Time is running out for companies to make their mark at this year’s European Supply Chain Excellence Awards and join the likes of Primark, M&S and BSkyB in the Awards hall of fame.
Yet again the Awards have attracted a huge amount of interest but there is now less than two weeks to finalise entries ahead of the deadline on Friday, 15th July.
One of the most fiercely contested Awards is always the Hi Tech, Communications & Electronics category, which BSkyB won last year, although it was a close run race as arch rival Virgin Media, which was Highly Commended by the judges, was not far behind.
Virgin Media’s Velocity programme transformed the company’s supply chain, reducing inventory significantly while driving up operational efficiency and customer service – all achieved through the creation of a new 220,000 sq ft national distribution centre that now brings together several distinct supply chains for set top boxes, network equipment, mobile phones and cable into one integrated network.
Working closely with Kuehne + Nagel, Virgin Media completely reconfigured its supply chain within a six month period, replacing 12 warehouses with an NDC servicing a network of 52 field store locations and 3,800 front line engineers.
The judges were in no doubt that this was a very impressive transformation – the results were clearly there to see.
However, BSkyB also moved ahead and delivered another step change in a highly competitive market, driving efficiency within the supply chain while nearly tripling in size over the past two to three years.
BSkyB worked with UTL to deliver a fully integrated supply chain, incorporating a closed loop reverse logistics process for the repair of set top boxes.
The scoring between the two rivals was extremely close. But there could be only one winner. The judges felt that Virgin Media was close, but BSkyB demonstrated that it was a step ahead.
The judges said: “They take the customer side of their business extremely seriously. They recognise that the guy who comes and installs your box is the face of Sky and they have strict metrics to measure performance in this area.”
Entry into the Awards is free – the deadline is Friday, 15th July 2011.
Register and download an entry form at www.supplychainexcellenceawards.com
AWARD CATEGORIES
Industry Sector Awards
> Automotive, Aerospace & Industrial
> Consumer Products
> Hi-Tech, Communications &Electronics
> Public Sector, Services & Utilities
> Retail
Special Category Awards
> Contribution to Environmental Improvement
> Customer Service & Support
> Innovation in Supply Chain Practice
> Innovation in Use of Technology
> Logistics & Distribution Operations
> Logistics Strategy
> Sourcing & Procurement
> Training & Professional Development
> Team of the Year
> Overall Winner
