Supply chain visibility is all about knowing where inventory is at any particular time and how well products in transit can be traced from the manufacturer to their final destination. Its significance can be appreciated when it is removed from the equation. Imagine a supply chain without a network of shared information. We would be blind. The further we can see into the supply chain, the greater our ability to make the right decision.
Read More →The Shared Milk Run
What Is It? Companies are continually challenged to improve their overall operational services by reducing transportation spending, inventory levels and delivery timelines. The Carter Milkrun System was designed to address those specific challenges and support clients’ lean manufacturing efforts. The Carter Shared Milkrun Network is a unique logistics model designed to support lean initiatives by combining freight from an international client base and thousands of suppliers into a single supply chain solution. One of the pillars of Carter’s success is the “Split-Bill” methodology, which allows clients to fairly split the overall cost of shared milkrun routes. How It Works Milkrun clients share the cost of each shared “milkrun route” based upon the percentage of weight they ship. For example, if you ship 50% of the total weight on a milkrun route, you pay only 50% of the transportation costs. Carter Logistic’s analysts perform weekly route optimizations to ensure shipments travel in the most efficient manner. The proficiency and determination of the Carter Logistics team allows clients to experience substantial and continued savings and achieve their lean initiatives. Carter’s huge network also minimizes empty miles, further reducing costs. As suppliers and/or manufacturing plants add weight to the network, the cost per pound decreases for all participating clients. We worked with Carter Logistics to create this e-book on The Carter Shared Milkrun Network.
Read More →Chemical company serves customers better and faster with Siemens AX4
Global chemical giant BASF operates production plants in several countries and is committed to creating additional value for its customers and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their processes. For its logistics, the company relies on a network of hundreds of carriers. One of BASF’s objectives was to manage logistics processes and enable teams to collaborate smoothly along the transport chain. The goal was for each shipment from BASF to automatically move through a standard workflow, from the production site to the recipient. With the installation of the Siemens AX4 cloud-based logistics platform, BASF could optimize management of their logistics network, automate communications to the carriers, transfer accompanying shipment documents from AX4 to the carrier system, and get status reports from the carrier. This new digital technology set the foundation for successful collaboration between BASF and its logistics network for all transport data. Siemens AX4 allowed for the integration of partners into the BASF network, and better control of transportation-related costs through the standardization of logistics processes. If you want to discover how Siemens AX4 can increase the transparency of your entire supply chain, visit http://www.axit.de/en/digitalization to learn more.
Read More →Smart technology for a smart future connect Siemens and Dürr
Dürr is a mechanical and plant engineering firm seeking to become a global leader in digitalization by actively promoting this transformation through core “smart” areas. One aspect involved increasing end-to-end visibility in logistics processes. A focal point was on information – the faster information is available, the more value it offers. Based on this strategy, the Siemens AX4 platform would act as a single point of entry for Dürr by bundling data, documents, and information from various sources for status updates, provide constant monitoring of a component’s location, and supply real-time tracking information for precise ETAs. Dürr benefits from the Siemens digital tools which has resulted in more control of the global enterprise’s construction and worldwide assembly projects, end-to-end supply chain visibility and complete process integration of plants, customers, and service Providers, and visualization of the supply chain from loading at production to the construction site staging area. To learn how to keep your company highly efficient, visit http://www.axit.de/en/digitalization for more information.
Read More →Siemens AX4 helps drive success for Deutz
Deutz is a worldwide provider of diesel and gas engines, and a company that prides itself on spirit, passion and a commitment to quality. To achieve better performance, Deutz initiated measures to increase the quality and reliability of inbound and outbound shipments. In addition to simplifying workflows, the IT solution needed to adapt to Deutz’s SAP system and eliminate manual input along the entire process. Deutz also wanted to avoid investing in its own IT infrastructure and cut its process costs. Siemens AX4 logistics platform offered solutions including that integrated global suppliers, carriers and service providers into a single system and provided central access of logistics data for Deutz as well as its suppliers and carriers. By significantly increasing productivity, and improving reliability and on-time performance through automated workflows, the AX4 cloud-based platform allowed Deutz to maintain their “customer value, quality, and technology come first” philosophy. With this implementation, their desire to cut costs was also realized because there was no need for an additional investment to increase warehouse space. To find your digital logistics solutions and get on the road to success, visit http://www.axit.de/en/digitalization for more information.
