case study of logistics

Logistics and Supply Chain Case Studies

Review our case studies to see how we’ve helped major corporations turn logistical ideas into a reality., leading beverage distributor, penske logistics helps beverage distributor rapidly establish new warehousing operations.

When this distributor had to expand its operation quickly to counter a competitor, they turned to Penske to deploy a customized solution.

Baby2Baby Donation Transportation

Coordination and planning lead to successful transport of $3 million clothing donation.

Penske Logistics worked with Baby2Baby, a nonprofit that provides basic essentials to impoverished children, and Old Navy to transport $3M of clothing donations.

Luxury Product Manufacturer

Penske logistics reduces inventory shrinkage, improves overall inventory management.

A leading producer of fine luxury products required a partner who could improve their warehouse and distribution operations and reduce the theft.

Poultry Supplier

Transporting food items requires extra care and expertise.

Poultry producers, navigate a complex array of supply and delivery challenges to ensure their food arrives fresh, wholesome, and on-time.

Building Products Manufacturer

Customized fleet technology solution.

A leading building products manufacturer sought to streamline its supply chain operations and expand its fleet while improving visibility through the implementation of fleet management technology.

National Wholesale Distributor

A national wholesale distributor case study.

A national wholesale distributor of heating and air conditioning supplies was struggling to manage its complex supply chain and maintain high levels of customer service, which is a top priority.

Looping Process Ensures Continuous Production

Penske collaborated with Novelis to create a closed-loop recycling network that moves finished aluminum coils and transports scrap for new production.

A Global Manufacturer

Optimizing activities in the distribution center.

Penske worked with this global manufacturer to optimize its inventory routing and mode selection and to improve visibility to its supply chain.

Quick Service Restaurant

Food and beverage in-store delivery and warehousing.

Penske helped this restaurant chain get its supply chain fundamentals in place with the right logistics tools, truck driver training and warehousing solutions.

Tier 1 Automotive Component Supplier

Managing the inbound supply chain.

Penske helped this supplier minimize supply chain disruptions by designing a network that optimized mode selection, routing and analysis.

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Home / Case Studies

Case Study – Air transport services for mining industry

Our client needed to transport a total of 8 cable reels of 23 tons each from Shanghai. The challenge was to make the shipment in the shortest possible time with reasonable costs.

Case Study – Air Charter for Healthcare

The start of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign was imminent and our client needed regular shipments of syringes from China, where the factory was located, to Peru so they could ensure the vaccination campaign ran smoothly.

Case study – Air charter for the mining sector

Our client needed to urgently ship two conveyor belts from Santiago de Chile to Lima. These conveyor belts are used to move the mineral extracted from the mine into the storage area. Due to their size and weight, more than 60 tonnes, it was necessary to study in detail what would be the best transport solution to deliver in the shortest possible time.

Case Study – Automotive logistics

To create a cost saving solutions with enhanced service levels, whilst maintaining existing structures and warehouse facilities.

Case Study – Retail logistics: LG Harris

When understanding the LG Harris supply chain requirements, Noatum Logistics quickly identified that their buying terms were CIF (cost, insurance, freight) across the majority of their supply base. This prevented shipment visibility for LG Harris until the goods arrived into port. Accounting for over 1,000 TEU per annum was a major headache. The supply chain model was completely reactive with little or no reporting or key-performance-indicator (KPI) management. This created high demurrage charges, inbound-inventory and stock-control challenges at the LG Harris distribution centre (DC) located in the Midlands (UK).

Case Study – Personal care logistics

The customer felt its supply chain was working fine. No pain, no need to change! However, having worked with Noatum Logistics in the past, and experienced improved operations, the new leader was willing to let us review the company’s pricing and route information on outbound shipments to the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Australia.

Case Study – Outdoor retailer logistics

The retailer faced major challenges with days-in-inventory and capacity at its distribution center (DC). Days-in-inventory time continued to increase over the prior five years The single distribution center experienced overly high storage levels, delays with unloading railcars and shipping containers, and an overall worsening in port-to-DC transit times (hovering around 40 days).

Case Study – Oil & Gas industry

With each unit weighing approximately 32,000 pounds, the company faced high shipping costs for the pumping units sourced from China.

Case Study – Oil and Gas logistics

The customer suspected they were being overcharged for shipping. They were not using freight forwarders, instead allowing manufacturers to arrange for the ocean-freight shipping of the oilfield equipment from China to Canada. Cargo was shipped using fixed load plans with no optimization for larger batches.

Case Study – Mining logistics

An initial assignment was for the movement of Autoclave and Flash Vessel pieces from their manufacturing plant, located 30 miles inland from the Shanghai port, to the mining project 90 miles east of Lima, Peru. The equipment pieces were over size and over weight, requiring special loading/unloading procedures; ocean, rail and ground transportation; and infrastructure modifications.

Case Study – High Tech logistics

With a significant segment of the semiconductor wafer foundry base moving to Asia, our customer decided to relocate operations closer to their end user. Our customer opened an equipment integration facility in Singapore near their customer who provides wafer fabrication equipment. Unfortunately, this move created an increase in real estate and labor costs, thus denying our customer the warehouse space to stage components for assembly and integration.

Case Study – Pharma&Healthcare logistics

Sourcing product from Korea, the customer initially used Noatum Logistics to assist with international freight forwarding and the custom clearance process for shipments to the U.S. As the customer grew their customer base and product offering, it was apparent their outsourced warehouse solution in the U.S. could not keep up with their needs. The end customers’ orders frequently required special packing, rush deliveries, and special project handling, straining the customer’s inventory management practices.

Case Study – Fashion industry logistics: Gant

Capitalise on the retail expertise and capabilities of Noatum Logistics, including our robust warehouse management technologies and local capacity. The benefits of greater inventory visibility and control would cascade into other supply chain functions including transportation, warehousing, distribution and customer service.

Case Study – Consumer Electronics logistics

A leading manufacturer of cell phone accessories was in a crisis. Issues with an overseas partner completely shut down their supply chain. They needed a new logistics services provider to quickly step in and get shipments moving. The manufacturer also recognized the need to rethink its supply chain to gain better control over vendors, reduce costs and achieve more efficient handling of orders.

Case Study – Apparel retailer logistics

A retail client of Noatum Logistics for international freight forwarding services sought additional assistance for improving control over its global supply chain. The client recognized that greater visibility to purchase orders and shipments would lead to better purchasing, transportation and distribution decisions.

Case Study – Industrial Manufacturing logistics

Our customer is a leading multinational manufacturer of automobiles and agricultural machinery. The company entered the U.S. market in 2000; since 2002, Noatum Logistics has handled the company’s customs brokerage at Noatum Logistics’ Houston branch.

Case Study – Fashion industry logistics

Founded in 1920, New Era Cap Company is an American headwear company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Best known for being the official on-field cap for Major League Baseball, the official sideline cap for the National Football League, and the official on-court cap for the National Basketball Association.

Case Study – High tech firm

The customer, a global provider of secure IP/Ethernet switching solutions, sources products from South China and Taiwan for sales in the United States. They identified cost containment objectives and wanted to improve the overall performance of their supply chain.

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It’s Time to Rethink Your Global Logistics

• Willy C. Shih
• Adrien Foucault

The pandemic has overloaded companies’ usual shipping networks.

The initial supply and demand shocks caused by the pandemic were followed by an import surge as suppliers tried to replenish inventories, which threw normal transportation operations into turmoil. In the United States, this has included a lack of freight-handling capacity at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, overloaded U.S. intermodal rail networks, and a lack of containers. But alternatives to established logistics networks exist. It’s time for companies to take advantage of them.

Over the last three decades, companies have established wide-ranging global supply chains that have taken advantage of steadily improving scale economies in global logistics. Efficient and reliable ocean and air cargo have linked low-cost manufacturing hubs across Asia with major markets in the United States and Europe. Much of this global sourcing was driven by the cost savings reaped through labor arbitrage, cost savings that were so dramatic that it more than covered the expense associated with moving products across vast distances to markets, or the extra cost of carrying inventory in long pipelines.

• Willy C. Shih is a Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School.
• Adrien Foucault is an MBA student at Harvard Business School and has worked at maritime transport company CMA CGM.

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Logistics →

• 25 Apr 2023

How SHEIN and Temu Conquered Fast Fashion—and Forged a New Business Model

The platforms SHEIN and Temu match consumer demand and factory output, bringing Chinese production to the rest of the world. The companies have remade fast fashion, but their pioneering approach has the potential to go far beyond retail, says John Deighton.

• 18 Oct 2022
• Cold Call Podcast

Chewy.com’s Make-or-Break Logistics Dilemma

In late 2013, Ryan Cohen, cofounder and then-CEO of online pet products retailer Chewy.com, was facing a decision that could determine his company’s future. Should he stay with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) for all of Chewy.com’s e-commerce fulfillment or take that function in house? Cohen was convinced that achieving scale would be essential to making the business work and he worried that the company’s current 3PL may not be able to scale with Chewy.com’s projected growth or maintain the company’s performance standards for service quality and fulfillment. But neither he nor his cofounders had any experience managing logistics, and the company’s board members were pressuring him to leave order fulfillment to the 3PL. They worried that any changes could destabilize the existing 3PL relationship and endanger the viability of the fast-growing business. What should Cohen do? Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport discusses the options in his case, “Chewy.com (A).”

• 12 Jul 2022

Can the Foodservice Distribution Industry Recover from the Pandemic?

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, US Foods struggled, as restaurant and school closures reduced demand for foodservice distribution. The situation improved after the return of indoor dining and in-person learning, but an industry-wide shortage of truck drivers and warehouse staff hampered the foodservice distributor’s post-pandemic recovery. That left CEO Pietro Satriano to determine the best strategy to attract and retain essential workers, even as he was tasked with expanding the wholesale grocery store chain (CHEF’STORE) that US Foods launched during the pandemic lockdown. Harvard Business School Professor David E. Bell explores how post-pandemic supply chain challenges continue to affect the foodservice distribution industry in his case, “US Foods: Driving Post-Pandemic Success?”

