Distribution and Transportation Case Studies
Cold chain change
Managing an ice cream supply chain is a delicate balance of expertise, diligence and responsiveness. Over the years, Nestlé Canada Inc has mastered it. So why is it tweaking the formula now? Deborah Aarts digs in. It’s a scorcher of a day. The sun is pounding down through the heavy air; its heat reverberates off ...
CareGo revamps steel facility for containerized cargo
There are a lot of changes going on at Pier 25 at the Port of Hamilton. The site is home to Plant 19, which is leased to CareGo Innovative Solutions Inc. As profiled by MM&D in December 2006, CareGo originally developed the 50,000-sqf facility as a single-purpose, fully automated steel coil handling facility. Filled with ...
Payload payoff
When Unilever partnered with Schenker and Nulogy to improve its shipping processes, it knew the savings would not be immediate. Now, with the second phase of the program in full swing, the economic and environmental rewards are rolling in. Deborah Aarts gives an update. Sometimes it pays to be patient. In November 2007, MM&D profiled ...
Born to be wired
Left to right: Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada’s Christine Davey, Stacey Arthur and Jeff DravesPhotography by Roger Yip What does it take to exceed the expectations of a demanding retail network? For this motorcycle parts and merchandise distributor, it’s taken sound strategy, good tools and a shift to a more collaborative operating structure. Deborah Aarts explains. Harley-Davidson® ...
One giant leap
In the era of outsourcing, why would a company ditch most of its Customs brokers and opt to manage its import program in-house? Giant Tiger found out. Deborah Aarts explains. Accuracy means a good deal to a company like Giant Tiger. Every year, the discount retail chain imports thousands of containers. Given the complicated nature ...
The 2009 Logistics Review – Opportunity knocks
We all know it’s rough out there. As shippers and logistics service providers alike struggle to survive the turbulent economy, finding cost-effective ways to move cargo is growing harder and harder. But opportunities do exist. For this year’s Logistics Review, Deborah Aarts examines three areas that have been uniquely affected by the downturn and identifies ...
The Logistics Review – Project Cargo
Up until late 2008, Canada experienced an unprecedented level of activity on the project cargo front. Many companies found themselves undertaking large construction projects, particularly in the booming energy sector. Given the high cost of fabricating a specialized item in Canada, they found it more cost-effective to purchase it offshore and ship it in. As ...
The Logistics Review – Cross-Border Trucking
There is arguably no more potent indicator of the frail state of the Canadian economy than cross-border traffic figures. By the end of 2009, it is expected that two million fewer commercial trucks will have made the trip between the US and Ontario—the province with the greatest over-the-road cross-border traffic—than did in 2008. The numbers ...
The Logistics Review – Intermodal
Intermodal transportation has taken a beating in the past year. Late this summer, in its quarterly Intermodal Market Trends Report, the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) reported that year-over-year traffic was down 18.7 percent. “Intermodal volumes have leveled, on an absolute basis, since the sharp downturn from early fall [2008] through late winter [2009],” ...
A clever concoction
Say you’re a successful small producer of liquid foods. You need to move temperature-sensitive product to and from your warehouse in an efficient way, but you don’t have the buying power of a major player. How do you do it? Deborah Aarts explains Happy Planet’s collaborative approach. A lot more goes into shipping a bottle ...
Stepping it up
Grant Richardson, left, of Mold-Masters and Brian Rodway of Johnston Equipment show off the four Remstar Shuttle XP vertical lift modules at Mold-Masters’s headquarters. After years of neglecting the stockroom, Mold-Masters Limited is moving from hands-on picking to high-tech inventory management. The manufacturer is phasing in change one step at a time and reaping big ...
A user’s guide to the Great Lakes St Lawrence Seaway System
Chances are you know a thing or two about short-sea shipping on the Great Lakes St Lawrence Seaway System (GLSLS)—or HWY H20, as it’s commonly branded. You probably know it comprises the St Lawrence River, the St Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. You probably know it’s an artery for grain, iron ore, steel and ...
Up, up and away
Five years ago, Toronto-based toymaker Spin Master Ltd was a rapidly growing company shackled by a clunky, inefficient supply chain. Today, with full visibility and more efficient processes, it is soaring far above its competitors. Deborah Aarts explains how the right technology and strategy enabled take-off. Ask any eight-year-old: Spin Master Ltd makes cool stuff. ...
Plugged In
When you’ve been in the electrical business as long as EB Horsman & Son, you come to appreciate the importance of technology. Since 1900, the company has grown into the largest independent electrical supplies distributor in Western Canada. It runs 16 branches across British Columbia, serviced by a 20,000sqf distribution centre in Surrey. The building ...
Turning the page
Once upon a time there was an educational book supplier that had reached the limit in its distribution capacity. The evil foes of obsolescence and inflexibility reared their ugly heads. Along came a dashing new picking system and, thanks to clever planning and smart equipment, order was restored to the operation. Deborah Aarts tells the ...
All geared up
As Canada’s largest sporting goods retailer, the Forzani Group Ltd relies on effective deliveries to stores. The company has spent more than four years building and fine-tuning a sorting and allocation system to get the gear to customers faster. Deborah Aarts reports on how it’s all paying off. Replenishment is everything in retail. Success at ...
Walking the talk
Canadian outfitter Mountain Equipment Co-op’s entire business is devoted to outdoor exploration. Its members value pristine waters, clean trails and unpolluted air. It should come as no surprise that its new distribution centre is a model of environmental sustainability. But it also happens to be propelling business into a very promising future. Rare indigenous wildflowers ...
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