And the 2007 Best Practices in Logistics Management Awards winners are...
By Michael A. Levans, Chief Editor -- Logistics Management, 6/1/2007
Following tradition, I’d first like to thank the more than 80 logistics and supply chain managers who took the time to enter our 2007 Best Practices in Logistics Management Awards. Knowing the myriad demands being placed on our readership these days, our editorial staff was simply astounded by the level of detail, insight, and passion that was put into this year’s crop of entries. Thank you.
Overall, I have to say I was duly impressed by the level of sophistication exhibited in many of the entries and downright floored by the decisiveness being practiced by today’s logistics professionals. After reading through the first 20 submissions it became perfectly clear: shippers simply have no time to complicate matters. Most entrants stressed that the faster they recognized their costly issue the faster they could solve the problem with the right people, the right process—and yes, even a little technology.
Sounds terrifically simple, and most smart decisions are in retrospect. However, the tough part is pin-pointing the problem, defining the starting point, and setting a clear goal—three essential steps that this year’s winners executed to near perfection.
After digesting the stories, I think you’ll find that these shippers exude a new maturity, ushered in, perhaps, by the challenging environment that has tried even the heartiest souls over the past few years. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger,” wrote Nietzsche.
So, after about a month of pouring over the submissions, the editorial staffs of Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management Review are pleased to announce the three entries that made it to the top of our collective list: 2007 Gold Award winner Doug Eckrote and his operations team at CDW; Silver Award winners Ed Hamorsky and Brad Carraway at Alcoa; Bronze winner Charlie Kantz of Bakers Footwear Group; and special Honorable Mention winner Timothy Riordan of Interface Inc.
As you’ll soon learn, our four winners found themselves faced with distinctly different challenges, yet all four have gone through those three essential steps mentioned above to realize terrific benefits and savings for their companies. Our Jeff Berman and Tom Andel spent time with our Sliver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners, while I had the pleasure of getting to know Doug Eckrote and the CDW team.
Eckrote’s submission landed at the top of all or our lists for one simple reason: the team executed an air-tight, no-nonsense DC expansion plan to improve customer service to the West Coast. And, by the way, terrific parcel express savings and an improved inbound scheduling system just happened to come in tow.
But their goal was crystal clear and they followed a simple axiom along the way. “Don’t overcomplicate it,” says Eckrote. “[Logistics] isn’t something where you need to sit in meetings for six months and analyze it to death with a spreadsheet. Get out there, ask questions, and find out what it will take to get it done.”
Comments? E-mail me at michael.levans@reedbusiness.com
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