Read More →Siemens AX4 logistics platform keeps business on track
As a provider of integrated logistics services in the railway industry, DB Cargo Logistics is responsible for managing the complete transport chain of its customers. To meet the highest customer expectations, DB Cargo Logistics wanted to implement a SCM solution that enables seamless, end-to-end monitoring of rail transports involving various rail carriers. As a leading provider of innovative sorting products, technology, and solutions, Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL) proved its AX4 cloud-based logistics platform to keep DB Cargo on track. Siemens AX4 logistics platform brought many layers and levels of operation together for DB Cargo Logistics, including: Mapping train, railcar and container structures Defining schedules rail freightservices Import of real-time tracking data from all logisticspartners Tracking information for their entire rail network The company-wide integration resulted in improved routes for many prominent automotive customers, and more reliable processes and smooth workflows with lower management. Additionally, AX4 is offered as a cloud solution, so there is no need for on-site installation. The Siemens AX4 platform has become a critical tool for the retention of DB Cargo Logistics customers, and a way to help DB Cargo successfully boost daily efficiency, quality, and performance. To find out how you can manage your complete supply and delivery chain with one click, visit http://www.axit.de/en/digitalization for more information.
Read More →QReview Supply Chain Industry Predictions for 2018
Stay ahead of trends in the supply chain industry by reading the latest edition of QReview, a supply chain industry publication created by Transportation Impact. This issue features the 2018 Qforecast, their predictions for the year ahead. Articles include: Partner Spotlight: Industrial Fleet Management – Industrial Fleet Management helps companies that operate their own fleets save money in ways they didn’t know were possible LTL Looking Strong in 2018 – Read about the potential changes shippers can expect to see in the coming year. The Customer Wants it NOW – There’s a revolution rumbling into gear in last mile logistics. Here’s a look at how this crucial segment could change in 2018. The Full (Truckload) Story – The truckload industry is seeing strong demand and is finally in a position of strength with shippers again. But will other industry headwinds prevent rates from continuing to rise? UPS and FedEx GRIs – Things have changed. The announced GRIs from FedEx and UPS mean shippers should reevaluate their routing guides. Click through below to read QReview.
Read More →4 Types of Supply Chain Risk and How to Address Them
As a Corporate Sourcing & Logistics Executive at NBCUniversal, Mark Pierson is responsible for the strategic sourcing of suppliers and the implementation and management of contracts and processes to ensure that NBCUniversal uses efficient and effective logistics and compliance procedures in all of their global operations. These include home entertainment, television and theatrical production and distribution, NBC News, Sports, Olympics, and theme park divisions. Evidently, NBCUniversal has a tremendously complicated supply chain and one that sources from manufacturing, retail, food services, and more. Risk is inherent in any business, but in a global company with such varied business units, the number of risks to plan for are limitless. Pierson scans the news each morning and uses the VUCA method to classify types of risk and what response they warrant. This method asks two questions: How much do you know about the situation? How well can you predict the results of your actions? When Pierson came to the American Supply Chain Summit last year, he shared some of his experience and the supply chain and logistical risks he was facing that week alone in his talk on “Seeing the Big Picture: Gaining Visibility Across your Supply Chain”.
Read More →Let Solid Designs help you develop new products & create manufacturing solutions!
Solid Design Solutions provides assistance with the development of new products and creates manufacturing solutions for a number of industries, which include: consumer, medical, specialty machines and industrial. Some of their areas of expertise include: Control engineering Project management Manufacturing engineering Industrial design Software Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Product Development Research Drafting More details on the type of services they offer can be found here: https://generisgp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Inforgraphic-final.pdf Solid Design Solutions Website: http://bit.ly/2eMae5b
Read More →Does Data Help or Hamper Your Ability to Execute Effectively?
Winning the game requires you to manage the details in short increment time intervals. For a fast/short cycle time business, if you learned that you missed the day at the end of the day, it’s too late to do much about it. But if you had the ability to measure and address performance in hourly or shorter time frames, there’s time to take action to ensure you meet the day’s goals. To learn more about data-driven daily management, check out this eguide by Dploy Solutions!
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