• 05 Jul 2022
• What Do You Think?

Have We Seen the Peak of Just-in-Time Inventory Management?

Toyota and other companies have harnessed just-in-time inventory management to cut logistics costs and boost service. That is, until COVID-19 roiled global supply chains. Will we ever get back to the days of tighter inventory control? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Oct 2021
• Research & Ideas

Fed Up Workers and Supply Woes: What's Next for Dollar Stores?

Willy Shih discusses how higher costs, shipping delays, and worker shortages are putting the dollar store business model to the test ahead of the critical holiday shopping season. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 26 Mar 2014

How Electronic Patient Records Can Slow Doctor Productivity

Electronic health records are sweeping through the medical field, but some doctors report a disturbing side effect. Instead of becoming more efficient, some practices are becoming less so. Robert Huckman's research explains why. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 11 Nov 2013
• Working Paper Summaries

Increased Speed Equals Increased Wait: The Impact of a Reduction in Emergency Department Ultrasound Order Processing Time

This study of ultrasound test orders in hospital emergency departments (EDs) shows that, paradoxically, increasing capacity in a service setting may not alleviate congestion, and can actually increase it due to increased resource use. Specifically, the study finds that reducing the time it takes to order an ultrasound counter intuitively increases patient throughput time as a result of increased ultrasound use without a corresponding increase in quality of care. Furthermore, the authors show that in the complex, interconnected system or hospitals, changes in resource capacity affects not only the patients who receive the additional resources, but also other patients who share the resource, in this case, radiology. These results highlight how demand can be influenced by capacity due to behavioral responses to changes in resource availability, and that this change in demand has far reaching effects on multiple types of patients. Interestingly, the increased ultrasound ordering capacity was achieved by removing what appeared to be a "wasteful" step in the process. However, the results suggest that the step may not have been wasteful as it reduced inefficient ultrasound orders. In healthcare, these results are very important as they provide an explanation for some of the ever-increasing costs: reducing congestion through increased capacity results in even more congestion due to higher resource use. Overall, the study suggests an operations-based solution of increasing the cost/difficulty of ordering discretionary but sometimes low-efficacy treatments to address the rise in healthcare spending. Therefore, to improve hospital performance it could be optimal to put into place "inefficiencies" to become more efficient. Key concepts include: A process improvement can inadvertently cause an increase in demand for a service as well as associated shared resources, which results in congestion, counter intuitively decreasing overall system performance. While individual patients and physicians may benefit from the reduced processing time, there can be unintended consequences for overall system performance. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 25 Jan 2013

Why a Harvard Finance Instructor Went to the Kumbh Mela

Every 12 years, millions of Hindu pilgrims travel to the Indian city of Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela, the largest public gathering in the world. In this first-person account, Senior Lecturer John Macomber shares his first impressions and explains what he's doing there. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 07 Aug 2012

Off and Running: Professors Comment on Olympics

The most difficult challenge at The Olympics is the behind-the-scenes efforts to actually get them up and running. Is it worth it? HBS professors Stephen A. Greyser, John D. Macomber, and John T. Gourville offer insights into the business behind the games. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Oct 2010

The Impact of Supply Learning on Customer Demand: Model and Estimation Methodology

"Supply learning" is the process by which customers predict a company's ability to fulfill product orders in the future using information about how well the company fulfilled orders in the past. A new paper investigates how and whether a customer's assumptions about future supplier performance will affect the likelihood that the customer will order from that supplier in the future. Research, based on data from apparel manufacturer Hugo Boss, was conducted by Nathan Craig and Ananth Raman of Harvard Business School, and Nicole DeHoratius of the University of Portland. Key concepts include: Two key measures of supplier performance include "consistency", which is the likelihood that a company will continue to keep items in stock and meet demand, and "recovery", which is the likelihood that a company will deliver on time in spite of past stock-outs. Improvements in consistency and recovery are associated with increases in orders from retail customers. Increasing the level of service may lead to an increase in orders, even when the service level is already nearly perfect. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Jul 2010

How Mercadona Fixes Retail’s ’Last 10 Yards’ Problem

Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona offers aggressive pricing, yet high-touch customer service and above-average employee wages. What's its secret? The operations between loading dock and the customer's hands, says HBS professor Zeynep Ton. Key concepts include: The last 10 yards of the supply chain lies between the store's loading dock and the customer's hands. Poor operational decisions create unnecessary complications that lead to quality problems and lower labor productivity and, in general, make life hard for retail employees. Adopting Mercadona's approach requires a long-term view and a leader with a strong backbone. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 12 Jul 2010

Rocket Science Retailing: A Practical Guide

How can retailers make the most of cutting-edge developments and emerging technologies? Book excerpt plus Q&A with HBS professor Ananth Raman, coauthor with Wharton professor Marshall Fisher of The New Science of Retailing: How Analytics Are Transforming the Supply Chain and Improving Performance. Key concepts include: Retailers can better identify and exploit hidden opportunities in the data they generate. Integrating new analytics within retail organizations is not easy. Raman outlines the typical barriers and a path to overcome them. Incentives must be aligned within organizations and in the supply chain. The first step is to identify the behavior you want to induce. To attract and retain the best employees, successful retailers empower them in specific ways. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 05 Jul 2006

The Motion Picture Industry: Critical Issues in Practice, Current Research & New Research Directions

This paper reviews research and trends in three key areas of movie making: production, distribution, and exhibition. In the production process, the authors recommend risk management and portfolio management for studios, and explore talent compensation issues. Distribution trends show that box-office performance will increasingly depend on a small number of blockbusters, advertising spending will rise (but will cross different types of media), and the timing of releases (and DVDs) will become a bigger issue. As for exhibiting movies, trends show that more sophisticated exhibitors will emerge, contractual changes between distributor and exhibitors will change, and strategies for tickets prices may be reevaluated. Key concepts include: Business tools such as quantitative and qualitative research and market research should be applied to the decision-making process at earlier stages of development. Technological developments will continue to have unknown effects on every stage of the movie-making value chain (production, distribution, exhibition, consumption). Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 20 Dec 2004

How an Order Views Your Company

HBS Professors Benson Shapiro and Kash Rangan bring us up to date on their pioneering research that helped ignite today’s intense focus on the customer. The key? Know your order cycle management. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 15 Apr 2002

In the Virtual Dressing Room Returns Are A Real Problem

That little red number looked smashing onscreen, but the puce caftan the delivery guy brought is just one more casualty of the online shopping battle. HBS professor Jan Hammond researches what the textile and apparel industries can do to curtail returns. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 26 Nov 2001

How Toyota Turns Workers Into Problem Solvers

Toyota's reputation for sustaining high product quality is legendary. But the company's methods are not secret. So why can't other carmakers match Toyota's track record? HBS professor Steven Spear says it's all about problem solving. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 19 Nov 2001

Wrapping Your Alliances In a World Wide Web

HBS professor Andrew McAfee researches how the Internet affects manufacturing and productivity and how business can team up to get the most out of technology. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 22 Jan 2001

Control Your Inventory in a World of Lean Retailing

"Manufacturers of consumer goods are in the hot seat these days," the authors of this Harvard Business Review article remind readers. But there is no need to surrender to escalating costs of inventories. In this excerpt, they describe one new way to help lower inventory costs. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

• 12 Oct 1999

Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System

How can one production operation be both rigidly scripted and enormously flexible? In this summary of an article from the Harvard Business Review, HBS Professors H. Kent Bowen and Steven Spear disclose the secret to Toyota's production success. The company's operations can be seen as a continuous series of controlled experiments: whenever Toyota defines a specification, it is establishing a hypothesis that is then tested through action. The workers, who have internalized this scientific-method approach, are stimulated to respond to problems as they appear; using data from the strictly defined experiment, they are able to adapt fluidly to changing circumstances. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

Rapid Response: Inside the Retailing Revolution

A simple bar code scan at your local department store today launches a whirlwind of action: data is transmitted about the color, the size, and the style of the item to forecasters and production planners; distributors and suppliers are informed of the demand and the possible need to restock. All in the blink of an electronic eye. It wasn’t always this way, though. HBS Professor Janice Hammond has focused her recent research on the transformation of the apparel and textile industries from the classic, limited model to the new lean inventories and flexible manufacturing capabilities. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

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Pricing Optimization at Delly’s: A Case Study in Successful AI Enablement

Talking Logistics

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

Read more The post Pricing Optimization at Delly’s: A Case Study in Successful AI Enablement appeared first on Talking Logistics with Adrian Gonzalez. After capturing many of.

Negotiating With A Chatbot: A Walmart Procurement Case Study

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This past February we asked members of our Indago supply chain research community — who are all supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies — “Is your company using Artificial Intelligence in its supply chain or logistics operations?”

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Automotive Case Study: Chery Phase 1

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APRIL 30, 2024

With an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and 200,000 KD units, the factory aims to be at the forefront of business integration, smart supply chain management, and a robust logistics ecosystem.

[PODCAST] Case Study: How Freight Tech Innovation Provided Efficiency & Reduced Freight Costs

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Listen to “ Case Study_How Freight Tech Innovation Provided Efficiency & Reduced Freight Costs” on Spreaker. The post [PODCAST] Case Study : How Freight Tech Innovation Provided Efficiency & Reduced Freight Costs appeared first on Transportation Management Company | Cerasis.

Case Study: DSV Implements a Single-Instance Control Tower with a Global Footprint

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DSV is one of the biggest names in transport and logistics , operating in over 90 countries with a global network of over 75,000 employees. The ambitious project would require extensive visibility and seamless coordination across expansive and dynamic networks.

