Jim Romeo - B2B Copywriter - Supply Chain, Logistics, Software, High-Tech
Transcript of Jim Romeo - B2B Copywriter - Supply Chain, Logistics, Software, High-Tech
Jim RomeoCopywriter
Supply Chain
Logistics
Transportation
Management
TMS Software
Warehousing
Distribution
White Papers, Case
Studies, Newsletters,
Blogs, Sponsored
Content, eBooks
CONTACT:
Jim RomeoCopywriter
Supply Chain
Logistics
Transportation
Management
TMS Software
Warehousing
Distribution
White Papers, Case
Studies, Newsletters,
Blogs, Sponsored
Content, eBooks
CONTACT:
MetaCarta Technology for ™
GIS Solutions
MetaCarta, Inc. 350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Tel: +1 617 661 6382
Fax: +1 617 661 6384 [email protected] www.MetaCarta.com
Heading:
APL Logistics brings strategic solutions to a global engineering technology leader as
the sole third part logistics provider.
As a strategic initiative, a global leader in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration,
pursued improvement in their sourcing and distribution networks. By consolidating all
third party logistics (3PL) services to one company - APL Logistics (APLL), the
customer is recognizing big savings and improved supply chain operations throughout
their enterprise.
The company continues to grow as a leader in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration
markets and produces revenues of over $3 billion per year. A component of the
company's future business strategy is optimization of material sourcing to support
manufacturing production. Another component in the company’s growth and
profitability is to improve their distribution channels and associated supply chain
processes.
The Relationship
APL Logistics has been a strategic vendor to this firm since 2014. The client previously
worked with multiple 3PLs to manage all of their logistics. Such an arrangement meant
different relationships and processes. Such an arrangement meant dealing with several
companies, each with different cultures and practices.
As the company sought ways to be more competitive, they turned to consolidation of
their 3PL to one company. This would provide more control and achieve economies of
scale. APL Logistics was chosen to serve as the sole 3PL, in strategic, providing
comprehensive 3PL services.
APL Logistcs: Partnership In Strategic Sourcing
APLL as the company's 3PL, took over 100% of the origin management, consolidation at
origin point, their import ocean shipments using APLL's NVOCC. In addition, APLL
took over their import air shipments as well as all shipments moving to USA and Mexico
manufacturing facilities.
The move to APLL as their sole 3PL offered key advantages:
•Unified contract management
•Standardized invoice processing
•Controlled service with one vendor vice several
•Greater global visibility via a 3PL who is well positioned globally
With APLL as the single 3PL the company is afforded better control over the entire
logistics process, which used to be handled by several 3PLs.
KEEPING PACE WITH CUSTOMERS
WHILE SAVING TIME AND MONEYENTERPRISE LABELING SOLUTION REDUCES LABEL TEMPLATES FROM
500 TO 1 AND PRINTS OVER 10M CUSTOM LABELS GLOBALLY
Headquartered in the U.S., Trek Bicycle Corporation is a world leader in the
manufacture and distribution of bicycles and cycling products. A major
competitor in the global bicycle market, the company exports to over 90 different
countries and their bikes are sold through more than 5,000 independent dealers
internationally. Trek also sells through Independent Bike Dealers (IBD), which are
standalone dealerships which sell Trek’s various product lines and has several
Trek Factory Stores across the globe.
Trek utilizes a JD Edwards (JDE) business system, which consists of numerous
modules for functional areas such as pricing, inventory, and manufacturing. It
interfaces with at least ten other software solutions used throughout the Trek
enterprise and has over 1,000 users in total, with about 500 concurrent users,
typically, at any one time. Trek has successfully partnered with Loftware for over
20 years to integrate labeling throughout their environment to address customer
requirements, streamline processes and maintain a focus on uptime and
continuous operations.
With the company's continued growth and international presence it has become
progressively more important to rely on the Loftware labeling solution to manage
increasing customer demands, manufacturing processes, warehousing and
inventory control and retail challenges.
Industry: Manufacturing
The Challenge:
• Avoid manufacturing disruption
• Address unique
customer requirements
• Streamline warehouse
management
• Simplify management of retail
labeling program
The Solution:
• Integrate labeling with
business processes
•Config
u
r able business rules
•On demand label printing
•Centralized application
for upstream and
downstream labeling
The Results:
•Reduced number of customer
label templates from 500 to 1
•Continuous labeling uptime
•Reduced IT involvement
•Capability for business users to
make label updates
• Printed over 10M pricing labels
across warehouses globally
• Produced custom labeled
products ready for sale
INDUSTRY CASE STUDY
Heading:
APL Logistics brings strategic solutions to a global engineering technology leader as
the sole third part logistics provider.
As a strategic initiative, a global leader in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration,
pursued improvement in their sourcing and distribution networks. By consolidating all
third party logistics (3PL) services to one company - APL Logistics (APLL), the
customer is recognizing big savings and improved supply chain operations throughout
their enterprise.
