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Day: 18 July 2024

NHS Distribution Centre Opens in England

Posted on by David Priestman

A new NHS Supply Chain regional distribution centre that will support 115 NHS Trusts is now fully operational, providing a more resilient and efficient supply of products and medical equipment to hospitals and other health care providers across the North West of England.

The 400,000 square foot Gorsey Point facility – the size of six professional football pitches – is around three times larger than the facility it replaces, providing 60,000 pallet spaces – an eightfold increase (7,500).

NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales. The regional distribution centre is located in Widnes 400 and will support 360 jobs, with the majority relocating from the smaller previous warehouse in nearby Runcorn. It will serve 3,500 delivery locations and 18,400 individual requisition points that deliver the products and equipment needed to care for patients across the region.

NHS Supply Chain CEO Andrew New said the new facility would improve resilience of the NHS’ supply chain in the North West and provide a more efficient service to NHS organisations in the area.

“NHS Supply Chain’s Gorsey Point facility is a major investment in the North West and a significant part of our long term national growth plans, future-proofing our logistics operation in this part of the country and allowing us to better meet the growing needs of NHS trusts in the region,” he said. “The purpose-built facility gives us the capacity to store not only a greater level of stock overall but also a broader range of products used by the NHS, boosting the resilience of our supply chain. This is something NHS trusts really wanted. Our reason for being is to help the NHS to put patients first and in this case we are delivering on that by working to make sure clinicians can rely on our supply chain to provide the products and equipment they need to do their job in a reliable, clinically assured and cost efficient way.”

Gorsey Point is strategically located within 3.5 miles of junction 7 of the M62, 5 miles from junction 12 of the M56 and close to the access point onto the Mersey Gateway Bridge, which links Runcorn and Widnes. The site benefits from excellent connectivity to the regional motorway network as well as the 3M Rail Freight Terminal at Widnes, Garston Docks, The Port of Liverpool, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

read more

Case Study: The Building of NHS Nightingale

 

NHS Distribution Centre Opens in England

Posted on by David Priestman

A new NHS Supply Chain regional distribution centre that will support 115 NHS Trusts is now fully operational, providing a more resilient and efficient supply of products and medical equipment to hospitals and other health care providers across the North West of England.

The 400,000 square foot Gorsey Point facility – the size of six professional football pitches – is around three times larger than the facility it replaces, providing 60,000 pallet spaces – an eightfold increase (7,500).

NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales. The regional distribution centre is located in Widnes 400 and will support 360 jobs, with the majority relocating from the smaller previous warehouse in nearby Runcorn. It will serve 3,500 delivery locations and 18,400 individual requisition points that deliver the products and equipment needed to care for patients across the region.

NHS Supply Chain CEO Andrew New said the new facility would improve resilience of the NHS’ supply chain in the North West and provide a more efficient service to NHS organisations in the area.

“NHS Supply Chain’s Gorsey Point facility is a major investment in the North West and a significant part of our long term national growth plans, future-proofing our logistics operation in this part of the country and allowing us to better meet the growing needs of NHS trusts in the region,” he said. “The purpose-built facility gives us the capacity to store not only a greater level of stock overall but also a broader range of products used by the NHS, boosting the resilience of our supply chain. This is something NHS trusts really wanted. Our reason for being is to help the NHS to put patients first and in this case we are delivering on that by working to make sure clinicians can rely on our supply chain to provide the products and equipment they need to do their job in a reliable, clinically assured and cost efficient way.”

Gorsey Point is strategically located within 3.5 miles of junction 7 of the M62, 5 miles from junction 12 of the M56 and close to the access point onto the Mersey Gateway Bridge, which links Runcorn and Widnes. The site benefits from excellent connectivity to the regional motorway network as well as the 3M Rail Freight Terminal at Widnes, Garston Docks, The Port of Liverpool, and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

read more

Case Study: The Building of NHS Nightingale

 

Project to Expand Distribution Operations Completed

Posted on by David Priestman

A state-of-the-art shuttle system, automated processes for incoming goods, 130,000 storage bins, and new picking workstations: Erwin Müller has significantly expanded its warehouse capacity at the Buttenwiesen / Germany site. FORTNA was commissioned with the concept design and implementation of the new future-oriented distribution operations, where they were a driving force and key partner throughout the project up to the go-live in December 2023.

