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Month: January 2022

BIFA award winners crowned

Posted on by David Priestman

The winners of the BIFA Freight Service awards 2021 have been announced by Matt Dawson, this year’s host of the British International Freight Association’s 2021 Freight Service Awards.

Dawson said that all the winners demonstrated a clear understanding of overcoming last minute challenges to achieve success, which reminded him of his own final mile, or last minute, delivery to Jonny Wilkinson in 2003, who then scored a drop goal that enabled England to win the Rugby World Cup.

There were many outstanding entries for the 2021 Awards, which were presented at the Brewery in London, despite a year beset by multiple operational difficulties and uncertainties caused by the pandemic and EU Exit.

A raffle held in aid of international development charity, Transaid, raised £3,600, whose CEO Caroline Barber (pictured) also made a presentation of Transaid’s work.

In the Air Cargo Services category, which was sponsored by IAG Cargo, Kerry Logistics triumphed over fellow finalists Maltacourt, Pentagon, and Uniserve Group.

Winner of the Ocean Services Award, sponsored by Port Express, was Allseas Global Logistics, which overcame strong challenges from fellow finalists NNR Global Logistics, and Vikstar.

Ace Forwarding took first place in the Project Forwarding category, sponsored by Peter Lole Insurance Brokers, ahead of fellow finalists AsstrA UK Ltd, LV Logistics, and Ucargo LLP.

In the Specialist Services category, newly sponsored by Newage, the winner was Your Special Delivery Service Ltd, whilst the other finalists included B&H Worldwide Ltd, Cargo Overseas Ltd, and Kerry Logistics.

Brunel European was revealed as the winner of the Supply Chain Management category, sponsored by BoxTop Technologies, seeing off strong competition from fellow finalists Hemisphere Freight Services Ltd, Noatum Logistics Ltd, and Uniserve.

Scooping first place in the Cool & Special Cargoes category, sponsored by American Airlines Cargo was JCS Livestock which overcame excellent entries from fellow finalists, Evolution Forwarding Ltd, and United Worldwide Logistics.

Hemisphere Freight Services literally went the extra mile to win the Extra Mile Award, sponsored by Descartes, ahead of the entries from fellow finalists Evolution Forwarding Ltd, Pentagon, and Unsworth UK.

Victorious against fellow finalists Aramex (UK) Ltd, Espace Europe Ltd, and Reliable Shipping Ltd, Unsworth UK triumphed in the Staff Development category, which was sponsored by Albacore Systems.

In the returning European Logistics category, which was sponsored by TT Club, the winner was Killick Martin & Company, with the other finalists being Espace European, Simarco Worldwide Logistics, and Unsworth UK.

Winner of the Apprentice of the Year category, which was sponsored by Seetec Outsource Training was Herbie Cobby (Geodis Freight Forwarding), who beat the other finalists, which were Matt Vick (John Good Logistics), Joshua Boswell (Geodis Freight Forwarding), Bobby Lowe (NVO Consolidation), and Thomas Low (OIA Global).

Meanwhile, Laura Hobby from FS Mackenzie impressed the judges with her passion for the industry to win the Young Freight Forwarder category, which is sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo. Fellow finalists were Ronan Kitchin (Aramex UK); Milos Bogovac (ZenCargo), Corey Chambers (Ital Logistics) and Jamie Halliday (Tudor International Freight).

Finally, BIFA Director General, Robert Keen presented a Special Recognition Award for services to the international freight industry, as well as charitable activities, to Gordon Day, who, after retiring from the industry following a very successful career, is now a stalwart of the London Freight Club and well known to many BIFA members.

Keen, commented: “After a truly extraordinary and very challenging two years, it was great to meet in person to celebrate excellence across the freight forwarding industry, with awards that are now in their 33rd year, and justifiably regarded as the most prestigious in the sector.

“Once again, BIFA was delighted with the range of entries received from BIFA Members that managed to take the time to document their achievements while continuing to manage their businesses through incredibly trying times, which is a testament to their tenacity.

