario - The Hamilton Port Authority will launch its short sea shipping initiative with a dedicated container feeder vessel bound for India and Pakistan via the Montreal Gateway Terminal.
The shipment, for Sunrise Metals, is centered around recycled metals, primarily sourced locally and in the Golden Horseshoe. It consists of 68 containers which will be barged to Montreal by Hamilton based McKeil Marine and be routed from there by Maersk and CMA CGM, two of the top five container lines in the world.
This first of its kind shipment marks a significant step in the advancement of Great Lakes short sea shipping through the development of viable container feeder services linking with both Halifax and Montreal. Short sea shipping, a significant component to goods movement throughout Europe, has been increasingly identified as providing long term sustainability for the Seaway.
“We’ve invested a significant amount of time with a number of port partners over the past two months making this long-discussed concept a reality with this trial shipment,” said HPA president and CEO Bruce Wood, “Making this specialized type of service an important piece of the port’s traffic connecting to Canada’s East Coast ports is a central part of our overall Hamilton Port Authority strategy.”
“We have great faith in the Hamilton Port Authority’s ability to make this service a sustainable and economically viable option for us,” said Amandeep Singh Kaloti, president of Sunrise Metals. “The ability to ship via vessel containerized cargo from Hamilton to Montreal and Halifax for transfer to global markets provides us with a great opportunity to operate efficiently in the Golden Horseshoe.”
Global economic conditions are forcing many sectors to evaluate further cost saving measures and programs. Transportation costs are a substantial constituent of the total supply chain and one which is not insular to recent downturns in the economy. It is hoped the trial will act as a stimulus for other products to move via the waterways and incent future cargo volume to consider the marine alternative. Short Sea Shipping has been promoted by Canada’s Federal Government and was recently supported in a speech by United States President-elect Barack Obama.
The trial supports the push in identifying new short sea shipping opportunities in line with the St. Lawrence Seaway’s Highway H2O program which promotes the waterways available capacity and infrastructure. The move is being applauded by stakeholders including The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC). Richard Corfe, SLSMC president and CEO commented
“We are very pleased to see the development of this trial feeder service from the Port of Hamilton. It is a positive sign for short sea shipping on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System and demonstrates the viability of moving containers via the waterway.”
The Hamilton Port Authority is committed to being a leader in the economic, environmental and social vitality of Ontario. The port sees the largest volume of traffic and tonnage among Canadian Great Lakes ports.
For further information please contact:
Brent Kinnaird
Manager, Communications & Public Relations
Hamilton Port Authority
905-525-4330
bkinnaird@hamiltonport.ca
A Proud Partner in www.hwyh20.com
The shipment, for Sunrise Metals, is centered around recycled metals, primarily sourced locally and in the Golden Horseshoe. It consists of 68 containers which will be barged to Montreal by Hamilton based McKeil Marine and be routed from there by Maersk and CMA CGM, two of the top five container lines in the world.
This first of its kind shipment marks a significant step in the advancement of Great Lakes short sea shipping through the development of viable container feeder services linking with both Halifax and Montreal. Short sea shipping, a significant component to goods movement throughout Europe, has been increasingly identified as providing long term sustainability for the Seaway.
“We’ve invested a significant amount of time with a number of port partners over the past two months making this long-discussed concept a reality with this trial shipment,” said HPA president and CEO Bruce Wood, “Making this specialized type of service an important piece of the port’s traffic connecting to Canada’s East Coast ports is a central part of our overall Hamilton Port Authority strategy.”
“We have great faith in the Hamilton Port Authority’s ability to make this service a sustainable and economically viable option for us,” said Amandeep Singh Kaloti, president of Sunrise Metals. “The ability to ship via vessel containerized cargo from Hamilton to Montreal and Halifax for transfer to global markets provides us with a great opportunity to operate efficiently in the Golden Horseshoe.”
Global economic conditions are forcing many sectors to evaluate further cost saving measures and programs. Transportation costs are a substantial constituent of the total supply chain and one which is not insular to recent downturns in the economy. It is hoped the trial will act as a stimulus for other products to move via the waterways and incent future cargo volume to consider the marine alternative. Short Sea Shipping has been promoted by Canada’s Federal Government and was recently supported in a speech by United States President-elect Barack Obama.
The trial supports the push in identifying new short sea shipping opportunities in line with the St. Lawrence Seaway’s Highway H2O program which promotes the waterways available capacity and infrastructure. The move is being applauded by stakeholders including The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC). Richard Corfe, SLSMC president and CEO commented
“We are very pleased to see the development of this trial feeder service from the Port of Hamilton. It is a positive sign for short sea shipping on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System and demonstrates the viability of moving containers via the waterway.”
The Hamilton Port Authority is committed to being a leader in the economic, environmental and social vitality of Ontario. The port sees the largest volume of traffic and tonnage among Canadian Great Lakes ports.
For further information please contact:
Brent Kinnaird
Manager, Communications & Public Relations
Hamilton Port Authority
905-525-4330
bkinnaird@hamiltonport.ca
A Proud Partner in www.hwyh20.com
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