Founded in 1951 as a textile wholesaler, Erwin Müller Versandhaus GmbH continues to grow. The company has gradually developed into a multi-channel specialist for home and household textiles and has proven it has the knack for understanding consumer needs when it opened an online shop in 1997.

“Since opening our online shop 27 years ago, we have always focused on being one step ahead of market requirements, and our current project is no exception: greater capacity, more flexible fulfillment and customer service that sets new standards,” explains Tobias Eder, Managing Director at Erwin Müller. “After so many years of being able to count on FORTNA’s technical expertise and implementation skills, we once again entrusted project manager Andreas Beermann and his team with the concept design and upgrade to our distribution operations.”

The data collected was used to design the upgrade, which consists of a new building with a main incoming goods centre and a shuttle and dispatch system connected to the existing building via a bridge. FORTNA devised a solution that took place in stages during ongoing operations. The new building will operate as a central warehouse for all items that can be ordered via the catalogue and online shops. The official opening ceremony for the new building took place in May 2021, while steel construction and other installation work for the automated logistics systems were completed in 2023. The shuttle warehouse, with 16 aisles, now provides an additional 11,000 m² of usable space. “We have combined new systems and inventory fulfillment in a multi-site strategy designed to consolidate orders and ensure high-performance processing,” explains Andreas Beermann, Sr. Manager Solution Design at FORTNA. “In the new incoming goods center, automation will significantly increase profitability and efficiency.”

Incoming articles are registered in the new building extension, transferred to containers as required, and scanned into the system using new barcode scanners. One hundred fifty-two shuttle (152) vehicles are used to transport and distribute the items automatically to the appropriate storage locations. The shuttle vehicles can be in either the shuttle warehouse for storage or directly to the eight (8) new ergonomic pick and pack workstations. Once there, they are manually picked to order and packed in up to 180 shipping cartons per hour for international dispatch. This close interaction between manual and automated processes increases productivity, saves time and reduces the error rate.

As Tobias Eder states, “With the support of FORTNA, we have put in place a future-proof solution at Erwin Müller’s central operations in Buttenwiesen that organizes the flow of goods to the best possible extent, is able to react flexibly to changing customer and industry requirements, and also offers sufficient capacity for future growth.”

read more

Fortna and Geek+ Partner for Order Fulfilment

 

Life Science Centre Cooling Facility Opens

Posted on by David Priestman

Federal Express Corporation has opened its first European Life Science Center in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. The state-of-the-art cooling facility joins a global network of FedEx Life Science Centres, with capabilities to receive, store, kit, and pick/pack/ship healthcare products.

With this facility, FedEx offers an end-to-end supply chain solution for temperature-sensitive medical storage and transport, allowing pharmaceuticals, the clinical and biologics industry to deliver care for their patients. The Life Science Center Veldhoven is a GDP-licensed (Good Distribution Practices) facility.

The Life Science Center (LSC) in Veldhoven is the sixth of its kind next to those in Memphis (USA), Mumbai (India), Singapore, Seoul (South Korea) and Tokyo (Japan). The facility is strategically situated in the epicenter of innovation, tech-industries and in reach for the conglomerate of Europe-based pharmaceutical, biotech and life science industries.

“Today, we are thrilled to announce the opening of the first European FedEx Life Science Center right here in the Netherlands,” said Marius Penninks, Vice President Ground Operations at FedEx Benelux. “As global demand for healthcare continues to rise, having a robust logistics solution is crucial for the safe, timely, and efficient delivery of medicines, clinical trials, and biological products. This new Life Science Center positions us perfectly to be the vital link in the medical transport supply chain, facilitating the timely delivery of care to patients.”

Storage and Value-Added Services

The specialised warehouse. with an area of one thousand square metres, offers four temperature-controlled rooms and freezers for temperatures ranging from -80 °C to +25 °C. It is also monitored 24/7 and each temperature zone has its own alarm system. On top of cooling facilities, it includes specialised packaging, proactive monitoring solutions and value-added services such as labelling and reverse logistics.

Focus on healthcare

According to Grandview Research, the Healthcare Logistics Market is valued at $67 to $90 billion, driven by the rising demand for generic and branded pharmaceuticals. This growth has increased the need for storage facilities to maintain product efficacy and ensure efficient distribution to distributors and retailers.

The opening of the Life Science Center in Veldhoven marks an important milestone in the company’s end-to-end services. Because FedEx now also has high-quality temperature-sensitive technologies at its disposal in Europe, it is tapping into this fast growing vertical market in the pharmaceutical and clinical industry in this region.