Case Study: Ewellix

Procurement Academy

MARCH 2, 2023

After seeing the quality of Skill Dynamics’ solution and content, Group Director Purchasing saw an opportunity to develop the supply chain too and introduced the Group Director Demand Chain & Logistics , Magnus Pettersson , into the program.

Case Study: Röhlig Logistics and Gravity Supply Chain Solutions

Gravity Supply Chain

JUNE 6, 2022

Navigating complex supply chains and managing rising customer demands is challenging, especially for businesses in the logistics space. Röhlig, an international freight forwarder, offers a suite of air and sea logistics services. Download full case study here. The Business Problem.

Easy Supply Chain Savings: A Simple Supply Chain Case Study

Logistics Bureau

AUGUST 31, 2021

Supply Chain & Logistics case studies are always interesting. This one is about easy ways to save money in your Supply Chain and Logistics operations if you just look at things differently. Check out this article related to this topic: 7 Mini Case Studies : Successful Supply Chain Cost Reduction and Management.

Supply Chain Case Study: Cost to Serve

MAY 3, 2022

So here’s a cost to serve case study of a large distributor company that you should learn from. Here is the full lesson that relates to this case study : Detailed Cost to Serve Lesson. And to do that, you have to be familiar with other’s business ways and practices.

CEVA Logistics Drives Agile, Multi-Leg Inbound Flows for Tech Company

CEVA Logistics , a global leader in third-party logistics , was contracted to help a technology company manage its complex supply chain, supporting B2B, B2C, and reverse flows across multi-leg transport.

Navigating the Complexities of Ready Mix Concrete Logistics: A Case Study with ThroughPut

JANUARY 19, 2024

Logistics presents a formidable challenge in the ready mix concrete (RMC) industry. This critical time frame shapes the entire ready mix concrete logistics . This critical time frame shapes the entire ready mix concrete logistics . For ready mix concrete manufacturers, managing logistics effectively is crucial.

A Cost To Serve Case Study

MAY 31, 2022

Here is a case study we would like to share for you to explore the concept of cost to serve in greater depth. Why is it really important to understand the cost to serve on your supply chain business? More Cost-to-Serve resources here: Cost to Serve at a Glance: 9 Steps to Success & 5 Mistakes to Avoid.

AI in the Retail Industry: Benefits, Case Studies & Examples

MARCH 27, 2024

The Evolution of Retail Supply Chain & Logistics : A Pre-AI Overview In the pre-AI era, the retail sector was markedly different, especially since the traditional supply chain and logistics models were largely driven by manual labor. This has made deliveries faster. Another way of ensuring greater customer satisfaction!

AI in the Food Industry: Case Studies, Challenges & Future Trends

MARCH 28, 2024

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) within different segments of the Food Industry, including transportation and logistics , production planning, quality control, and others has kicked off revolutionary transformations. Such processes lower energy consumption and boost profitability.

Real-Time Trackers: A Welcome Labor Solution for Logistics

The labor market is under an unprecedented squeeze, and the logistics industry has been hit particularly hard by the “Great Resignation.” Why streamlining data simplifies the logistics role. According to Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the labor shortage will cost the U.S. as much as $1 trillion, and 2.1

Supply Chain – Finance Connection: A Supply Chain Improvement Case Study

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Supply Chain Case Study: the Executive's Guide

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JUNE 1, 2014

Analysis of case study is certainly one of the most popular methods for people from business management background. In order to accelerate the learning, this article has gathered 20+ most sought-after supply chain case studies , analyzed/categorized them by industry and the findings are presented.

Watch: Managing a Global Supply Chain Ecosystem: A Case Study

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

In this case study , a fourth-party logistics (4PL) provider based in Lima, Peru describes the partnership that allowed it to expand its services from Latin America to Europe and beyond.

Getting Away from Excel Spreadsheets: A Project Logistics Case Study

AUGUST 31, 2017

We talk a lot about the importance of agility and flexibility in supply chain management and that is certainly true when it comes to project logistics . Hennecke oversees from a logistics perspective are mostly engineered-to-order systems, with suppliers and end-customers around the world. “The The projects Ms.

A Case Study in Closed-Loop Operational Management

NOVEMBER 19, 2014

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Logistics Buyers Survey with Jim Bierfeldt

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AutoStore and the Rise of Flexible Automation: The Parts Town Case Study

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Watch: Romark Logistics and Gather AI: A Case Study

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A case study about the application of drones employing artificial intelligence to the warehouse operations of Romark Logistics .

Distribution Network Cost- A Mini Case Study

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You can access a recorded webinar about Distribution Network Costs on this link: [link]. ?. Related articles on this topic have appeared throughout our website, check them out: The 7 Principles of Warehouse and Distribution Centre Design. The Long and Short of Designing a Distribution Network.

Inside the Shipper Mind with Jim Bierfeldt

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Machine Learning in Supply Chain: Definition, Uses, Case Studies

APRIL 4, 2023

We also break down several case studies of companies currently using machine learning in their supply chain processes. One example of this is its ‘ Logistics Hub ’ – a dashboard that enables its clients to have total visibility of their end-to-end supply chain. What is machine learning?

TMS for SMB: A Case Study with Carhartt

OCTOBER 19, 2016

He will be my guest on Talking Logistics in an upcoming episode, so I don’t want to steal his thunder today. Is SMB defined by a company’s annual revenues? We can now offer customers flexibility to experiment with different delivery methods, which is especially important during peak season.”.

Judging Supply Chain Improvement: Campbell Soup Case Study

AUGUST 11, 2014

Our approach simply breaks accountabilities and goals across the areas of Manufacturing, Logistics /Network Optimization and Ingredients/Packaging. Weve developed a clear model with specific accountabilities to ensure success in delivering strong cost savings performance year after year. What have you learned?

BASF Video Case Study: The Value of Real-Time Freight Visibility

MAY 3, 2018

The post BASF Video Case Study : The Value of Real-Time Freight Visibility appeared first on Talking Logistics with Adrian Gonzalez. Then post a question or comment and share your perspective on this topic! For related commentary, see On-Time In-Full (OTIF) and the Growing Demand for Real-Time Freight Visibility.

Cross Docking 101: What, Why and How? [with case studies]

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This removes the ‘storage’ element of warehousing logistics , and saves on costs, warehousing space, time and labour. Cross docking originated in the 1930s, and has evolved over time as logistics and management of goods has become more reliant on technology. The goods are sorted and transported to their final destination.

Getting Started with AI in Supply Chain Management (Lessons from the Past)

MAY 10, 2023

As I highlighted last week in “Negotiating With A Chatbot: A Walmart Procurement Case Study ,” despite all the hype surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI), relatively few companies are using AI in their supply chain or logistics operations today. Simply put, we’re still in the very early adopter stage.

[Video] Pricing Optimization at Delly’s: A Case Study in Successful AI Enablement

OCTOBER 29, 2023

Read more The post [Video] Pricing Optimization at Delly’s: A Case Study in Successful AI Enablement appeared first on Talking Logistics with Adrian Gonzalez. Companies across virtually all industries are looking for ways to drive profitable growth.

A Case Study in Reverse Logistics Optimization!

Supply Chain Game Changer

NOVEMBER 23, 2018

Check out What Exactly Is Reverse Logistics ? The OEM turned over management of one of the most critical, high-volume segments of its reverse logistics program—the processor business—saving the manufacturer millions of dollars each year; reducing excess inventory; increasing same-day, on-time ship rates; and improving customer satisfaction.

A ‘Case Study’ on Distribution Channels

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Distribution channels are frequently overlooked as a source of performance enhancement in the Supply Chain. But if you think outside the box, your company could save 18% annually. Remember that one of the most important factors to consider when evaluating Distribution Channels would be the cost to serve.

Delivering Green: Three Case Studies in Low-Carbon Logistics

MIT Supply Chain

APRIL 29, 2013

Caterpillar is the subject of one of three case studies that show how supply chain management can support both environmental and financial goals. Here are three case studies that offer clear, irrefutable evidence that sustainability and profitability can be compatible in the supply chain domain.

Competing on Analytics: A Supply Chain Case Study

MAY 16, 2016

This logistics services company manages hundreds of millions of supply chain assets for its clients, has hundreds of thousands drop off and pick up points, and make over 10,000 deliveries per day moving through over 100 logistics centers.

Heart of Efficiency: 3 Logistics Case Studies that Show the Love

MercuryGate

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Transportation management professionals love the seamless integration of logistics technology and collaboration, leading to operational excellence. This article dives into three compelling logistics case studies showcasing how MercuryGate enhances transportation management for three of our clients.

The Green Corridor: Saving Whales in California – A Case Study in Regional Collaboration

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

AUGUST 19, 2022

The Green Corridor: Saving Whales in California – A Case Study in Regional Collaboration. The Green Corridor: Saving Whales in California – A Case Study in Regional Collaboration. by Timothy Foote , Founder of Susymbio. About the Author.

A Chilling Problem: Temperature Controlled Logistics

BR Williams Supply Chain Management

JULY 21, 2023

Case Study | Company Seeks Creative Solutions from Logistics Partner in BR Williams BR Williams is a 60-year-old company specializing in Trucking , Warehousing , and Logistics Services. Challenges The cold winter months brought a chilling logistics problem for one of the top American chemical companies.

A Practical Approach to Supply Chain Resilience: The PepsiCo Case Study

OCTOBER 3, 2016

As consumers’ preferences shifted toward more nutritious foods, PepsiCo purchased companies in this food segment. But this segment has a much more complex supply chain. PepsiCo had to take a new approach to supply chain resilience.

Implementing RFID for Manufacturing Visibility: A Case Study

DECEMBER 8, 2014

This article is a guest commentary from Prof Ming K Lim who is Head of Centre of Excellence for Supply Chain Improvement and Professor of Supply Chain and Logistics Operations at Derby Business School. Conclusion The complete project has been a challenging yet successful path from conception to pilot completion.

Company Seeks Creative Solutions from Logistics Partner in BR Williams

7 Traits of Great Supply Chain Leader: A Case Study of Tim Cook

OCTOBER 3, 2013

Jobs also run the day-to-day operations, which resulted in the relationship problems with key vendors and third party logistics providers. The company held $500 million of inventory which was about 2 months coverage, much more than those of the other technology companies.

Validated, Real-Time Visibility for Pharma with Josh Allen

NOVEMBER 18, 2022

Josh is CRO at Tive , a leading provider of real-time supply chain visibility insights that help logistics professionals actively manage their in-transit shipments’ location and condition. With Tive, shippers and logistics service providers (LSP) eliminate preventable delays, damage, and shipment failures. Biocair case study .

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Basics — Exercises — Case Studies

• © 2013
• Harald Gleissner 0 ,
• J. Christian Femerling 1

Berlin School of Economics and Law, Berlin, Germany

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Investa Holding GmbH, Eschborn, Germany

• Offers a broad range of exercises and case studies
• Written by authors with outstanding logistics industry practice and teaching experience
• Suitable complementary case study book is available
• Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Springer Texts in Business and Economics (STBE)

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

Front matter, introduction.

• Harald Gleissner, J. Christian Femerling

The Principles of Logistics

Logistics systems, logistical infrastructure, transport systems and logistics services, warehousing, handling, and picking systems, inventory, stock and provisioning management, logistics network planning, it in logistics, investment and financing in logistics.

• Logistics Controlling

Business Models and Industry Solutions

Outline solutions to case studies, back matter.

• Supply Chain Management
• Transport Systems
• Warehousing
• Engineering Economics

About this book

Logistics is the ideal book for Bachelor students of logistics, providing a solid foundation as well as a practical guide. In modular and clear form, it explains key concepts, principles, and practices of logistics. Learning objectives as well as several case studies are integrated into each chapter. 

It features chapters on Principles of Logistics; Logistics Systems; Transport Systems and Logistics Services; Warehousing, Handling and Picking Systems; Inventory, Stock and Provisioning Management; Logistics Network Planning; IT in Logistics; and Logistics Controlling.  

In addition, the second fully updated German edition has been extended by the chapters Logistics Infrastructure and Investment and Financing in Logistics. 

“This book offers, in a very clear and concise manner, access to fundamental management topics of modern logistics. Well-chosen case studies serve to illustrate best practice solutions.”

Professor Peter Klaus, member of Logistics Hall of Fame

”This new textbook facilitates a comprehensive and easy-to-grasp insight into the complex subject area of logistics. The authors have succeeded in presenting a good mix of theoretical foundation and practical application. Due to its clear structure and extensive range of topics, this book is highly suitable not only for students, but also for practitioners.”

Bernhard Simon, Managing Director, DACHSER GmbH & Co. KG

Authors and Affiliations

Harald Gleissner

J. Christian Femerling

About the authors

Bibliographic information.

Book Title : Logistics

Book Subtitle : Basics — Exercises — Case Studies

Authors : Harald Gleissner, J. Christian Femerling

Series Title : Springer Texts in Business and Economics

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01769-3

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Business and Economics , Business and Management (R0)

Copyright Information : Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2013

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-319-01768-6 Published: 19 February 2014

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-319-34743-1 Published: 03 September 2016

eBook ISBN : 978-3-319-01769-3 Published: 11 February 2014

Series ISSN : 2192-4333

Series E-ISSN : 2192-4341

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XXI, 311

Number of Illustrations : 156 b/w illustrations

Topics : Operations Management , Engineering Economics, Organization, Logistics, Marketing , Organization

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Easy Supply Chain Savings: A Simple Supply Chain Case Study

Logistics Bureau

AUGUST 31, 2021

Supply Chain & Logistics case studies are always interesting. This one is about easy ways to save money in your Supply Chain and Logistics operations if you just look at things differently. Maybe you have some similar examples you can share in the comments? And it was an easy problem to fix!

Transloading: A Comprehensive Guide With Client Examples

Dedola Global Logistics

JANUARY 14, 2023

Transloading: A Comprehensive Guide With Client Examples . For example , a shipment of heavy machinery may be transferred from a cargo ship to a truck using a break-bulk method, with the machinery being stored temporarily in a warehouse before being loaded onto the truck for the final leg of the journey. Contact Us. 562) 594-8988.

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• The Logistics of Logistics

Modex meets Comicon: BlueGrace Logistics releases “Logistics Powers Unleashed!” comic book

Blue Grace Logistics

MARCH 12, 2024

BlueGrace Releases Comic Book Show Submenu Resources The Logistics Blog® Newsroom Whitepaper Case Study Webinars Indexes Search Search BlueGrace Logistics - March 12, 2024 DC Velocity Staff | DC Velocity March 12, 2024 Move over Marvel, BlueGrace Logistics has entered the comic book market.

IoT in Logistics “The Maersk Case Study”

Logistics at MPEPS at UPV

MARCH 15, 2021

According to the article “ How IoT can improve the logistic pro ces s ” the internet of things (IoT) provides data, which describes objects “physical assets” for example a good to be transported and distributed worldwide. Now we can see how they implemented the “IoT” to deliver a better service.

Real-Time Trackers: A Welcome Labor Solution for Logistics

Advertisement

The labor market is under an unprecedented squeeze, and the logistics industry has been hit particularly hard by the “Great Resignation.” Why streamlining data simplifies the logistics role. According to Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the labor shortage will cost the U.S. as much as $1 trillion, and 2.1

Transloading: A Comprehensive Guide With Client Examples Transloading is a process that involves transferring cargo from one mode of transportation to another during the shipping process. This case study will delve into some of our most notable transloading success stories.

ARL Logistics Achieves Day-to-Day Rate Positioning and Value Through SONAR

FreightWaves SONAR

DECEMBER 17, 2020

View the Full Case Study . Working as both an asset-based and non-asset-based broker, ARL Logistics unlocks new value, profitability and strong growth by using FreightWaves SONAR. And ARL Logistics upholds that commitment with a promise to honor the quote regardless of whether profits are gained. View the Full Case Study .

BASF Video Case Study: The Value of Real-Time Freight Visibility

Talking Logistics

MAY 3, 2018

In addition to improved customer satisfaction, Wehrle shared these examples : The data we’re getting has been hugely successful. The post BASF Video Case Study : The Value of Real-Time Freight Visibility appeared first on Talking Logistics with Adrian Gonzalez. Benefits of Real-Time Freight Visibility.

Cost to Serve Case Study that was Off the Scale! – with Steven Thacker

JULY 21, 2020

With us is Steven Thacker, Rob’s fellow director in Logistics Bureau is sharing his insights on this topic. A Great Example . Let us watch the video below: Related articles on this topic have appeared throughout our websites, why not check them out? Robobyrne: Cost To Serve Lesson. Supply Chain Secrets: What is Cost to Serve? –

Case Study: Advanced Planning & Scheduling at Leuze Electronic

Logistics Business Magazine

MAY 18, 2020

It provided comparatively basic forecasting procedures that made it possible to establish current levels of delivery readiness and to set defaults, for example at least 95%. The post Case Study : Advanced Planning & Scheduling at Leuze Electronic appeared first on Logistics Business® Magazine.

RFID Case Study: Can a Supply Chain be Digitised?

MAY 27, 2020

Logistical challenges were normally solved using barcode-based systems. For example , the automated KanBan shelf was implemented successfully and cost-effectively into the system landscape. The post RFID Case Study : Can a Supply Chain be Digitised? appeared first on Logistics Business® Magazine.

Supply Chain Profit Leaks in Real-Life

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Here’s a real-life example . 7 Mini Case Studies : Successful Supply Chain Cost Reduction and Management. How to identify and fix your profit leaks? Related articles on this topic have appeared throughout our website, check them out: Cost to Serve – A Smarter Way to Improved Supply Chain Profitability.

Understanding the Profitability of Omnichannel Retail is a Problem

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

But one thing you notice as you go to omnichannel software vendor’s web sites and examine customer case studies , the case studies may talk about retailers growing their revenues by 100% or more, but none talk about how much profitability grew. These new order fulfillment paths allowed retailers to rapidly grow sales.

Examples of How Supplier Quality Management System Implementations Pay Off

GlobalTranz

JUNE 11, 2015

We conclude our series on supplier quality management (SQM) today with a look at some case studies and examples of benefits derived from the application of a supplier quality management system. Examples and Case Studies from the Implementation of a Supplier Quality Management System.

[PODCAST] The Growing “Influence” of Content Marketing in the Supply Chain

MARCH 3, 2020

Business and Marketing Resources Marketing Logistics Services: A Discussion on Getting Attention Online Listen to the Podcast Example of an Effective Transportation Management Case Study View Case Study How Industrial Companies Can Pivot to Inbound Organizations & Increase Customer Experience Listen.read More.

Case Study: Bringing Symphonic Listening Pleasure to Japan

NOVEMBER 29, 2018

The case of an internationally renowned symphonic orchestra from Austria, for which cargo-partner transported all instruments to Japan, represents one example of such a challenge which cargo-partner solved without issue.

Case Study: Picnic for Pie Maker Thanks to Aisle Master

NOVEMBER 1, 2019

The Aisle Master models have replaced a stand-on stacker truck and a counterbalance forklift and a main reason for the choice of these was their ability to “do everything” as Logistics Manager Dean Parsons explains. The post Case Study : Picnic for Pie Maker Thanks to Aisle Master appeared first on Logistics Business® Magazine.

Case Study: Helly Hansen opts for UniCarriers once more

OCTOBER 1, 2019

Helly Hansen thus benefits from a modern fleet which meets its requirements and provides an optimum logistics framework for the coming years. Our partner is also highly flexible if we need additional forklifts to deal with spikes in orders, for example . “We were bursting at the seams at our old location.