“I congratulate all the companies and individuals that won each category, as well as those that were shortlisted as finalists.

“I would also would like to recognise the support and contribution of the sponsors to the running of the competition this year. Representatives from the category sponsors gave their time to carry out judging and the selection of winners for each award.”

UK attachments firm to exhibit in Oman

Posted on by David Priestman

B&B Attachments, a leading UK material handling manufacturer, will exhibit for the first time at the BIG Show (Builders International Gathering), together with its official dealer for the region; GOTRADE of the GORICA GROUP. The BIG Show takes place on the 14th – 16th March at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Muscat.

Mike Barton, Managing Director at B&B Attachments, explains the importance of the Middle Eastern market: “It is very encouraging to see that the construction industry in Oman is expecting rapid growth once again in coming years. It plays an important role in the economic uplift and development of the region. This market provides B&B with an abundance of new prospects, as our BlockMaster range becomes more sought-after within the industry.”

The BlockMaster range manufactured by B&B Attachments in Northumberland, England comprises a collection of specialist forklift truck attachments designed for material handling within the building products industry.

The BIG Show is an annual international exhibition that caters to the building and construction industry in Oman, the Middle East, and global markets. The event features an extensive range of the latest building materials, construction equipment, wood machinery, interior furnishings and other products, equipment and technology for building and construction operations.

The BIG Show is incorporated with Oman’s Design & Build Week. It is the biggest and most important building, construction, and interior design event in Oman.

 

 

Caja Robotics collaborates with Bastian Solutions

Posted on by David Priestman

Caja Robotics, a leader in robotic and flexible goods-to-person solutions for order fulfilment, will be working closely with Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Advanced Logistics company, to integrate Caja robotic systems in the USA. The two companies will leverage each other’s capabilities and leadership positions in the material handling space to serve a range of projects and customer sites.

“We are excited to collaborate with Caja Robotics and add their flexible and modular robots to our solutions roster,” said Matt Kuper, Vice President of Global Sales and Applications at Bastian Solutions. “Caja’s technology is very impressive as it adapts, scales and responds to the needs and demands of our customers, whether on large or small sites. Our business collaboration comes perfectly in time as customers consider and gear up with flexible automation for peak demands in 2022. We look forward to working with Caja and introducing their technology.”

Bastian Solutions is a trusted supply chain integrator committed to providing clients a competitive advantage. Its portfolio of solutions includes advanced automation such as mobile robots, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), automated guided vehicles (AGV) and goods-to-person technology, each considered on their own merits to provide tremendous productivity gains and a quick return on investment.

It also provides custom robotic and conveyor manufacturing as well as high-quality material handling software. With offices across the United States, Bastian Solutions plans to evaluate opportunities to deploy Caja as the right automated order fulfilment.

Ilan Cohen, CEO at Caja Robotics said, “Bastian Solutions is a leading supply chain integrator, so this is a significant step for the future of Caja in the USA. Together, we will expand our US foothold, expand sales efforts, and provide Caja solutions to a variety of customers to solve the ever-increasing challenge of fulfilling orders, especially during peak demand. We’re excited for the collaboration and opportunities to come.”

Born in response to the daily challenges experienced in the world of order fulfilment, Caja developed a smart warehouse technology that easily adapts to existing infrastructure and is flexible enough to handle peaks in sales. Caja Solution combines two robots: a Lift robot and a Cart robot, that work synergistically to optimise order picking operations. With Caja’s advanced AI-powered software, the robots move bins between workstations and the inventory, constantly optimising inventory management.

 

Doosan launches ultra-low emission forklift range

Posted on by David Priestman

Doosan, a leading manufacturer of robust high performance forklift trucks, has further extended its powerful new 9-Series world-class Euro Stage V compliant IC engine counterbalance forklift trucks with the launch of the advanced heavy-lifting D70S-9 range.

Built to perform in the most demanding industrial environments, and available in four models across a capacity range of 6 – 9 tonnes, Doosan says these tough diesel-powered trucks offer an unbeatable combination of outstanding fuel efficiency, performance, driver comfort and safety.

Powering the D70S-9 is the new highly fuel-efficient DM03V(A) Stage V Doosan-built diesel engine, bringing huge benefits in terms of ultra-low emissions and dramatically lower operating costs – saving almost half a litre of fuel per hour when compared with other models in the market. The new engine also provides high torque at low rpm, facilitating improved forklift acceleration, drive and climb performance – making the trucks ideal for loading and unloading using ramps.

Importantly, Doosan’s latest engine design is fully compliant with Euro Stage V regulations and is fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). In normal operation, regeneration of the DPF takes place automatically during driving – maximising uptime and ensuring uninterrupted all-round performance.

A cost-saving standard feature of the new range is the multi torque function, allowing the operator to select the performance most suited to the task. ECO mode minimises fuel consumption, cutting down on unnecessary acceleration; High mode increases power output to match the demands of heavy-duty work; and Standard mode maintains output at levels suited to everyday tasks.

Increased in-cab visibility

A new sleek cab design offers 40% increased visibility, greater comfort and enhanced ergonomics, giving the driver the perfect conditions for safe, efficient operation.

The cab has been cleverly designed using curved front, top, and rear glass panels to reduce blind spots and provide greater all-round visibility. And with an all-new ‘full floating’ cabin design, with improved sound insulation, noise has been reduced to just 74dBA and vibration to an absolute minimum.

In-cab air quality has been enhanced too. By introducing positive air pressure within the cabin and installing two internal filters the driver is protected against the harmful effects of dusty working environments, making the D70S-9 ideal for brick works and foundries. In addition, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system offers fully automatic temperature control and can be easily adjusted in manual mode.

When it comes to ergonomics, Doosan says the new cab layout of the D70S-9 firmly places the operator in the command driving position. An integrated 7” full LCD multi-functional display positioned close-to-eye level, along with clearly arranged switches incorporating status indicators and finger-tip controls for effortless actions, all help to boost productivity and enhance on-site safety

Along with offering easy to view data on the truck’s status, the multi-functional display panel includes an integrated maintenance management programme, diagnostic functions and PIN code security. When used in conjunction with optional front and rear cameras the panel can be used to display forward and reverse views, helping to improve safety on site. A weight indicator is another optional extra.

Powerful performance

Doosan says powerful, robust performance is assured. Its D70S-9 range has a new, highly durable reinforced steering axle and is equipped with an electronically controlled 3-speed ZF transmission, providing the driver with a smooth gear change every time and precision control when handling heavy loads. In addition, the sensitivity of the inching pedal is adjustable, ensuring accuracy when handling heavy and fragile loads such as glass bottles.

Included as standard is Doosan’s industry-leading sealed, oil-cooled disc brake system, which is virtually maintenance free and lasts up to five times longer when compared to conventional shoe brakes. The sealed units protect against outside elements such as dirt, water and grit, ensuring top-rate braking performance for enhanced safety and increased productivity.

Safety first

Safety is foremost across Doosan’s entire new 9-Series, as reflected in many of the design features already outlined. In addition, some further prominent safety features are: An operator sensing system; rear object detection system (option); auto tilt levelling (option); and blue safety light projection.

Doosan takes ease of maintenance into account too, with improved accessibility to the engine and service areas – the cab tilts back automatically, opening 20% more than on the previous model. The transmission oil filter and pressure check port are placed on top of the transmission for easy inspection and maintenance and electronic components are centralised for convenience.

Maintenance costs on the D70S-9 are dramatically reduced, with hours between servicing double those of the previous model when using upgraded lubricants – for transmission (1,000hr to 2,000hr) and engine (500hr to 1,000hr).

GEODIS announces new leadership in Germany

Posted on by David Priestman

Antje Lochmann has been appointed the Managing Director of both GEODIS’ Freight Forwarding and Contract Logistics activities in Germany. With this appointment, two of the supply chain operator’s lines of business in the country will benefit from her leadership.

Antje Lochmann (43) has many years of experience in the logistics industry and within the GEODIS organization. She joined GEODIS in 2011 and has held various positions in sales, marketing, key accounts and strategic sales planning. She is also one of the youngest senior managers to be promoted within GEODIS’ leadership programme.

Since Antje Lochmann took over the role as the Managing Director of Germany’s Freight Forwarding activities in 2018, she and her team have led the business to continued growth and profitability. Now, she will also manage the Contract Logistics’ line of business in Germany. She will be responsible for 22 locations and around 1,350 employees. Antje Lochmann is a member of the management board of GEODIS’ North, East and Central Europe region and she is based in Hamburg.

“Our Freight Forwarding and Contract Logistics business units will be gathered under the same leadership in Germany in order to create new synergies and to successfully develop the company in accordance with our regional growth strategy,” said Thomas Kraus, GEODIS’ President & CEO North, East and Central Europe. “I am very delighted that with Antje Lochmann we have an excellent and experienced leader for one of our key markets in the region.”

Solace expands EDA Summit Program

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Solace, a leading enabler of event-driven architecture for real-time enterprises, has affirmed its ongoing Event Horizon commitments with the unveiling of a new set of product enhancements, partnerships and foremost an expansion of the popular EDA Summit Program, devoted to the advancement of event-driven architecture (EDA) in business.

First launched in 2019, Solace’s Event Horizon initiative is geared to help businesses adopt, manage and leverage EDA at enterprise scale, so they can become more real-time in their operations and customer interactions. As Forrester asserts “a key transition happens when the investment in EDA shifts from a project tactic to strategic enterprise architecture.”

The initiative consists of goals and activities set out by Solace to invest in EDA product innovation; build a coalition of vendor partners united in enabling event-driven systems at enterprise scale; advance the state of open source projects; and nurture global EDA community-building through education, networking and thought leadership.

“Our commitment to Event Horizon is motivated by our vision of EDA being a critical and foundational component of the modern enterprise,” said Denis King, CEO, Solace. “We want to help enterprises build that foundation to unlock the full power and potential of EDA, make better products, improve customer experience, enable greater operational efficiencies and more.”

On the education and thought leadership front, Solace revealed that it will sponsor a second instalment of the EDA Summit conference on 4th May, 2022, building off the success of the inaugural EDA Summit conference held in May 2021. The company will also sponsor a series of webinars under the brand EDA Summit Series, starting with a webinar on 25th January entitled Best Practices for Event Enabling your Enterprise Integration Platform featuring insights from Forrester Research and SAP.

“We are excited to see EDA Summit generating so much interest in the marketplace and look forward to fostering it as an opportunity for the top minds in the practitioner community, open source arena and among service and solution providers to collectively advance the state of the art of event-driven architecture,” said King.

In addition to the EDA Summit Series, Solace runs an EDA Practitioner certification program, where to date more than 600 IT professionals have been successfully certified, demonstrating their expertise in the area of event-driven architecture.

Enhanced integration capabilities

Solace also announced progress in becoming the EDA backbone for modern integration technologies with the release of a new advanced event connector for the Mulesoft Anypoint platform, which natively integrates with both Solace brokers and the PubSub+ Event Portal and is easily available from the Anypoint Exchange. Backed by customer demand, the new Mulesoft event connector is just the latest in a series of investments Solace has made to event-enable popular integration technologies like Boomi, SAP Integration Suite and many more through the open standard protocols and APIs they support.

“Solace is dedicated to being the preferred EDA partner for event-driven integration. Our new advanced connector for Mulesoft Anypoint Platform offers our customers a mission-critical approach to easily integrating their applications, cloud services and devices, enabling them to stream information anywhere it needs to be, all in real-time,” said Shawn McAllister, CTO and CPO, Solace.

As part of its goal of helping companies easily incorporate cloud services into their event mesh, Solace has unveiled additional connectors that make it easy to link legacy applications with cloud-native services and serverless functions, starting with connectors for AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform. For users who want to trigger serverless apps in Azure Functions or Google Run, or store raw events into Google Storage, or push events in SQS, the new connectors let them do so through configuration, with no coding required and no separate connector runtimes to deploy and manage.