The company continues to grow as a leader in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration
markets and produces revenues of over $3 billion per year. A component of the
company's future business strategy is optimization of material sourcing to support
manufacturing production. Another component in the company’s growth and
profitability is to improve their distribution channels and associated supply chain
processes.
The Relationship
APL Logistics has been a strategic vendor to this firm since 2014. The client previously
worked with multiple 3PLs to manage all of their logistics. Such an arrangement meant
different relationships and processes. Such an arrangement meant dealing with several
companies, each with different cultures and practices.
As the company sought ways to be more competitive, they turned to consolidation of
their 3PL to one company. This would provide more control and achieve economies of
scale. APL Logistics was chosen to serve as the sole 3PL, in strategic, providing
comprehensive 3PL services.
APL Logistcs: Partnership In Strategic Sourcing
APLL as the company's 3PL, took over 100% of the origin management, consolidation at
origin point, their import ocean shipments using APLL's NVOCC. In addition, APLL
took over their import air shipments as well as all shipments moving to USA and Mexico
manufacturing facilities.
The move to APLL as their sole 3PL offered key advantages:
•Unified contract management
•Standardized invoice processing
•Controlled service with one vendor vice several
•Greater global visibility via a 3PL who is well positioned globally
With APLL as the single 3PL the company is afforded better control over the entire
logistics process, which used to be handled by several 3PLs.
Reinventing Mobile Technology for Today’s Supply Chain
Competing globally means building a robust supply chain strategy. Every supply chain strategy requires constant review and revision. What worked a few years ago may not be work today - or in the years to come.
Enter mobile technology.
Mobile technology is paramount to create operational efficiencies, building supply chain efficiency, and insuring a secure and safe IT environment for worker productivity and every link in the supply chain.
To optimize business results, a mobile strategy must be built, refined, and melded into a comprehensive supply chain strategy and subsequently, into the overall business strategy. This means alignment is required between IT leadership, supply chain managers and product line managers. This alignment helps build and fortify an effective mobile strategy.
Our Mobile Terrain
So what are the challenges within supply chain that can benefit from mobile technology?
Global supply chains today entail many assets, many moving parts, and many individuals who interact with the movement of goods and services at all levels. The supply chain is the thoroughfare for assets to move. From raw materials to finished goods and onto the market, the supply chain is dynamic; its velocity must be smooth and nimble.
The move to mobile may provide many answers.
What is being moved? Who received it, loaded it and delivered it to its next point? What time did it depart? Was product damage noted? Was transport disrupted for any reason? Where is it sitting and for how long?
Everywhere along this thoroughfare are touch points where individuals and systems
Integrating mobility into your supply chain is crucial in today’s environment for several reasons:
Manage Mobility, and You Lead the Pack
- Mobile technology is one of the emerging frontiers within logistics management. Mobile devices help catalyze operations and help you become the leader of your pack in achieving business goals and objectives.
Mobile Devices Are Growing in Volume
and Usage - There are more mobile devices in
the world than there are people. This wasn't true only two years ago. Mobile devices and network subscriptions will only increase in the years to come. They are more available than ever before and contain much computing and communication capability. Mobile devices are tools to manage, track, communicate and guide goods and services all along the supply chain.
Mobile Devices Are Valued Tools
Workers Rely On - Today, mobile devices - be
they personally owned devices or company owned devices, scanners, tablets, wearable devices or other - are all part of the core toolbox that used by drivers, warehouse workers, loading supervisors, operations managers and many other supply chain professionals. Mobile devices can be valuable business operations.
Mobile Devices Add Value To Supply
Chain Functions - They are used to record
driver miles, provide real-time indication of fuel consumption, monitor tire pressure, understand fuel taxes, look up cargo rates and tariffs, visually show a loading arrangement, and tell precisely where a shipment is. Monitoring all of these items using mobile technology has shown a significant increase in cost saving within the supply chain.
Capitalizing on the Connected Car with IoT
Deck:
[Text starts here] There are over 1.2 billion cars on the world’s roadways. Bernstein
Research estimates this number will grow to two billion by 2040. By 2020, about one-
quarter of a billion vehicles will be connected cars using IoT services, according to the
research and advisory firm Gartner.
Connected services are useful to drivers, car manufacturers, and other service
providers. For drivers, connected cars that use IoT services provide safety support and
assistance, GPS, entertainment, and more. For vehicle manufacturers, connected IoT
services allow them to receive vehicle data, maintenance updates, and data usage from
the cars and drivers. Others, such as entertainment, insurance and transportation
service providers, also stand to benefit from connected cars and their data. According to
the consulting firm PwC, such IoT connected services are predicted to generate sales of
$155 billion by 2022.
This presents a huge opportunity for vehicle companies and service providers. Visibility
and control via a common technology platform are part of a smart strategy to deploy,
manage, and ultimately capitalize on IoT services.
"The connected car is transforming itself from a vehicle transportation experience to a
service perspective," says Krish Inbarajan, global head of connected car at Cisco Jasper.
"The nature of connectivity in the car has been radios. Now, that is being transformed
further with the Internet and streaming radio. The connected car is now much different.
