Special profile Wincanton
automated dedicated solutions. In terms of value-enhancing services, Wincanton has developed a range of additional services; including the handling of non-merchandise for retailers, dealing with all aspects of reverse logistics and recycling through to managing one-stop ‘4PL type’ solutions. The company’s warehousing solutions are tailored to requirements on a dedicated, shared-user or networked basis, while its transportation services take advantage of every available means; road, rail, air and intermodal systems. In terms of geographies, Wincanton operates in the UK & Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, the Cech Republic, Hungry, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the Slovak Republic. It also has a joint- venture agreement with Hong Kong-based Kerry Logistics to provide a more global supply chain service.
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Up until two years ago we operated a total of 27 different warehouse management systems. So we began to look at the top 25 WMS vendors globally and finally decided to pilot Manhattan Associates’ Warehouse Management for Open Systems solution – and we haven’t looked back. So far, we have 10 warehouses running the WMS successfully across Europe.”
– Conor Whelan.
Rolling with the punches
Like any other well established players in its market, the company has experienced challenging times over the past year and a half. Now, a few months into a new decade, some of Wincanton’s target verticals are at last showing signs of improvement; retail being a good case in point. But has the company altered the course of any of its tried-and-tested business methodologies during the leaner months in order to leverage greater advantage? “Like most organisations,
we have a cost overhead, and have adjusted that to reflect the current market climate,” said Wincanton’s group IT director, Conor Whelan. “Essentially, we have focused on some key business units where we can actually give more value back to our customers in these touch economic times. For example, we’ve seen some customers
compliance, petrochemical is where I believe we really have set the standard in the UK for safe distribution of chemicals and petroleum. We are very proud of our track record in this area. In terms of compliance legislation in general, new legislation is coming in all the time – partly due to the effects of 9/11 and the increased threat of terrorism in general.
move to a ‘white fleet’ scenario, where they may not necessarily feel it absolutely necessary to have their own liveried vehicles. And we can further optimise the use of transport on the road with modern vehicle tracking and telematics systems. We can also provide additional services such as reverse logistics and recycling, and this all helps our business as well as hat of our customers.”
Keeping on top of legal compliance
As a large organisation within a mission- critical industry sector, Wincanton has not only to provide a reliable and cost- effective service to its end users, it must also ensure that it keeps its own house in order from a legal compliance perspective. “For example, we have to ensure all our vehicles on the road comply to the size and weight regulations in different territories,” said Whelan. “And from a staff perspective, we must make sure that our workforce is operating safely within the Working Time Directive. While, in terms of health & safety
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So now the amount of documentation and information management a company like Wincanton needs to maintain in order to trade internationally has changed significantly over recent years. Therefore, having the right solutions in place to be able to track and trace all our activities on the road and in the warehouse is an important part of our everyday working life.”
Technology backbone
In terms of the IT technology backbone Wincanton relies on, Whelan points out that the company is always keen to install “leading-edge rather than ‘bleeding-edge’ solutions”. “We ensure our IT product portfolio is absolutely aligned with the services requirements of our customers,” he said. “Over the past five years we have made major changes in the IT systems we use; moving from what was predominantly an in-house IT development regime to the roll-out of an increasing number of best-of-breed solutions. And although, like many other organisations, we have our >>
May 2010
MANUFACTURING
&LOGISTICS
IT 19
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