Case Study: Wood Wholesaler Likes Hyster Durability

OCTOBER 23, 2018

17 Hyster® forklift trucks for logistics . The extensive company premises, including the warehouses, have particular logistics demands. A total of 17 Hyster® trucks form the backbone of the logistics operation and since 2010, the fleet has gradually switched from diesel to LPG fuel. . Low total cost of ownership. ” Tweet.

AI and the logistics of disaster

OCTOBER 3, 2022

Natural disasters, such as the recent hurricanes which devastated Puerto Rico (Fiona) and Florida (Ian), are serving up real-life case studies demonstrating how artificial intelligence, or AI, is helping to improve supply chain reliability in the face of horrific storms, writes Vaughn Moore, Executive Chairman and CEO of AIT Worldwide Logistics .

Case Study: Hubtex Sideloaders Optimize Space and Storage

MAY 8, 2019

Effective materials handling and warehouse management is crucial to the success of a company, which is why Gaugler & Lutz oHG is banking on an intelligent storage system at its new logistics centre in Aalen-Ebnat (Nord) in Germany. These materials are used, for example , to strengthen wind turbine rotor blades.

Case Study: Tote Sortation Project for Leading Car Maker

AUGUST 30, 2018

If the roller conveyor cannot sort the tote because, for example , it is unable to read the colour of the tote or the sortation chutes are full, the tote will carry on round the conveyor and is moved via a cross transfer so that the opposite side of the tote is presented for scanning. The remainder of the chutes sort the totes by colour only.

Case Study: Viennese Brewery Uses Fronius Battery Charging

JULY 31, 2019

The covered storage area spreads over 10,000 square metres, meaning that seamless logistics processes are required to make sure that deliveries arrive with customers on time. A dry, frost-free and cool environment is required for example , as well as sufficient ventilation and measures to prevent fires and explosions.

Case Study: Handling the Tough Wood Supply Chain

AUGUST 21, 2018

Consider the journey of a laminate floorboard, for example .”. For example , due to the vapours produced by chemicals being used to laminate the wood, and the dust present in the atmosphere, parts of the production line may be zoned areas. For example , Zone 1 or 2 for gases, Zone 21 or 22 for dusts, or a combination of gas and dust.

Case Study: EnerSys and Unicarriers Make Dutch Fleet More Sustainable

OCTOBER 23, 2019

Good internal transport is essential for us,” says Cecile van Daalen, responsible for Desch Plantpak’s logistics , among other things. Our drivers can now connect their trucks to the charging station during their coffee break, for example , so that we can continue operating throughout the hours needed,” Mr Langenberg says.

Case Study: Why UK Ports and Shipping Firm Chose Hyundai

MAY 30, 2019

For example , wood pulp requires bale clamps, paper reels need reel clamps in addition to some specialised tissue clamps. The post Case Study : Why UK Ports and Shipping Firm Chose Hyundai appeared first on Logistics Business® Magazine. For other cargos, such as palletised goods, we would use the standard forks.

[PODCAST] Improving Trucking Marketing & How to Work with Industry Influencers

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

6 Things to Look for in a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Partner

Now, That's Logistics

NOVEMBER 30, 2021

Integrated with an organization’s warehousing, fulfillment and transportation activities, third-party logistics providers (3PLs) support a wide range of logistics activities for companies across all industries. Logistics providers offer a variety of different services for a wide range of companies. 6 Things to Look for in a 3PL.

Navigating the Loading Bay’s Hidden Risks

APRIL 26, 2024

Transport and logistics is a highly regulated industry when it comes to health and safety, writes Wouter Satijn (pictured), Sales Director of Joloda Hydraroll. This means transport and logistics companies must constantly be on the lookout for new risks, and proactive ways to improve and implement better working practices.

Managed Logistics Meets Five Challenges for Complex Supply Chain Operations

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Managed Logistics Meets Five Challenges for Complex Supply Chain Operations Show Submenu Resources. The Logistics Blog®. Case Study . BlueGrace Logistics . Sponsored by BlueGrace Logistics . They can make or break a business, which is why they require the dedicated focus of a managed logistics provider (MLP).

Walmart in a World on Fire

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

One of the companies she holds up as a positive example of a big company addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues is Walmart. A few years ago, for example , my oldest child explained to me that Walmart was a malignant force. The post Walmart in a World on Fire appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

How We Use Data to Better Plan for Produce Season

MARCH 26, 2024

Take, for example , the market of Twin Falls, Idaho in comparison to Lakeland, Florida. trillion in annual global supply chain data, SONAR is more effective in both broad and pinpoint logistics applications. To see how other organizations are implimenting SONAR, check out case studies here.

Turvo’s Collaborative TMS Paved the Way for Port X Logistics to Triple Growth

DECEMBER 10, 2021

Turvo’s Collaborative TMS Paved the way for Port X Logistics to Triple Growth The past two years have created a series of hurdles and obstacles for the global supply chain. In spite of all of this, Port X Logistics is experiencing significant and unprecedented growth thanks to Turvo TMS and Collaboration Cloud. Ask Turvo for a Demo.

Solutions for Managing Transportation Spend [Video]

JULY 26, 2018

Can you give some examples of tactical and strategic questions that companies should be exploring? Can you share some case study examples and the benefits your clients have achieved? How do you go about analyzing these options and determining whether they’re the right actions to take? What’s required to get started?

2023’s Freight Forwarding and Project Cargo: The Big Shifts We’re Buzzing About!

MTS Logistics

AUGUST 21, 2023

Navigating the vast expanse of 2023, the logistics landscape is echoing with transformative shifts. Embracing the Digital Wave: The marriage of the digital realm with tangible logistics is not just a fleeting trend—it’s the new norm. Example : Consider the Suez Canal obstruction.

Prologis launches social value white paper

OCTOBER 26, 2022

Prologis UK and Tritax, two of the biggest names in logistics property development , have joined forces to publish a report designed to inspire other businesses in the construction and logistics sectors to take a more proactive approach to delivering social value. CLICK HERE to download the report.

Sitma named “outstanding company” by Kotler

DECEMBER 3, 2021

Sitma, a specialist in designing and producing solutions for automation in the logistics industry, has been chosen as a case study for the book Essentials of Modern Marketing by Philip Kotler together with Weevo, which looked at more than 30 examples of outstanding Italian companies in different fields of production.

Freight Claims 101

APRIL 20, 2023

Freight Claims 101 Show Submenu Resources The Logistics Blog® News Press Whitepaper Case Study Webinars Indexes Search Search BlueGrace Logistics - April 20, 2023 Freight claims are an inevitable aspect of shipping cargo. Mitigation is legally required on all claims.

What is Inbound Logistics and How Can a 3PL Help?

Kanban Logistics

AUGUST 13, 2020

What is inbound logistics ? See, there’s a big difference between handling inbound logistics yourself and outsourcing it to a trusted North Carolina third-party logistics (3PL) provider that knows the manufacturing industry. What is inbound logistics ? 3PL inbound logistics services. Just in time (JIT) delivery.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF FOOD DELIVERY

MAY 28, 2023

This is the case of delivery companies, which had to expand their operations due to the increase in demand for home deliveries, especially food. For example , in the case of Just Eat, Glovo or Deliveroo in Spain, they each added more than 1,000 new restaurants in just three months. CherretT, T., Piotrowska, M., Chelitis, K.,

Longer-term Contracts Back in Vogue as Carriers, Shippers Navigate Stable Market

OCTOBER 10, 2023

Shippers Navigate Stable Market Show Submenu Resources The Logistics Blog® Newsroom Whitepaper Case Study Webinars Indexes Search Search BlueGrace Logistics - October 10, 2023 Many of the concerns from earlier this year have dissipated and shippers are beginning to look for lengthier contracts with stable rates.

Private Investors Looking to Capitalize on Nearshoring Trends Turn to Mexico

APRIL 28, 2023

companies opening factories in Mexico, for example , nor investment in private real estate. Mexico-Canada Agreement, according to Jill Raker, a managing partner at longtime logistics investor Greenbriar Equity Group. We have enough data points from the logistics companies we own and the logistics companies we’re talking to,” she said.

Cost to Serve Analysis—And the Costs of Neglecting It

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

Excessive costs can hide anywhere in your company’s service provision or supply chain functions, including manufacturing, logistics , distribution, and customer service. View case study Learn more about cost-to-serve benefits. Let’s examine several possible issues that can lead to profit margin erosion.

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Case Studies

Learn more about how omni logistics can help you..

Read some of our global case studies that give you a first hand look at how Omni Logistics has helped other companies succeed. Expect the best in comprehensive supply chain solutions. We’re ALL IN for our clients.

CASE STUDIES

Critical on-time delivery for international retail stores., increasing performance and reducing fines., regaining visibility to sustain in-stock performance., meeting the needs of a growing security technology company., a unique logistics solution for a unique electronics challenge., supply chain problem solving with life-giving results., are you ready to part of an all in team.

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Case Studies in Carbon-Efficient Logistics

Logistics is a leading source of carbon. Nearly 6 percent of the greenhouse gases generated by humans come from the flow of products to consumers. Reducing these emissions takes more than setting goals; it requires clear, measurable initiatives that hit sustainability targets while delivering lower costs and higher service levels.

Sponsored by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Dr. Edgar E Blanco Research Director of the Carbon-Efficient Supply Chains Research Project at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, worked alongside three US companies to help them quantify the carbon footprint of some of their logistics initiatives. The goal was to document the projects, and illustrate to other companies that it is possible to reduce cost and become more environmentally friendly.  

In this case study we present two Ocean Spray initiatives – distribution network redesign and intermodal shift from road to rail – that in combination led to a 20% reduction in transportation CO2 emissions, while achieving comparable cost savings across the transportation network.

Shifting to Rail – A Collaborative Approach

Ocean Spray, CSX (the rail operator), and fruit shipping companies partnered in order to enable Ocean Spray to ship more products intermodally from its New Jersey distribution center to the company's Florida facility. Prior to the collaboration, these boxcars were returning empty to the Florida region. Shipments that shifted to intermodal generated 65% less emissions while saving over 40% of transportation costs.