Besides its favorable location in both Europe and the FedEx network, Veldhoven is situated in the famous Brainport Eindhoven region which received a 2,5-billion-euro government investment through ‘Project Beethoven’ for the benefit of the tech industry, including investments in infrastructure, housing and education. These investments are expected to give a boost to start-ups in the field of innovative technology and biotech sciences.

read more

Heathrow Life Sciences and Healthcare Facility Opened by GEFCO

 

Life Science Centre Cooling Facility Opens

Posted on by David Priestman

Federal Express Corporation has opened its first European Life Science Center in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. The state-of-the-art cooling facility joins a global network of FedEx Life Science Centres, with capabilities to receive, store, kit, and pick/pack/ship healthcare products.

With this facility, FedEx offers an end-to-end supply chain solution for temperature-sensitive medical storage and transport, allowing pharmaceuticals, the clinical and biologics industry to deliver care for their patients. The Life Science Center Veldhoven is a GDP-licensed (Good Distribution Practices) facility.

The Life Science Center (LSC) in Veldhoven is the sixth of its kind next to those in Memphis (USA), Mumbai (India), Singapore, Seoul (South Korea) and Tokyo (Japan). The facility is strategically situated in the epicenter of innovation, tech-industries and in reach for the conglomerate of Europe-based pharmaceutical, biotech and life science industries.

“Today, we are thrilled to announce the opening of the first European FedEx Life Science Center right here in the Netherlands,” said Marius Penninks, Vice President Ground Operations at FedEx Benelux. “As global demand for healthcare continues to rise, having a robust logistics solution is crucial for the safe, timely, and efficient delivery of medicines, clinical trials, and biological products. This new Life Science Center positions us perfectly to be the vital link in the medical transport supply chain, facilitating the timely delivery of care to patients.”

Storage and Value-Added Services

The specialised warehouse. with an area of one thousand square metres, offers four temperature-controlled rooms and freezers for temperatures ranging from -80 °C to +25 °C. It is also monitored 24/7 and each temperature zone has its own alarm system. On top of cooling facilities, it includes specialised packaging, proactive monitoring solutions and value-added services such as labelling and reverse logistics.

Focus on healthcare

According to Grandview Research, the Healthcare Logistics Market is valued at $67 to $90 billion, driven by the rising demand for generic and branded pharmaceuticals. This growth has increased the need for storage facilities to maintain product efficacy and ensure efficient distribution to distributors and retailers.

The opening of the Life Science Center in Veldhoven marks an important milestone in the company’s end-to-end services. Because FedEx now also has high-quality temperature-sensitive technologies at its disposal in Europe, it is tapping into this fast growing vertical market in the pharmaceutical and clinical industry in this region.

Besides its favorable location in both Europe and the FedEx network, Veldhoven is situated in the famous Brainport Eindhoven region which received a 2,5-billion-euro government investment through ‘Project Beethoven’ for the benefit of the tech industry, including investments in infrastructure, housing and education. These investments are expected to give a boost to start-ups in the field of innovative technology and biotech sciences.

read more

Heathrow Life Sciences and Healthcare Facility Opened by GEFCO

 

CMA CGM and Google AI Partnership for Shipping and Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

CMA CGM and Google today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across CMA CGM’s operations worldwide.

By leveraging Google’s proven AI solutions and insights from experts, CMA CGM will help empower its employees’ decision-making. In fact, every program and tool developed within the partnership will be designed to assist users in their decision-making processes across several key workflows.

This comprehensive collaboration aims to revolutionize shipping by enhancing efficiency, responsiveness, and adaptability to market fluctuations and disruptions, resulting in faster and more responsive customer service. As part of the partnership, CMA CGM will actively seek to optimize vessel routes, container handling, and inventory management to ensure efficient and timely delivery of goods while minimizing costs and carbon footprints.

CEVA Logistics, the logistics arm of CMA CGM, will pioneer the data-driven future of logistics, focusing first on warehouse smart management aimed at better operating its 10.3 million square meters of warehouse space. The smart management tool, built on Google technology, will allow CEVA Logistics to better anticipate and plan its operations thanks to an enhanced volume and demand forecasting.