Furthermore, the company has announced new client library APIs for popular programming languages Go and Python.

These product enhancements build off the momentum of Solace’s recent Winter 2021 Product Update, in which the company detailed new features and functionality that make it easier to deploy, integrate and manage the PubSub+ Platform.

Simplifying Access

In an effort to make its event streaming and management platform available within the marketplaces of all of the leading cloud services,  Solace hasalso announced that PubSub+ event brokers are now available natively within the Azure Marketplace. PubSub+ Platform has been available in AWS Marketplace since earlier this year and will be extended into GCP and other leading marketplaces throughout 2022.

Ongoing Commitment to Open Standards

Finally, as part of its Event Horizon commitment to dedicate time, resources and code to open source developer communities, Solace announced it has published an open source version of its PubSub+ Event Portal’s event discovery feature as a project called “AsyncAPI Discovery Tool.”

The software analyses event traffic passing through event brokers and generates a corresponding AsyncAPI specification that can be used for code generation, documentation, visualisation, infrastructure deployment, and more. It is built on a plugin architecture that allows it to be easily extended for any event broker and has already been used to create agents that can analyse systems that consist of Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, NATS, HiveMQ and Solace’s own brokers.

“A recent survey showed that EDA continues to be seen as a key priority for optimising business, helping global enterprises respond more quickly to events and changes in real-time,” added King. “These latest advances serve as testament to our ongoing commitment to the marketplace, manifested through Event Horizon, to help make the promise of EDA a reality for all organisations across all industries.”

 

 

CEVA to operate Polish hub for fast-growing e-retailer

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Continuing the expansion of its global eCommerce business, CEVA Logistics has won a five-year contract with ABOUT YOU, one of Europe’s fastest-growing fashion platforms. CEVA will manage a new 40,000 sq m fulfilment operation in Wrocław-Magnice, Poland, using its automation and technology capabilities to deliver greater productivity and shorter lead times for ABOUT YOU’s eCommerce activities.

Under the terms of the long-term deal, the CEVA Logistics contract logistics team in Poland will be responsible for managing the new highly automated and technology-driven facility that will provide ABOUT YOU with the responsive logistics needed for its international expansion.

In addition, the facility will bring business and economic benefits to local communities. Approximately 1,000 employees are currently being recruited and trained to support the warehouse’s 24-hour operations. By strategically locating the new fulfilment distribution centre in Wrocław-Magnice in southwestern Poland, CEVA Logistics can easily serve ABOUT YOU’s customers across numerous countries. ABOUT YOU and CEVA are committed to operating the new facility in a sustainable manner, with numerous solutions being implemented at the greenfield site, including solar panels for clean energy.

Peder Winther, managing director for Europe, CEVA Logistics, said: “eCommerce continues to be a crucial catalyst in the fashion and apparel market segment. Our team’s industry expertise combined with our strong eCommerce and contract logistics capabilities will improve ABOUT YOU’s customer service through improved order fulfilment and shorter delivery lead times. The Wrocław-Magnice site will showcase leading innovation and technology deployments as our team of roughly 1,000 employees delivers greater efficiency and value to ABOUT YOU’s customers.”

 

Seismic-resistant racking for Peruvian warehouse

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Productos Sancela del Perú S.A., a company belonging to Grupo Familia and a leader in care and hygiene products, is responding to market growth with the expansion of its warehouse at Punta Hermosa (Peru), where AR Racking installed adjustable pallet racking.

The storage systems specialist AR Racking equipped the 1,200 sq m warehouse extension with an adjustable pallet racking system which has created 1,200 new pallet positions that will allow Productos Sancela to improve its growing operations. The company, leader in feminine hygiene and senior and elderly care products, has since 2018 been part of the Grupo Familia, one of the most important business corporations in its sector in South America and the Caribbean.

The adjustable pallet racking designed and installed by AR Racking will provide direct and immediate access to goods, enabling fast stock rotation that will allow Productos Sancela to more quickly meet the strong increase in demand that it is experiencing.