Distribution Network Redesign

Ocean Spray added new manufacturing and distribution capabilities in Florida to support the company’s growing customer base. To fully and effectively utilize these additions, Ocean Spray conducted a national network re-design project to determine which customers will receive product from the new location. Ocean Spray projected that over 17% of the total shipments will be served from the new facility.

Read the full Ocean Spray case study here .  

In this case study, we analyzed the inbound shipping operations of Caterpillar’s North American large mining truck facility to determine – based on weight, packaging, routing, and scheduling – opportunities to streamline shipping protocols, and thus reduce carbon emissions associated with the supply chain. When combined, the streamlined shipping and packaging efforts could reduce Caterpillar’s overall carbon emissions by 340-730 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Switching Shipment Packaging from Steel to Light-Weight Plastic

At present, Caterpillar uses steel containers to transport parts. Caterpillar has been working for the past four years to phase out these steel containers and replace them with plastic containers, which weigh considerably less.

Analyzing Inbound Shipments to Identify Potential Consolidation

To construct the very large vehicles used in the mining industry, parts are shipped from all over the globe for assembly at Caterpillar’s manufacturing facility in Decatur, Illinois. We analyzed historical shipment data to identify areas where shipments could be consolidated to save fuel and reduce vehicle CO2 emissions. More specifically, we analyzed:

Read the full Caterpillar case study here .  

Boise Inc. has launched two initiatives to improve its logistics operations and environmental performance. The Carload Direct Initiative is shifting product transport to rail, and the Three-Tier Pallet Initiative is increasing railcar utilization. Both initiatives have resulted in a combined 62-72% reduction in the company’s CO2 emissions, as well as cost savings on those shipments.

Reducing CO2 Emissions Through Carload Direct

Traditionally, manufacturers use trucks, or a mix of trucks and rail, to transport their products to customers. As trucks produce greater emissions than trains, a logical way to reduce emissions is to minimize the use of trucks and maximize the use of rail. Boise coordinated with its customers to promote rail transport so that product could be sent directly from the manufacturing plant to the customer’s warehouse. The transition from using a mix of truck and rail to exclusively rail eliminated more than 2,600 tons of C02; the equivalent of saving over 264,000 gallons of fuel consumed by road vehicles.

Optimizing Railcar Utilization with Three-Tier Pallets

Prior to this project, railcars were loaded two pallets high, leaving a space from the top of the second pallet to the roof of the railcar, thus under-utilizing the full capacity of the railcar. Boise redesigned its pallets and loading structure by creating a half-pallet, which allowed the company to rethink pallet stacking and maximize shipping capacities for its loads. These redesigns maximized carloads by reducing the number of shipments required to deliver product. Using just 930 railcars in 2011 reduced the company’s C02 emissions by 190 tons, which is equal to the C02 emissions from 21,637 gallons of fuel consumed by road vehicles.

Read the full Boise case study here .

Hear directly from Dr. Edgar Blanco, from MIT CTL, joined by EDF’s Jason Mathers, Ross Corthell from Boise, Kristine Young from Ocean Spray, and Zena Onstott from Caterpillar as they share their insights from these case studies on this webinar . 

To find out more about the case studies, contact Dr. Edgar E. Blanco , Research Director, Carbon Efficient Supply Chains Research Project, MIT CTL, and co-founder of the LEAP consortium.

The Carbon Efficient Supply Chains Research Project is addressing three challenges: how to measure the carbon footprint of a supply chain, developing strategies for reducing supply chain carbon emissions, and communicating carbon footprints to consumers and stakeholders. Further information is available here .

The Leaders in Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) consortium is a vehicle for organizations to leverage MIT’s knowledge and resources as well as the lessons learned from corporate environmental efforts. LEAP is a joint initiative between MIT CTL and the MIT Material Systems Laboratory. Further information is available here .

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Logistics case studies.

Zipline Logistics prioritizes YOUR bottom line. We are experts in retail logistics and exclusively service CPG brands shipping into retail. This means we’re a logistics solutions provider — not just a rate and a truck — and we genuinely care about and invest in CPG brands’ success.

Check out the Zipline love stories below for examples of challenges our customers have faced and the results we’ve driven alongside them.

“Zipline has eliminated all of these issues for Isik”

Shipper: Isik Organic, a leading grower, manufacturer, and exporter of organic dried fruits & nuts and frozen fruits and headquartered in Turkey.

Challenge: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I sik   was dealing with carriers arriving late to delivery appointments, products being damaged while in transit, and keeping t ransportation  costs  within budget .

Results: Over the course of the first two years working together, Zipline has eliminated virtually all of these issues for Isik. Their OTIF has improved and their transportation costs have gone down considerably.

See Full Logistics Case Study

T. Marzetti Dramatically Increases OTIF

Shipper : T. Marzetti, a leading specialty foods company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Challenge: T. Marzetti was struggling to meet delivery deadlines and as a result, experiencing heavy retail compliance fines and damaged relationships with their retail partners.

Results : T. Marzetti’s OTIF score was in the mid-80’s when they started working with Zipline. One year later, their OTIF score was up to 94%. Before Zipline, Marzetti felt alone in putting out fires and educating their partners on the impacts of not meeting retail expectations. Whereas with Zipline, these issues were immediately met with proactive communication that led to quick solutions.

“What Make Zipline Different is the People”

Shipper: Be Well Nutrition, Inc., known for its  ICONIC PROTEIN  line of beverages, powders, and coffee.

Challenge: The relationship between Zipline Logistics and Mariah Nguyen, COO of Be Well Nutrition, Inc. , began about ten years ago when Nguyen was working for Vita Coco. Nguyen enjoyed Zipline’s people and service so much that she carried the relationship to the next four companies she worked with. 

Results: ICONIC PROTEIN,   Be Well’s line of protein beverages, powders, and coffee ,   has relied on Zipline as its exclusive transportation broker since 2018. Zipline manages both procurement of ingredients and LTL & FTL customer order fulfillment. Zipline has offered this client a competitive advantage through in depth freight analyses, resulting in both time and cost savings.

True Logistics Partnership

Shippers: Premium drink mixer company, Fever Tree; and importer, distributor and brand representative for premium biscuit/snack manufacturers, Brand Passport.

Challenge: Both Fever Tree and Brand Passport needed a logistics service provider that could meet a wide range of transportation needs while identifying new supply chain efficiencies and showcasing true partnership.

Results: Zipline Logistics went above and beyond to provide knowledge, data, and recommendations that helped streamline operations for Fever Tree and Brand Passport. Invested in customer success, Zipline fully managed orders, optimizing along the way and involving the customer on an exception-management basis. Zipline built trust, provided peace of mind, and helped both brands solve for their logistics challenges.

3PL Partnership and Service

Shipper: Global producer of coconut products, Vita Coco

Challenge: Vita Coco required a logistics partner that instilled total confidence and enabled it to focus on its brand, not transportation. Navigating a fast-growth market segment, they needed a 3PL that could scale alongside them and provide ongoing supply chain consultation.

Results: Zipline Logistics has successfully grown together with Vita Coco, expanding to meet domestic transportation and drayage needs. Vita Coco now cuts down on overhead costs by funneling logistics through its customer service department, relying on Zipline Logistics to properly handle transportation and identify new optimization and savings opportunities.

Zipline Love Stories: Specialized 3PL Adds Value to Multibillion-Dollar Retailers

Challenge: The shoe company was challenged by it’s tiny storefronts in bustling metropolitan areas, which required multiple perfectly timed deliveries per week. The specialty retailer needed consistent manpower transporting expensive, valuable, time sensitive, and extremely high volume shipments from ports to distribution centers.

Results: Zipline played a major role in helping the shoe brand skyrocket. Since entrusting us with nearly 100% of their domestic freight over the last three years, their revenue nearly doubled as they explosively expanded from four stores to 30+. After six years of business with the specialty retailer, Zipline has moved 17,000+ loads at 96% on-time delivery rate. Since partnering with us, we have seen their revenue grow by close to $3.5 Billion.

WTRMLN WTR Streamlines Refrigerated LTL Operations

Challenge : WTRMLN WTR grew quickly and expanded its sales across the United States. Because the brand’s product is temperature-sensitive, it required refrigerated shipping to fulfill its growing orders. Temp-controlled shipping is fragmented with few providers operating nationwide. WTRMLN WTR needed to manage relationships with several disparate regional providers at once.

Results: By working with Zipline, WTRMLN WTR gained new visibility into their operations adding transparency into their supply chain and uncovering beneficial consolidation opportunities, scheduling improvements, and network reconfiguration.

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Consolidation and Managed Transportation Solution

Shipper: Global producer of pork snack products, Evans Food Group

Challenge : Evans Food Group was charged with identifying proactive ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies throughout its supply chain. Goals were set to minimize use of LTL, lower landed costs, increase overall production efficiency, improve dock utilization, and allow for more flexibility.

Results: Solution consultants at Zipline Logistics developed an on-site order consolidation program that successfully reduced LTL utilization and lowered landed costs per pallet by 20%. Adoption of a managed transportation solution and EDI order tendering technology also enabled Evans Food Group to greatly improve internal efficiencies and gain more visibility into its supply chain.

Beverage Transportation Specialists

Shipper: Emerging enhanced-water brand, Hoist

Challenge: As a growing beverage brand, Hoist needed to scale its transportation strategy and engage a logistics partner that could provide guidance on how to meet retailer demands.

Results: Hoist leveraged Zipline Logistics’ beverage transportation expertise to meet retailer requirements, cut transportation costs, and grow its network. By engaging an experienced 3PL partner, Hoist no longer had to worry about scheduling product pick-ups or deliveries and could instead focus on growing its brand.

