Leading logisticians will presenting end-user case studies at a new conference organised by Logistics Manager at Sandown Park in February. Lucy Tesseras reports.
Logistics Link South has been revamped. Not only does it have a fresh new look, but a host of exciting new features have been added to the already jam-packed agenda.
For the first time, Logistics Manager will be holding a free conference programme bursting with end-user case studies from top companies including John Lewis, Boots, Kimberly-Clark, LCP Consulting and Cranfield, and Bisham Consulting – all finalists at the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2010.
Along with keynote addresses tackling hot industry topics, speakers will be sharing their expertise and professional insights in a series of presentations.
Peter Surtees will talk about how Kimberly-Clark has embraced lean thinking, while Alan Penhale will discuss why Boots UK decided to rationalise its all-year-round inventory in one central automated warehouse.
Hear how automating its new distribution centre has revolutionised the way John Lewis runs its supply chain, and the collaborative venture between ELUPEG and OmPrompt that aims to reduce the total number of UK annual road freight movements by 1.5 per cent – more than 1.5 million movements – by 2017. While elsewhere, Professor Alan Braithwaite of Cranfield’s Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management and chairman of LCP Consulting will be looking at how to get the most from your logistics service provider, plus industry experts will be discussing the popular theme of reverse logistics, covering everything from the WEEE Directive to multi-channel retailing, in a one-hour debate.
In between conference sessions, visitors will get the opportunity to share ideas with like-minded professionals in the new Buyer Networking Lounge, which offers the chance to refuel and talk to peers in a relaxed business environment.
And all that is all alongside the market-leading logistics and warehouse exhibition, which brings together almost 100 of the UK’s best suppliers, who will be available to demonstrate the latest products and services face-to-face.
Yard sale
The Co-operative Group has selected C3 Solution’s Yard Smart yard management system to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. The company’s supply chain network has been expanding to support its retail growth meaning it needed to handle larger warehouses with more yard space and more vehicles. The group implemented Yard Smart to standardise yard processes, increase the visibility of vehicles in the yard, reduce the time in takes to allocate vehicles to loads, thereby minimising late deliveries to stores, eliminating unnecessary vehicle movements and therefore reducing carbon emissions. John Newton, The Co-operative Food’s logistics systems manager, says: “Yard management is going to be an important aspect of our new supply chain network.” This will be the first time C-3 has ever exhibited in the UK.
Getting the right balance?
There’s a fine line between having too much and too little inventory, so how do you get the balance just right? INFORM will be holding live software demonstrations of its add*ONE Demand Planner and add*ONE Inventory Optimizer, which bolt onto a transactional system such as an ERP, field service or WMS and are designed to act as a “turbo boost” to optimise inventory planning and efficiency. Cathy Humphreys, UK country manager, will also be hosting a presentation as part of the seminar programme which aims to show visitors how to cut stock levels by up to 40 per cent.
Getting ahead in the cloud
Proteus Software will be promoting the benefits of cloud computing and Software-as-a-Service, looking particularly at providing warehouse management systems as a SaaS package. The company highlights that there is no capex spend, plus a hosted WMS can be easily interfaced with non-hosted applications such as ERP, sales order processing and transport management, uniting the supply chain.
Optrak realises routeing benefits
Optrak Realisation is the latest version of Optrak’s vehicle routeing software and real-time fleet tracking and customer service add-on. It features pre-configured interfaces to TomTom Work and allows users to record vehicle activity and on-time delivery performance. The product, which will be unveiled at Logistics Link South, encompasses analysis, reporting and alerting tools designed to help companies focus on the key issues that affect operational efficiency.
Stanhope-Seta chooses AEB’s ASSIST4
AEB will be showcasing its three latest SaaS modules Compliance||XPRESS, Parcel||XPRESS and EMCS||XPRESS, along with its core product, ASSIST4, which is a comprehensive suite for all logistics processes. London-based precision instrument manufacturer Stanhope-Seta, implemented ASSIST4 to help it deal with its foreign trade operations. Christine Croston, Stanhope-Seta’s export co-ordinator, said: “Transferring from our manual process to ASSIST4 was a key move for us. The growth of our business depends on our ability to open and maintain our export markets. We’re delivering goods worldwide and creating a variety of supporting documents.”
sAAsY SideUp
@logistics Reply will be introducing SideUp, its new, full function hosted WMS, capable of supporting full printer and RF functionality, as well as paper-based usage.
Blue talk
Top-VOX has launched a Bluetooth headset called topSPEECH BlueMaster, which eliminates the need for wiring between the headset and the PDA.
Who are you going to call?
Renovotec is set to launch RenovoSure, which is designed to offer an extended level of service to customers and provide urgent support or repairs. There are four options available: four hour on site, next business day, next business day on site and assisted self maintenance, plus customers are able to prioritise repairs and dictate how urgently they require assistance.
Fresh look
SSI Schaefer has developed the ECOfresh crate which helps keep perishable food fresh during the entire logistics process. The plastic container’s quick folding mechanism allows the volume level to be reduced by 86 per cent, which also improves truck utilisation rates and lowers costs as fewer trips need to be made.
The future is bright
New for 2011 is Future Warehouse Live, a hands-on area for suppliers to unveil the latest warehouse management technologies and cutting-edge systems in a series of live demonstrations designed to keep your business one step ahead. The feature is sponsored by SSI Schaefer which will be presenting the latest automated storage systems in an innovative showcase of future warehousing.