“AR Racking’s personal advice and attention in finding the right solution has been extraordinary. With this installation we have gained in agility, efficiency and immediate performance,” explained engineer Jaime Mondragón Iriarte, Operations Manager of Productos Sancela del Perú S.A.

Also, AR Racking’s galvanised products show excellent performance in extreme environmental conditions, a key factor in the project for Productos Sancela, given the location of its warehouse very close to the sea.

“The project observed seismic factors indicated in international standards and in Peru’s National Building Standards (RNE),” added Freddy Taboada, AR Racking Sales Consultant in Peru, who also pointed out that “communication with the customer was very smooth and direct from the start, helping to ensure the successful implementation of the project”.

Based in Lima and with a finished product warehouse, AR Racking Peru has established itself as a partner of reference to meet the most demanding needs for the design and installation of industrial loading storage solutions.

CLICK HERE to watch the video

 

Six supply chain predictions for 2022

Posted on by David Priestman

2021 saw many major challenges for logistics and supply chain professionals. With capacity constraints, ecommerce growth and driver shortages creating dilemmas for many as well as the increased focus from the industry on environment and machine learning, it was a year that was definitely not without its tests.

While reflecting on some of the ways the industry sought to overcome these challenges, Chris Jones*, Executive Vice President, Industry & Services at Descartes Systems Group, takes a look at what to look out for in 2022.

Global supply chains will be busy, congested, and chaotic

The challenges facing global supply chains show no signs of slowing down, with UK businesses left to navigate the complexities of Brexit and the subsequent delays to their operations, alongside the extra administrative burdens. Whilst some of the uncertainties surrounding the transition are beginning to ease, many firms remain concerned about how delays could impact their operations post-Brexit.

The key to navigating customs clearance is undoubtedly preparation. Planning is crucial not only for compliance – but also for growth and resilience – and businesses that are yet to lay the groundwork risk accidental non-compliance and further congestion at ports. With full UK customs changes now in effect as of 1st January 2022, businesses should prioritise the implementation of supply chain software solutions to take back control and handle customs declarations in-house or ensure they work with a customs partner who can provide full transparency at every step of the process.

Online buying will continue to fuel growth in home deliveries, presenting challenges that demand new strategies

The pandemic saw an increase in ecommerce that is set to continue in 2022 as the changes in consumer buying behaviour become more structural. This clearly presents both an opportunity and challenge for retailers and last mile logistics companies. The increase in volume will increase the challenge on an already tight last mile delivery capacity. Speed and reliability of deliveries will either come with a premium price, or remain as uneven as it has been over the last two years. For example, Amazon’s Whole Foods business is now incrementally charging for delivery to offset increased delivery costs.

We anticipate that more companies will re-evaluate their “free” delivery strategies and look for alternative delivery strategies such as combining deliveries for individual customers or locations, in order to minimise delivery costs and maximise the available delivery capacity.

The Great Resignation will accelerate the existing driver exodus, increasing the focus on retention

Whether long haul or last mile, the driver shortage is endemic and will continue to materially impact retail, distribution, and logistics companies. While finding new drivers to replace or add capacity will remain important, it’s also much harder to find drivers now than it has been in the past.

Instead, in 2022, companies will focus more on driver retention and productivity. Lowering turnover – which has traditionally been high – puts less pressure on the number of drivers that need to be hired and keeps the more experienced ones improving delivery performance. Keeping drivers driving and reducing stress will be the top retention priorities. Companies will need to do a better job at reducing wait times and improving driver quality of life through routes that are more realistic to execute, that don’t result in extended wait or on the road time and facilitate more predictable hours.

Driver shortage will force an emphasis on better planning

The increase in home delivery and driver shortage combined exacerbated supply chain vulnerabilities that, until now, retailers were just about managing to cope with – and have paid the price in terms of consumer expectations.