Improving On-Time Delivery by 17%

Challenge: The company grew extremely fast and struggled to consistently meet retail compliance standards due to a complex national footprint.

Results: Zipline brought smart technologies and seasoned retail logistics professionals to the table. Through the facilitation of appointment flexibility, order visibility, and cross-departmental communication, the soda manufacturer was able to better serve customers and improved its on-time delivery by 17 percent.

Beverage Transportation and Minimum Orders

Challenge:  The growing beverage brand was entering new retail markets and facing common issues associated with securing new shelf space. When their new customer began purchasing small quantities of product to test sell, the brand was breaking even on their orders due to the cost of transport.

Results: Zipline Logistics leveraged its proprietary shipper intelligence tool, KanoPI, to show the beverage brand that once began to order even slightly more product their costs would come down. By isolating critical metrics in KanoPI and renegotiating order minimums, they were able to  remain with and ultimately achieve long-term profitability with the retailer.

Solving for Retail Vendor Compliance Issues

Challenge: The brand was experiencing reoccurring delivery problems and rejected orders at Walmart. This caused freight to be late, extra paperwork, and the potential for costly fees related to retail vendor compliance failures.

Results:  Zipline took over management of Walmart deliveries. Solution consultants identified proactive ways to rework delivery appointments, optimize dues dates, and book more reliable transportation, ultimately improving the brand’s vendor performance.

Transportation Network Analysis

Shipper: International food ingredients supplier

Challenge: Overseas offices were shipping product out-of-network, which led to an accumulation of unnecessary costs and complications. The organization required more visibility into its U.S. supply chain to proactively identify opportunities to cut transportation spend and avoid service issues.

Results: Zipline Logistics leveraged its shipper intelligence tool KANOPI to identify $1.2 million in transportation savings for its customer. Consultants identified trends within data and found specific shipments that were driving up transportation costs. With inefficiencies isolated, they optimized modes and altered warehouse locations to achieve a 30% increase in network efficiency.

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Home » Management Case Studies » Case Study: Wal-Mart’s Distribution and Logistics System

Case Study: Wal-Mart’s Distribution and Logistics System

As the world’s largest retailer with net sales of almost $419 billion for the fiscal year 2011, Wal-Mart is considered a “best-in-class” company for its supply chain management practices .   These practices are a key competitive advantage that have enabled Wal-Mart to achieve leadership in the retail industry through a focus on increasing operational efficiency and on customer needs. Wal-Mart’s corporate website calls “logistics” and “distribution” the heart of its operation, one that keeps millions of products moving to customers every day of the year.

Wal-Mart’s highly-automated distribution centers, which operate 24 hours a day and are served by Wal-Mart’s truck fleet, are the foundation of its growth strategy and supply network. In the United States alone, the company has more than 40 regional distribution centers for import flow and more than 140 distribution centers for domestic flow. When entering a new geographic arena, the company first determines if the area will be able to contain enough stores to support a distribution center. Each distribution center supports between 75 to 100 retail stores within a 250-mile area.   Once a center is built, stores are gradually built around it to saturate the area and the distribution network is realigned to maximize efficiencies through a process termed “reoptimization”. The result is a “trickle-down” effect: trucks do not have to travel as far to retail stores to make deliveries, shorter distances reduce transportation costs and lead time, and shorter lead time means holding less safety inventory.   If shortages do occur, replenishment can be made more quickly because stores receive daily deliveries from distribution centers.

An important feature of Wal-Mart’s logistics infrastructure was its fast and responsive transportation system. The distribution centers were serviced by more than 3,500 company owned trucks. These dedicated truck fleets allowed the company to ship goods from the distribution centers to the stores within two days and replenish the store shelves twice a week. The truck fleet was the visible link between the stores and distribution centers. Wal-Mart believed that it needed drivers who were committed and dedicated to customer service. The company hired only experienced drivers who had driven more than 300,000 accident-free miles, with no major traffic violation.

Wal-Mart truck drivers generally moved the merchandise-loaded trailers from Wal-Mart distribution centers to the retail stores serviced by each distribution center. These retail stores were considered as customers by the distribution centers. The drivers had to report their hours of service to a coordinator daily. The coordinator scheduled all dispatches depending on the available driving time and the estimated time for travel between the distribution centers and the retail stores. The coordinator informed the driver of his dispatches, either on the driver’s arrival at the distribution center or on his return to the distribution center from the retail store. The driver was usually expected to take a loaded truck trailer from the distribution center to the retail store and return back with an empty trailer. He had to dispatch a loaded truck trailer at the retail store and spend the night there. A driver had to bring the trailer at the dock of a store only at its scheduled unloading time, no matter when he arrived at the store. The drivers delivered the trailers in the afternoon and evening hours and they would be unloaded at the store at nights. There was a gap of two hours between unloading of each trailer. For instance, if a store received three trailers, the first one would be unloaded at midnight (12 AM), the second one would be unloaded at 2 AM and the third one at 4 AM.     Although, the trailers were left unattended, they were secured by the drivers, until the store personnel took charge of them at night. Wal-Mart received more trailers than they had docks, due to their large volume of business.

Because Wal-Mart’s fast, responsive transportation operations are such a major part of the company’s successful logistics system, great care is taken in the hiring, training, supervising, and assigning of drivers’ schedules and job responsibilities.   From the onset of his retailing career, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton recognized the importance of hiring experienced people and of building loyalty not only in his customers but also in his employees. The company hires only experienced drivers who have driven more than 300,000 accident-free miles and whom it believes will be committed to customer service. Its retail stores are considered important “customers” of the distribution centers. As stated in the “Private Fleet Driver Handbook” that each driver is given a copy of, drivers are expected to be “polite” and “kind” when dealing with store personnel and others. In addition to containing a driver’s code of conduct, the Private Fleet Driver Handbook gives instructions and rules for following pre-planned travel routes and schedules, the responsible unloading of a truck trailer at a retail store, and the safe-guarding of Wal-Mart’s property. For example, although drivers deliver loaded trailers in the afternoon and evening hours, a trailer can be brought to the store’s docks only at its scheduled unloading time. Because unloading is done at two-hour intervals during the night, a driver is expected to spend the night, returning to the distribution center at a pre-scheduled time with an empty trailer. Coordinators closely monitor the detailed records of each driver’s activities for adherence to rules. Violations are dealt with according to handbook procedures, which include employee education to prevent future occurrences of incorrect actions. By effectively managing every aspect of its transportation operations and treating its drivers fairly, Wal-Mart gets results that are unrivaled in the logistics arena.   This philosophy parallels the successful coaching style of New York Giant’s football coach Tom Coughlin who believes that rules are more than just discipline.   Rules are a key to consistency, which leads to preparedness, which then leads to proper execution.

To make its distribution process more efficient, Wal-Mart also made use of a logistics technique known as ‘cross-docking.’ In this system, the finished goods were directly picked up from the manufacturing plant of a supplier, sorted out and then directly supplied to the customers. The system reduced the handling and storage of finished goods, virtually eliminating the role of the distribution centers and stores. There were five types of cross-docking.

• Opportunistic Cross docking – In this method of cross docking, the exact information about where the necessary good should be shipped and from where it should be procured and exact quantity which will be sent was necessary. This method of cross docking has allowed the company to ship directly the goods, necessary retail clients, not storing them in warehouse bins or shelves. Opportunistic cross docking could also be used when the warehouse software of management installed by the retailer, has set ready it, that the specific product was ready to moving and could be moved immediately.
• Flow-through Cross docking – In this type of cross docking, there was a constant inflow and outflow of the goods from the distribution center. This type of cross docking was mostly suitable for the perishable goods which had very short interval of time, or the goods which were difficult to be kept in warehouses. This cross docking system was mainly accompanied by supermarkets and other retail discount stores, especially for perishable items.
• Distributor Cross docking – In this type of cross docking, the manufacturer has delivered the goods to directly to retailer. No intermediaries have been involved in this process. It has allowed the retailer to save a major portion of the expenses in the form of storage. As the retailer should not support the distribution center for storage various kinds of the goods, he has helped it to save warehouse costs. The lead time for the delivery of goods from the manufacturer to the consumer was also drastically reduced. However, this method had some disadvantages too. Expenses of transportation both for the manufacturer and for the retailer tended to increase during time when the goods have been required to be transported to different locations several times. Besides, the transportation system should be very fast. Otherwise, the purpose of cross docking has been lost. The transportation system should be also highly responsive and to take the responsibility for delays in delivery of the goods. The retailer was at a greater risk. He has lost that advantage to sharing risks with the manufacturer. This type of cross docking was suitable only for those retailers who had the big distributive network and could be used in situations when goods had to be delivered in a short span of time.
• Manufacturing Cross docking – In Manufacturing cross docking, these cross docking facilities served the factories and acted as temporary and “mini warehouses.” Whenever a manufacturing company required some parts or materials for manufacturing a particular product, it was delivered by the supplier in small lots within a very short span of time, just when it was needed. This helped reduce the transportation and warehouse costs substantially.
• Pre-Allocated Cross Docking – Pre-allocated cross docking is very much like the usual cross-docking, except that in this type of cross docking, the goods are already packed and labeled by the manufacturer and it is ready for shipment to the distribution center from where it is sent to the store. The goods can be delivered by the distribution center directly to the store without opening the pack of the manufacturer and re-packing the goods. The store can then deliver the goods directly to the consumer without any further repacking. Goods received by the distribution center or the store are directly sent into the outbound shipping truck, to be delivered to the consumer, without altering the package of the good. Cross docking requires very close co-ordination and co-operation of the manufacturers, warehouse personnel and the stores personnel. Goods can be easily and quickly delivered only when accurate information is available readily. The information can be managed with the help of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and other general sales information.

