Menlo Worldwide — a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. and a global provider of logistics, transportation management and supply chain services — recently announced that its European operations received the Global Institute of Logistics’ Award of Excellence for outstanding contribution to the development of Logistics Service Provision. Menlo received the award during a ceremony at its logistics facility in Eersel, the Netherlands.
According to the Institute, Menlo was selected because of its success in applying the principles of “Lean” manufacturing to the LSP sector. Menlo says that after reviewing a considerable amount of data, the Institute was convinced that Menlo had developed an operating model and a best practice that provided an excellent benchmark for other LSPs to emulate. Additionally, Menlo significantly improved its customers’ efficiency, service and overall supply chain performance, according to the company.
“Our organization strongly supports the application of Lean manufacturing methodologies in LSP,” says Kieran Ring, chief executive officer of the Global Institute of Logistics. “At a time when shippers are looking increasingly to their LSP partners for greater innovation and cost reduction, we wanted to identify a company that has met and ultimately exceeded these expectations. Menlo is a deserving recipient of this award.”
The Lean concept uses a company’s employees to discover ways to remove waste from processes by drawing on the expertise and knowledge of people who perform the work. Employees are given a framework within which to work, and problem-solving tools enabling them to analyze work processes, identify wasteful and unnecessary practices, and develop plans to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Essentially, Lean manufacturing methodologies applied in the supply chain allow for the continuous removal of cost from warehousing and logistics operations, leading to improved financial returns for both the customer and the logistics provider.
“We are honored to receive this highly prestigious award and to be recognized as an innovator in using principles of Lean manufacturing to bring more efficient, cost-effective transportation and logistics services to our customers,” says Gert Askes, managing director of European operations for Menlo Worldwide. “We believe this is the way forward for logistics providers, and can ultimately benefit both them and their customers.”
