High street retailer BhS has selected Empirica warehouse management software from Chess Logistics Technology to manage deliveries to overseas franchisees from its Atherstone distribution centre. The Empirica warehouse management software will be integrated by Chess with new handheld RF terminals and applications including export documentation and invoicing to provide BhS with an advanced real-time solution designed to meet its supply chain requirements.
Anglian Water Services (AWS) has extended the scope of activities under TNT Logistics’ control for another two years. The new role now incorporates inventory management on behalf of AWS. TNT provides a dedicated fleet of vehicles to deliver engineering parts, pipes and metres throughout the Anglian Water region, covering 27,500 sq km and serves 5.4 million people. The TNT team also manages the Peterborough warehouse, and will now also place orders with manufacturers for delivery into the warehouse or direct to site.
Wincanton has placed a further contract with national safety, security and asset protection specialist Reflex. This time, Reflex’s installation will be protecting premium quality food, beverages and clothing in transit for Harvey Nichols at its Greenford distribution site in Middlesex. Eighteen latest generation high resolution cameras have been fitted to monitor and record goods in and goods outwards movements. Wincanton management can view the high quality video images remotely on their internal IT network, and access the footage historically if required, on a digital playback facility.
AquiTec, provider of supply chain execution software, and voice recognition application specialist VoiteQ have formed a partnership to provide retail customers with integrated voice-enabled warehouse management solutions that increase efficiency and costs savings in warehouse operations. AquiTec and VoiteQ first worked together to jointly deliver a warehousing voice recognition solution for Nisa-Today’s in 2003.
DaimlerChrysler, one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, has appointed third-party logistics provider Exel as its International Lead Logistics Provider (ILLP). Exel’s role as ILLP encompasses supply chain management from non-North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) countries into DaimlerChrysler’s North American plants and its aftermarket MOPAR. Key areas of focus for the ILLP program include international transport, supplier communications and training, and management services. Having a single point of contact means DaimlerChrysler can more effectively control the flow of materials from its international supply base and better control the associated supply chain costs.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has a new president, the Rt Hon the Earl of Caithness. He has taken over from Dame Valerie Strachan, former chairman of HM Customs & Excise, who has been in office since May 2002. BIFA director general Colin Beaumont says: “He [the Earl] brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience which will be of great value in strengthening the effectiveness of the Association, and we look forward to his two-year term in office.”
Newage International, which manufactures generators, has appointed on-demand supply chain management specialist Wesupply to radically improve its supply chain efficiency. By introducing Wesupply, Newage is confident it can meet tough new production and delivery targets without any increase in headcount or manufacturing capacity. The business plans to implement Wesupply in conjunction with its major trading partners to improve visibility and synchronisation of key information throughout its extended supply chain.
Shoefayre, the family footwear retailer with 300-plus outlets nationwide, has chosen Island Pacific’s visual report design tool IP ViewPoint to gain rapid access to real-time figures and statistics from across multiple locations within the company. The company intends to implement the report design solution from its head office in Leicester, and will use it to gain detailed analysis of trends, stock information and sales figures.
The United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) has elected Tony Jones as its national chairman for 2004/5. Jones, owner and managing director of Sandbach company Smallwood Storage, takes over from Ken Richards who has just completed his second term of office at the trade association’s helm.
As part of an on-going commitment to personnel well-being, Tesco Distribution Division has installed an SBES ‘LifeSaver’ emergency safety alarm system at its 23,250sq m Southampton composite distribution centre, providing protection for employees working on their own, and promoting the highest level of safety awareness at the centre for all other staff with the emergency help points. The SBES LifeSaver system used by Tesco is designed to enable help to be summoned in the event of any mishap or other problem and comprises alarm help points, emergency pull cords and the Lone Worker personal alarm transmitter.