In cross docking, requisitions received for different goods from a store were converted into purchase or procurement orders. These purchase orders were then forwarded to the manufacturers who conveyed their ability or inability to supply the goods within a particular period of time. In cases where the manufacturer agreed to supply the required goods within the specified time, the goods were directly forwarded to a place called the staging area. The goods were packed here according to the orders received from different stores and then directly sent to the respective customers.       To gain maximum out of cross-docking, Wal-Mart had to make fundamental changes in its approach to managerial control . Traditionally, decisions about merchandising, pricing and promotions had been highly centralized and were generally taken at the corporate level. The crossdocking system, however, changed this practice. The system shifted the focus from “supply chain” to the “demand chain,” which meant that instead of the retailer ‘pushing’ products into the system; customers could ‘pull’ products, when and where they needed. This approach placed a premium on frequent, informal cooperation among stores, distribution centers and suppliers with far less centralized control than earlier.

Besides, if the supplier knows also, that for the company it will be incredibly difficult to make proper adjustments to guarantee smooth transition to the different supplier, then they will be less inclined to lower their price as much. It is not, how existing suppliers deal with Wal-Mart; when they see that Wal-Mart has found the supplier who will give them lower price, current suppliers lower their prices accordingly. They know that logistical system of the Wal-Mart can address with transition easily, and consequently they do not receive additional leverage, as it will not be difficult or expensive for Wal-Mart to choose other supplier.

Another reason that Wal-Mart’s prices are so competitive is because they buy in such large quantities that transportation from one end of the supply chain to another is not as expensive for additional units. This aspect of the logistical system does not come from skill or expertise it simply comes from the sheer size of the company, but this is still a factor. On the other hand, the Wal-Mart buys so many supplies from different places throughout the world, that they have the luxury of using bigger trucks and using less fuel to go back and forth. Also if by chance they have to use shipping services to transport material from one location to another, Wal-Mart will give them so much business that they will get huge discounts.

On the whole, the logistical system that Wal-Mart uses is so effective because it is so flexible. This is why Wal-Mart is able to offer things much cheaper than other companies can.

About Wal-mart Stores

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the largest retailer in the world, the world’s second-largest company and the nation’s largest nongovernmental employer.   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates retail stores in various retailing formats in all 50 states in the United States. The Company’s mass merchandising operations serve its customers primarily through the operation of three segments. The Wal-Mart Stores segment includes its discount stores, Supercenters, and Neighborhood Markets in the United States. The Sam’s club segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the United States. The Company’s subsidiary, McLane Company, Inc. provides products and distribution services to retail industry and institutional foodservice customers. Wal-Mart serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,416 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $405 billion, Wal-Mart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. Nearly 75% of its stores are in the United States (“Wal-Mart International Operations”, 2004), but Wal-Mart is expanding internationally.   The Group is engaged in the operations of retail stores located in all 50 states of the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, Central America, Chile, Mexico,India and China.

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The iot-powered logistics industry: use cases, benefits and challenges.

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Amit Samsukha, Director & CTO at EmizenTech , is an eCommerce consultant, proficient at improvising IT infrastructure.

With the Internet of Things (IoT), the world is undergoing a technological revolution. One of the industries that IoT has influenced immensely is logistics, with the global IoT in logistics market size valued at $34 billion in 2019. Other estimates expect the industry will be valued at $63.7 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of about 12.4%.

In this article, I will look at the ways that IoT should continue to affect the logistics industry as well as the challenges and factors that could impact its continued growth.

Key Use Cases Of IoT-Enabled Logistics

In order to understand where IoT is heading for the logistics industry, let's first look at a few of its current applications:

1. Shipments Tracking And Monitoring

Wireless devices —such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, eSIM and global positioning system (GPS) sensors—offer logistics companies the ability to track shipments' location and to monitor container temperature, relative humidity and other real-time conditions. With IoT technology, AI algorithms can process this data to assist route management and improve security, further predicting emerging issues, such as maintenance, to prevent problems.

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IoT technology can also be used to automate inventory management. For example, logistics companies can place RFID tags on items shelved in warehouses to track the products' location and inventory levels in real time. With the automatically obtained data on inventory levels from smart shelves and IoT sensors, companies can improve forecasting and optimize stock levels.

3. Fleet Management

IoT-enabled fleet management can offer real-time vehicle location, trailer or truck weight management, vehicle current status and speed. This way, businesses can optimize routes and scheduling, help diminish idling and improve fleet performance. These solutions can help reduce fuel costs and assist in monitoring drivers' for unsafe driving practices.

4. Predictive Maintenance

The data collected from IoT devices, like connected sensors, can help identify patterns, automatically predict the failures in equipment and schedule maintenance.

Current Challenges And Possible Resolutions

Even with these benefits, the adoption of IoT in the logistics industry faces several challenges. Let's look at a few of them and the possible resolutions to these obstacles:

1. Scalability

With the increasing usage of sensors and other connected devices in a system, the accumulated data would demand detailed analysis and processing. In the absence of scalable infrastructure, it may hamper data management. A scalable and flexible infrastructure that can handle surging data volume and adapt to changing system needs might help resolve this issue.

2. Security

IoT devices and networks are prone to cyberattacks, which can lead to the loss of data, among other issues. Through thorough security assessments and robust security measures, though, businesses should be able to protect their data and prevent unauthorized access.

3. Integration

With current logistics systems, IoT device or system integration may result in poor outcomes because of improper planning and prior testing. Before integrating IoT with existing logistics systems, proper planning and integration testing is essential for the system to perform seamlessly.

4. Staff Skills

As IoT implementation leads to various modifications in the system, employees may not find it easy to adapt to those complex changes. A skilled staff with technical knowledge is necessary to quickly adapt to the revamped workflow. For this reason, employee training is a must.

5. Data Quality

Data accumulated from IoT devices help make informed decisions and predictions, but invalid or inaccurate data can lead businesses to huge losses. Data-quality checks and validation processes can help ensure the gathered data is reliable and accurate.

Expected Forthcoming Developments That May Have Significant Impact

Finally, there are several technologies being developed in tandem with IoT technology that could impact their adoption. Let's look at five of them and how they could reshape the logistics industry:

1. 5G And Low-Latency Network

IoT devices require a strong internet connection. The deployment of low-latency 5G networks may improve the connectivity and speed of IoT devices, increasing reliability and efficiency.

2. Augmented Reality (AR)

With AR technology, IoT can provide real-time information and guidance to logistics workers, and this technology could result in reduced errors and improved inventory accuracy.

3. Autonomous Vehicles And Drones

Moreover, the invention of IoT-powered drones and autonomous vehicles can increase the speed and efficiency of logistics operations. If programmed correctly, these vehicles and drones may navigate to particular locations autonomously while avoiding obstacles and helping in decision-making based on accumulated real-time sensor data.

4. Blockchain

Blockchain technology can benefit the IoT-enabled logistics industry by creating a decentralized and secure ledger of every data point, such as inventory and shipping information, improving efficiency and transparency in logistics operations.

5. Smart Warehouse And Logistics Centers

IoT plays a vital role in automating warehouse operations and optimizing resources and space utilization. By using accumulated analytics data, smart warehouses and logistics centers can improve forecasting and inventory management.

Prospective Outlook

Based on the growth expected for IoT in the logistics industry, it will likely be crucial for every player in the space to follow these trends and adopt these technologies as a baseline for keeping up with the competition.

By understanding the current technologies, the challenges to adoption and future technological trends, leaders in the logistics industry should give themselves the ability to compete, and perhaps even the upper hand, in guiding their companies through the ever-changing technological climate.

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Ardent Logistics Success Story

• Tony Mulvey
• May 6, 2024

Just two years ago, Ardent Logistics was moving around 500-1,000 loads per month. Since implementing SONAR data into their organization’s operations, Ardent has successfully improved that number to over 5,000 loads. In addition, the company has SONAR Supply Chain Intelligence to manage RFPs and TRAC data to optimize margins on spot freight. Learn more about Ardent’s success by downloading the case study below!

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By increasing the number of loaded miles per day your drivers drive by 1% and your rate per mile by $0.03 you will make more per week #WithSONAR.

#WithSONAR you can save up to per week through better bid negotiations and more effective management of your routing guide.

#WithSonar you can add 1 more load per person each day and increase $5 margin per load, earning your company an extra per week.

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Adam proves transport and logistics is full of opportunity

Training and skills case study

Adam Katsoutas was still in year 12 when he took a summer job working for Kreskas Brothers Transport in Shepparton. He had no idea how much this decision would change the course of his life.

“I started off as a pallet wrapper on the forklift,” Adam recalls. “The team taught me how to unload and reload trucks and I just grew from there.”

Within 18 months, Adam found himself managing the warehouse where he worked. He later transitioned to a fleet controller role on the transport side, followed by another stint as transport manager.

Now leading the entire business as the general manager, Adam oversees 80 staff, 40 prime movers and 200 pieces of equipment across four sites.

“I was fortunate that the company likes to hire internally, but there’s really been a lot of opportunity in this industry,” he says.

Originally set on going to university to study commerce, Adam was surprised at how much he enjoyed working in transport and logistics.

With the demand for jobs in the industry growing, he hopes more young people will consider how much the career pathway has to offer

“The average age of a transport operator across the board is nearing the 47-year-old mark and rising,” he explains.

“It’s imperative that we foster and harvest young talent that comes into the industry so that we can become sustainable long term.”

While there’s no shortage of jobs, Adam says there can be misconceptions that hold people back from looking into the work.

“I know when a lot of people think of the transport logistics area, they think of blokes, blue singlets and trucks,” he says. “But that’s just one demographic of our company.”

“We’ve got super intelligent women across the organisation, and young people moving into business management roles. There’s so much variety.”

For newcomers who want to hit the ground running, he suggests looking into entry-level roles to get some experience under their belt.

Short TAFE courses are available for specific skills like getting a forklift licence or operating a machine hoist. Longer certificates like business and accounting can offer launchpads into other areas of the industry.

“My pathway was less than conventional but I always recommend just starting. You never know where it might lead.”

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