The value it creates is being further transformed. It's now possible to understand what's
being consumed, at what time, and where. In addition, the delivery of goods and
services is also going to be transformed by the connected car and the visibility and
control it affords."
The potential of connected cars has introduced a whole new paradigm in transportation.
Improving Your Dock Scheduling: A Seven-Step
Approach
It all happens on the dock. With new technologies and
tools, dock scheduling can be monitored and managed like
never before. But it’s important to use such tools and
technology solutions in an effective way that brings
positive results.
Carriers and vendors have a new and changing role in the
supply chain: they are now strategic partners with shippers,
customers and other entities in the supply chain. Their
operations are often tied to dock schedules and operations.
Thus, paying attention to all activities surrounding dock
operations is key. Carefully scheduling dock activities
using best practices is critical in building a lean and
efficient supply chain.
To improve your dock schedule, here’s a seven-step
approach to be used as a starting point to fine-tune your
dock scheduling and help your overall supply chain
strategy thrive.
1. Develop a Realistic Operating Schedule. Build
your operating schedule that accurately incorporates all
dock activities in and around them. Nothing can degrade
your trust and reliability than unrealistic schedule
assumptions and accountability. Use a checklist to build a
schedule that accounts for: operating hours, dock
appointment capacity, transaction times from arrival to
departure, vehicle factors which influence turnaround time,
Building Your Logistics Control Tower - In Five Easy Pieces
There are many components to modern and competitive supply chains. With many
components, there can be added risk. For example, there may be risk of inefficiency
when such components are not integrated, optimized, and interconnected.
The concept of a finely tuned logistics control tower – a central point of activity for
supply chain activity- is becoming a best practice in managing the many components of the supply chain. A logistics control paves the way for globally competitive companies
to achieve the results they need to not just keep up with their market competitors, but to also forge ahead.
Take the global giant Procter and Gamble, who stated at a 3PL Summit two years ago,
that they expected their centralized logistics was expected to contribute to a 1-2% sales increase, 2-5% margin improvement, and 5-10% improvements in asset utilization.
So what should the prudent and strategic supply chain leader of today consider when building the architecture and the engine of an effective control tower that produces
results?
We outlined five steps that serve as best practices.
1. Identify Your Processes
Today's supply chain is, by no means, a standalone entity. There are many moving parts.
And all of these parts depend on other people things and - processes. Knowing and
understanding just what these processes are, what they do and the important roles they
play is key to establishing the bedrock of a control tower. The processes extend beyond
inventory control, transport management, warehousing and related logistics. Processes
involve and include IT security, fleet management, human resources, manufacturing,
vendor relations; the list is a long one. In order for the control tower to be a very
effective tool for overall supply chain management, process identification is a very
important first step.
2. Visualize Your End-State
Know how you'd like things to be, how the systems could and should work together.
Create and share a clear vision of what a day-in-the-life of your control tower looks like
and what things will be accomplished. The clearer this picture is formed and shared with
all stakeholders, the greater chances there are that the desired end state is achievable. A
clear and well-defined end state is a prerequisite to implementing systems and solutions
that build your control tower.
3. Select Strategic Vendors
Paving the Way for the Cloud in State and Local Government
By Jim Romeo
Companies such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft have used cloud computing to
build efficiencies and expedite customer outreach. Such opportunity is ripening for
the state and local governments as well. Despite barriers in implementing cloud
computing, the rewards are great for those state and local governments who embrace
it.
“Cloud computing is still in its infancy in terms of adoption,” says Jason Waxman, a
general manager within Intel’s Server Platforms Group. “If you look at the installed
base of servers out there, only a small fraction are actually deployed in a cloud
computing environment. Moreover, the adoption of clouds services has only reach
the tip of its potential. The transition that will feed cloud computing will take place
over the next ten or so years.”
Infrastructure and services are being put into place for cloud computing to be
adopted. Cloud computing provided by a service provider, is further along in
development. “The infrastructure of service providers [of cloud computing] is a lot
more mature and has a number of years behind it,” says Waxman. Private clouds,
or infrastructure implemented within the enterprise’s own firewall, are growing , but
still not mature. He believes that as state and local governments invest in required
technologies, more private clouds will emerge to form the basis of tomorrow’s
public sector cloud computing.
Overcoming Barriers
A shift to cloud computing has certain barriers that must be overcome to fully
implement it, and reap its benefits. Technology must be implemented that will
enable processes, while insuring security and auditability. Because state and local
governments encompass a broad reach of end-users, technology that enables
business processes at an acceptable security level is key. In addition, a growing
number of external regulations from other regulatory bodies exist that govern how
Ensuring the Safe Passage of Goods
Areas of security focus within the seaport environment include cybersecurity,
physical security and other miscellaneous security risks.
The Port of Los Angeles has its own threat detection center. Photo courtesy of Port of Los Angeles
Jim RomeoCopywriter
Supply Chain
Logistics
Transportation
Management
TMS Software
Warehousing
Distribution
White Papers, Case
Studies, Newsletters,
Blogs, Sponsored
Content, eBooks
CONTACT: