CHEMICAL LOGISTICS
In working with a company that was looking to improve the resiliency and reliability of its supply chain to better manage volatility, KAG Logistics’ solutions and engineering team developed and implemented a multi- channel/multi-mode solution. The company was able to shift from a single-channel/single-mode shipper and place its product closer to its customer base throughout the United States. “This allowed the shipper to react more quickly to its customers’ needs while improving service expectations,” Gonya says. In logistics, remaining ahead of customers’ needs and ensuring stability and reliability is always top of mind. “This guides our roadmap and investment in technology as well as our recruiting,” Gonya says, noting that KAG Logistics strives to ensure its solutions drive efficiency and processes, so its clients can continually boost their own resilience and performance. “Then, they’re positioned to grow and capture market share,” he adds. As important, KAG Logistics itself is a stable, resilient organization. “That’s what customers are looking for, after all we’ve gone through,” Gonya says.
With more than two decades of experience in the chemical industry, Odyssey Logistics offers expertise, technology, and global reach to provide customers with a competitive edge.
services across its four divisions: inter- modal, transport and warehouse, integrated marine logistics, and managed services. The aim is to increase transpar- ency for customers and enable them to more easily leverage Odyssey’s expertise. Odyssey is a Responsible Care ® partner company and a member of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC). Both these memberships reflect Odyssey’s enduring commitment to safe logistics practices. LEVERAGING EXPERTISE One example of Odyssey’s expertise is shown in its work with a global chemical producer that has 15,400 employees in 33 countries, 60 production sites around the world, and 11 business units in North America. The company ships products and runs warehouses across the continent, and imports materials from overseas that it distributes within North America. To move its products to its customers, the manufacturer utilizes rail, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) tanks, bulk trucks, and package trucks—all of which are outsourced because it doesn’t own its own fleet. The manufacturer was managing transportation routing through its own transportation management system and working with a third-party provider to audit and pay its carrier
works across multiple regions of the world, various currencies, and all modes of transportation, Schweda says. Modules include route optimization, carrier selection, tendering, and others. Odyssey also offers expertise in handling sample orders—which often lead to larger orders. It has successfully processed more than 14 million sample shipments for 65-plus major manufacturers. Among other services, Odyssey’s experts can help chemical manufacturers identify the optimal packaging, comply with relevant regulations, manage inventory, and access detailed, actionable reporting. All sample orders ship within 48 hours of order receipt; 95% ship within 24 hours. Odyssey has also adopted a five- part roadmap for AI readiness and technological resilience: reducing risk, mitigating technology debt, improving productivity, streamlining customers’ experiences, and unifying data governance. By following this roadmap and leveraging AI-powered technologies and the right tools, Odyssey is improving its business processes to boost efficiency, create a unified customer experience, and add even greater value to customers, says Singh, chief information officer. Odyssey also is moving toward its vision of One Odyssey, integrating
Odyssey Logistics: Transforming Complexity Into Opportunity
Odyssey offers clients more than two decades of experience in the chemical industry. “Our first customer was a global chemical manufacturer looking for a logistics partner,” says Schweda, senior vice president of global sales and solutions. Odyssey’s employee roster, which has grown from five to more than 2,000 people, includes many chemical engineers. Its chemical logistics services are built to address today’s supply chain challenges and ensure chemical shipments move safely, sustainably, and on time. Several capabilities distinguish Odyssey’s chemical logistics practice, including its technology and global reach, both of which help customers gain a competitive edge. Odyssey’s transportation management system
78 Inbound Logistics • June 2024
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