The partnership will eventually benefit all CMA CGM associates thanks to dedicated high-impact training sessions at TANGRAM, the Group’s excellence centre for learning and innovation. This collaboration is part of CMA CGM’s overall strategy to transform its business through AI innovation. It follows key moves such as CMA CGM’s investment in Mistral AI, PoolSide, and Dataiku, as well as the launch of open science lab, Kyutai.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, stated: “I am pleased to announce this global partnership between the CMA CGM Group and Google to accelerate AI adoption across our operations. This collaboration aligns with our digital roadmap and investments, marking a crucial step in our transformation strategy. Together with Google, we will lead the digital revolution in shipping, logistics and media, optimize our processes, and enhance our competitive edge. We are committed to driving innovation with tangible benefits for our staff members and our customers”.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, said, “by combining CMA CGM’s deep expertise in shipping and logistics with Google’s AI tools and secure infrastructure we can help CMA CGM digitally transform its own operations and those of its customers. This partnership is a prime example of how AI can assist employees, improve outcomes for customers, and revolutionize industries.”

read more

CMA CGM Completes Tender Offer to Acquire CEVA Logistics

 

CMA CGM and Google AI Partnership for Shipping and Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

CMA CGM and Google today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across CMA CGM’s operations worldwide.

By leveraging Google’s proven AI solutions and insights from experts, CMA CGM will help empower its employees’ decision-making. In fact, every program and tool developed within the partnership will be designed to assist users in their decision-making processes across several key workflows.

This comprehensive collaboration aims to revolutionize shipping by enhancing efficiency, responsiveness, and adaptability to market fluctuations and disruptions, resulting in faster and more responsive customer service. As part of the partnership, CMA CGM will actively seek to optimize vessel routes, container handling, and inventory management to ensure efficient and timely delivery of goods while minimizing costs and carbon footprints.

CEVA Logistics, the logistics arm of CMA CGM, will pioneer the data-driven future of logistics, focusing first on warehouse smart management aimed at better operating its 10.3 million square meters of warehouse space. The smart management tool, built on Google technology, will allow CEVA Logistics to better anticipate and plan its operations thanks to an enhanced volume and demand forecasting.

The partnership will eventually benefit all CMA CGM associates thanks to dedicated high-impact training sessions at TANGRAM, the Group’s excellence centre for learning and innovation. This collaboration is part of CMA CGM’s overall strategy to transform its business through AI innovation. It follows key moves such as CMA CGM’s investment in Mistral AI, PoolSide, and Dataiku, as well as the launch of open science lab, Kyutai.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, stated: “I am pleased to announce this global partnership between the CMA CGM Group and Google to accelerate AI adoption across our operations. This collaboration aligns with our digital roadmap and investments, marking a crucial step in our transformation strategy. Together with Google, we will lead the digital revolution in shipping, logistics and media, optimize our processes, and enhance our competitive edge. We are committed to driving innovation with tangible benefits for our staff members and our customers”.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, said, “by combining CMA CGM’s deep expertise in shipping and logistics with Google’s AI tools and secure infrastructure we can help CMA CGM digitally transform its own operations and those of its customers. This partnership is a prime example of how AI can assist employees, improve outcomes for customers, and revolutionize industries.”

read more

CMA CGM Completes Tender Offer to Acquire CEVA Logistics

 

Digital Catapult Platform to Solve Supply Chain Setbacks

Posted on by David Priestman

Digital Catapult has today launched the Digital Supply Chain Hub, a platform designed to facilitate strategic collaboration between manufacturers and digital solution providers across the UK. The new platform will meet industry demand to accelerate the digitalisation of supply chain operations, driving resilience and sustainability through the application of deep tech solutions.

Immediately available to businesses, the Hub has been developed by Digital Catapult to tackle problems often encountered during the search for a suitable supply chain partner, such as siloed operations and ineffective information transfer. The platform will remedy these problems by offering bespoke educational modules to address critical skills shortages in the UK, empowering users to leverage the Hub’s matching functionality to connect to businesses relevant to their specific challenge areas.

For businesses keen to commence their digitalisation journey, the Hub will have valuable resources available including tools such as the Edge Digital Manufacturing readiness tool and the supply chain resilience navigator by WMG. Both tools will help businesses to better understand how to make their supply chains more sustainable, resilient and efficient, strengthening sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, food and drink, and more.

Community forums, known as Circles, will also be a feature of the Hub, encouraging users to engage in meaningful discussions on supply chain challenges such as logistics optimisation, sustainability and risk management. It is hoped that these forums, educational modules and matching capabilities will enhance the UK’s overall supply chain resilience and efficiency, fostering greater understanding of new solutions, and enabling technology providers to scale faster with an enriched understanding of the state of global supply chains.

