 During
the planning phase, the company discovered that its
traditional ocean-based transportation and logistics
model could not meet time-critical deadlines. To avoid
outages on the retailer’s shelves, the company needed
assistance from a transportation and logistics company
with a history of crafting international logistics
solutions.
Insuring that the
products hit the store shelves well ahead of the
launch date was absolutely essential for marketing
success. In addition to the time constraints, the
goods would have to be moved efficiently from the Far
East to the US and be successfully put into the
distribution supply chain without interruption.
In order to resolve
the problem, the company identified five critical
requirements of a new logistics provider.
- A proven track
record of On Time delivery
- A history of
international and domestic services
- A knowledge of
product launch for major retail promotions
- Leading edge
automation and technology for tracing and tracking
shipments
- A sound reputation
for crafting reliable land flexible logistics
solutions in time-critical settings
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As time was running
out, the company turned to one of its minority-owned
suppliers, AFC Worldwide Express for help.
Due to AFC’s history and experience with complex
transportations and logistics issues, they were able
to respond quickly to the demands of the customer and
develop a workable plan. Their existing relationship
with the customer also gave them access to resources
and personnel to expedite decision-making.
 Working
closely together, the two companies were able to craft
a workable solution and deploy the resources necessary
to move the goods to the required destinations ahead
of the deadlines.
A critical success factor was AFC’s ability to
identify and secure a series of Boeing 747 Freighters,
which were chartered to transport the goods from the
Far East to the US. AFC’s experience in international
shipping enabled them to quickly satisfy the charter
requirements by identifying the right airline with the
right schedule at the right price.
Another essential
advantage was AFC’s ability to coordinate directly
with the supplier to receive the goods. On receipt of
goods,AFC arranged to have the airline
pallets built in compliance with Aircraft contours and
specifications, and tendered them to the Charterer in
order to expedite the process.
Upon arrival in the US, AFC was responsible for the
recovery of the Airline Pallets, breaking them down,
and rebuilding the thousands of loose cartons onto
Chep pallets in order to comply with the customer’s
stringent distribution requirements.
The entire process from the Origin Airport to the
clients Distribution Center, was completed in 2 days.
 Working
in close partnership with the customer, manufacturer,
global partners, and the airlines, AFC was able to
meet each of the timecritical deadlines. All the
products were delivered intact and on time for a
successful market launch.
In addition to a successful outcome, AFC was also able
to validate the customer’s internal initiative to
invest in the ongoing development of minority-owned
suppliers. AFC was rewarded with a “valuable supplier”
status by the customer and afforded new opportunities
to expand their offerings.
AFC’s ongoing commitment to reliability enabled it to
exceed customer’s expectations and validated its
reputation as a value added partner and a model
Minority Business Enterprise.
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