In the absence of effective planning, logistics companies and retailers will compromise a satisfactory delivery experience. While continuing to seek to recruit and train drivers, improving the overall productivity of existing drivers by optimising delivery routes should be the first port of call. By using advanced route optimisation software, all delivery options can be evaluated instantaneously, ultimately maximising capacity and increasing efficiency.

Sustainability will become an opportunity, not a challenge for supply chains

The focus on sustainability will increase in 2022 and it won’t just be from consumers. Many investment funds are taking an increasingly stronger stance on companies’ sustainability strategies and actual performance. This powerful combination will push companies to move faster to reduce their impact on the environment. It also presents an excellent opportunity for supply chain and logistics professionals to raise the visibility and value of supply chain strategies and operations.

Productivity enhancement is at the heart of any good supply chain performance improvement program and almost always results in greater efficiency, reduced paper and other waste that directly translates into reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Equally, many consumers are looking for delivery choices that help the environment, which presents retailers with the opportunity to look at innovative ways to combine or steer deliveries to reduce the mileage associated with home delivery.

This will not only benefit the environment and delight the consumer but will also result in lower delivery costs for retailers.

Machine learning will go mainstream in supply chain technology

This year, we expect machine learning (ML) to continue to be quickly adopted by supply chain technology providers because of the rich supply chain data that exists to teach ML algorithms. The result will be more accurate plans, estimated-time-of-arrival (ETA) and improved recommendations that make supply chain and logistics operations more productive and reliable.

Rather than displace existing supply chain technology, ML will augment it through embedded uses, such as optimising stop times, delivery locations, drive times and ETAs, or as part of greater data analytics solutions that are used to provide deeper insights into supply chain performance.

While 2022 will undoubtedly be a challenging year for logistics and supply chain professionals, the “C-suite” will recognise that their supply chains need to be world-class to help drive revenue and profitability. This will provide plenty of opportunities to show the value of advanced logistics and supply chain strategies, tactics and technology – and transformation will not only be the key to success but, for some, the key to survival.

* Chris Jones – Executive Vice President, Industry & Services at Descartes Systems Group – has over 30 years of experience in the supply chain market, including the last 10 years as a part of the Descartes leadership team. Prior to Descartes, he has held a variety of senior management positions in other organisations including: Senior Vice President at The Aberdeen Group’s Value Chain Research division, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development for SynQuest and Vice President and Research Director for Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions at The Gartner Group and Associate Director Operations & Technology for Kraft Foods.

CILT Ghana supports Transaid programme

Posted on by Keith McKinley

International development organisation Transaid has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ghana, aimed at promoting mutual cooperation in the area of road safety.

The agreement follows less than a year after Transaid began developing a professional driver training programme in the country’s capital, Accra; its first project of this kind to be launched in West Africa.

With funding secured from Puma Energy Foundation, Transaid has set out to raise training standards and expand training capacity for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers.

The MOU was signed by Engr. Mark Amoamah, National President of CILT Ghana, and Caroline Barber, Transaid Chief Executive.

Barber says: “We have a long and rich history of collaborating with CILT Ghana and I am delighted to be partnering with them again to deliver this life saving work. They have already played a key role to support us in setting up this project, and it’s fantastic to see the relationship formalised.”

The signing of the MOU coincides with Transaid delivering the first ‘Training of Trainers’ module, designed to build training capability in Ghana, following a format used successfully by Transaid on similar projects in Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

It follows a busy period gathering and analysing training material currently used in Ghana, establishing a national technical standards group and collaboratively assembling both a theory and practical training curricula, plus an instructor’s manual, to ensure the project got off to a successful start.

Barber says: “The provision of quality professional driver training will be expanded to increase access to training and ensure that drivers are trained to the highest standards. Our initial involvement is for three and a half years, and within this time we want to work with partners to ensure strong foundations are in place to facilitate sustainable and lasting change in Ghana.”

On signing the MOU, Engr. Amoamah announced that he planned to further support the initiative by offering free CILT Affiliate Membership to all those training as trainers.

Transaid is planning to put the first cohort of HGV driver trainers through both the theory and practical training within the next three to four months.

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