Solve Supply Chain Setbacks

The launch of the Hub comes as over 60% of most industrial companies’ CO2 emissions originate from the supply chain, encouraging more businesses to explore applications of deep technology to advance industrial sustainability in their operations. The majority of the UK’s logistics industry is also seeking digital solutions to optimise their operations, with 86.5% planning to invest in at least one digital technology solution over the next two years, fuelling demand for the services available on the platform.

Ravi Gidoomal, director of Edge Digital Manufacturing, said: “Navigating new technologies can be overwhelming and many leaders we speak with don’t know where to start or what to do next. Others find it hard to maintain momentum and get their team excited about change with all the other pressing demands on their time. We’ve developed the Digital Supply Chain Readiness course to provide real-life examples and practical actions, helping leaders to take their first or next step to digitalise their supply chains.”

Tim Lawrence, Director of the Digital Supply Chain Hub at Digital Catapult, said: “We are excited to launch the new Digital Supply Chain Hub, reflecting the hard work, dedication and commitment of our team. The platform marks a significant step towards greater collaboration, cooperation and communication in the supply chain sector, fuelling innovation and new ideas. By creating a commercially neutral ecosystem, we will enable industry leaders, researchers, and technology providers to address critical supply chain challenges directly, strengthening critical economic sectors and empowering businesses to apply new solutions to transform their operations.”

read more

Industry View: Quick Automation Solutions Can Solve Labour Shortage

 

Digital Catapult Platform to Solve Supply Chain Setbacks

Posted on by David Priestman

Digital Catapult has today launched the Digital Supply Chain Hub, a platform designed to facilitate strategic collaboration between manufacturers and digital solution providers across the UK. The new platform will meet industry demand to accelerate the digitalisation of supply chain operations, driving resilience and sustainability through the application of deep tech solutions.

Immediately available to businesses, the Hub has been developed by Digital Catapult to tackle problems often encountered during the search for a suitable supply chain partner, such as siloed operations and ineffective information transfer. The platform will remedy these problems by offering bespoke educational modules to address critical skills shortages in the UK, empowering users to leverage the Hub’s matching functionality to connect to businesses relevant to their specific challenge areas.

For businesses keen to commence their digitalisation journey, the Hub will have valuable resources available including tools such as the Edge Digital Manufacturing readiness tool and the supply chain resilience navigator by WMG. Both tools will help businesses to better understand how to make their supply chains more sustainable, resilient and efficient, strengthening sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, food and drink, and more.

Community forums, known as Circles, will also be a feature of the Hub, encouraging users to engage in meaningful discussions on supply chain challenges such as logistics optimisation, sustainability and risk management. It is hoped that these forums, educational modules and matching capabilities will enhance the UK’s overall supply chain resilience and efficiency, fostering greater understanding of new solutions, and enabling technology providers to scale faster with an enriched understanding of the state of global supply chains.

Solve Supply Chain Setbacks

The launch of the Hub comes as over 60% of most industrial companies’ CO2 emissions originate from the supply chain, encouraging more businesses to explore applications of deep technology to advance industrial sustainability in their operations. The majority of the UK’s logistics industry is also seeking digital solutions to optimise their operations, with 86.5% planning to invest in at least one digital technology solution over the next two years, fuelling demand for the services available on the platform.

Ravi Gidoomal, director of Edge Digital Manufacturing, said: “Navigating new technologies can be overwhelming and many leaders we speak with don’t know where to start or what to do next. Others find it hard to maintain momentum and get their team excited about change with all the other pressing demands on their time. We’ve developed the Digital Supply Chain Readiness course to provide real-life examples and practical actions, helping leaders to take their first or next step to digitalise their supply chains.”

Tim Lawrence, Director of the Digital Supply Chain Hub at Digital Catapult, said: “We are excited to launch the new Digital Supply Chain Hub, reflecting the hard work, dedication and commitment of our team. The platform marks a significant step towards greater collaboration, cooperation and communication in the supply chain sector, fuelling innovation and new ideas. By creating a commercially neutral ecosystem, we will enable industry leaders, researchers, and technology providers to address critical supply chain challenges directly, strengthening critical economic sectors and empowering businesses to apply new solutions to transform their operations.”

read more

Industry View: Quick Automation Solutions Can Solve Labour Shortage

 

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