The right route
Wolseley UK chose DPS International’s vehicle routeing and scheduling software, LogiX Suite, to help manage its deliveries throughout the UK. DPS will be showcasing the product at Logistics Link and is keen to point out that it is possible to make operational savings of up to 25 per cent.
Get a taste
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport will be offering free half hour taster sessions of its training and development products throughout the two-day event.
Track and trace
OBS Logistics will be showcasing two new products which are designed to increase transparency and improve supply chain operation. Calidus TTM is a web-enabled supply chain tracking system which lets customers, suppliers and staff track inventory levels and orders across the supply chain, while Calidus Vision provides a configurable dashboard.
In for a penny, in for a pound
Tecsys Europe is offering its warehouse management software for £1 per named user. The offer is valid only to new end-user customers and third party logistics providers based in the UK and is for an unlimited number of users for Tecsys’s warehouse, distribution and transport management software licensed during 2011.
Toyota helps the heroes
Toyota Material Handling has launched its Pride in Performance initiative, which provides tips and advice on how to improve operations, reduce damage and promote best practice in the warehouse. All proceeds from the sale of the CD-based kits will be donated to Help for Heroes.
You’re hired
South London Business has launched its Logistics Apprenticeship Training Agency which is designed to make things simple for companies as it employs the apprentices throughout the duration of their training so there is no hiring cost or increase in headcount. Currently more than 60 employers are benefiting from the support of an apprentice in roles such as trainee export clerk, warehouse operative and customer service courier clerk.
Winning formula
Witron specialises in the design and realisation of turnkey picking and material flow systems. In fact, the company supplied the system that helped Boots win the European Supply Chain Excellence Award for Excellence in Logistics Centre Operations at last year’s event. Its scope includes design, integration, ramp-up and life-cycle services.
Five years hard labour
Aisle-Master has introduced a five year/5,000 hours parts warranty on all new models, along with a yellow livery on its new range of articulated models.
Take the narrow path
Flexi Narrow Aisle has launched two trucks designed to save space and optimise efficiency and safety within the warehouse. The Flexi VNA claims to offer faster, safer work cycles with optimum stability in aisles as narrow as 1,600mm, while the Flexi HiLOAD is designed to handle heavy loads in very narrow aisle storage schemes.
Multi-directional reach
Jungheinrich has added the EKS Series of order pickers to its warehouse range, which use RFID technology to guide forklifts quickly and efficiently around a narrow aisle store. The company has also brought to market a new model multi-directional reach truck for long load handling, which is designed to reduce tyre wear during operation, and therefore cut running costs as all three wheels are powered electrically.
TraSend the visibility
VSc Solutions has chosen Logistics Link South to launch TranSend, the latest version of its Integrated Mobile Delivery Management, which is designed to reduce operational costs and environmental impact, streamline billing, improve cash flow and enhance customer service. Via the new Executive Dashboard the system aims to provide visibility of the entire delivery and collection process and includes proof of delivery management, route monitoring, and vehicle and tracking.
Softly, softly
Knapp will be showing its OSR Shuttle range, which combines shuttle-based storage with pick-to-light stations. It is designed to achieve up to six times the rate of totes in/out than a traditional ASRS, while having about 20 per cent less footprint and using less than ten per cent of the energy consumption. The company will also be showing visitors its vision-directed picking system, KiSoft VISION, which guides pickers to each required pick location by superimposing symbols in the pickers’ field of vision. It is now undergoing final testing before its release to market this year. Knapp’s Craig Rollason, says: “Goods to be picked are optically highlighted and an integrated camera reads barcodes, lot numbers and serial numbers to confirm the pick without any further human intervention. Accuracy is higher than with voice systems.”
Dashboard dreams
DeltaWMS will be demonstrating its latest product, DeltaDashboard. The graphical, management friendly dashboard system can be used with any supply chain system and has been designed to increase supply chain performance through warehouse process improvement. Also on show, will be the latest version of the DeltaWMS flagship WMS, which is suitable for all warehouse operations.
Seminars
The free seminars programme is back and will see a host of companies including inotec, @logistics Reply, OBS Logistics, Rocket Consulting, VSc Solutions and Belgravium holding presentations.
For more information about individual sessions and times go to: www.logisticslink.co.uk
When & where
TUESDAY 15th FEBRUARY
9.30am – 4.00pm
WEDNESDAY 16th FEBRUARY
9.30am – 3.30pm
Venue:
Sandown Park,
Portsmouth Road, Esher,
Surrey KT10 9AJ
By road: From M25 North and West exit at Junction 10 onto A3 towards London. Exit onto A244 at Esher Common roundabout, signposted to Sandown Park. Turn right onto A307, Esher High Street at T-junction/traffic lights. Sandown Park is a quarter of a mile on the left. From M25 South and East exit at Junction 9 onto A244 towards Esher. Over roundabout at Esher Common, then as above.
Free parking is available at the site.
By train: From London Victoria, Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Esher station (20/30 minute journey). Taxi rank at station or two thirds of a mile walking as follows: left onto Station Road, right at T-junction onto A307. Sandown Park is half a mile on the right.
By air: Sandown Park is situated mid-way between London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports.
