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The Hidden Supply Chain

Everyone knows about truck drivers, warehouses, and manufacturers. These are all things that might come up when you ask a non-logistics worker about the supply chain. They are all certainly integral parts, but they represent only a fraction of the jobs that exist within the supply chain. There are hundreds of tasks being carried out that aren’t directly related to fulfillment or transport of freight, but they have a significant effect on the success of a company’s supply chain. Many people have never heard about reverse logistics or thought about compliance departments, but without these in place, most organizations would fail.

There are many workers within any given manufacturing or logistics company that are important to the supply chain, even if they don’t have a title that jumps out as such. Logistics accounting, for example, is a lot different than a standard accounting department, and requires industry specific training to ensure accuracy and efficiency. At some larger manufacturers, there are entire departments dedicated to order entry, and they play a pivotal role in ensuring that products are shipping on time and delivering to the correct locations. Even recruiting can be considered part of the supply chain, as companies will often utilize specialized recruiters who have a focus in finding and retaining supply chain talent.

While the broad focus of any logistics team is to get a product from point A to point B, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than one may suspect. All of the employees play a major role in making this happen, and it is important to give them credit for being part of the team. When we see a truck driver pull into a dock for delivery, we know that he is part of the supply chain, but we should realize that there are hundreds if not thousands of people who contributed to ensuring that this shipment arrived on time. Being cognizant of this fact can help us to work together to improve our processes in the long run.

At Zip Xpress, we understand the value all of these people contribute to the success of the supply chain. We understand that without them, we cannot possibly be successful, as they come up with many successful ideas to the challenges we face. It is when we focus on the people that make up logistics, we all will create a better supply chain. To see how our dynamic people can help with your next shipment, start today with Zip Xpress!

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The Lingering Shortage of Drivers

The transportation world continued to battle a shortage of able and available drivers throughout 2018 and well into 2019. This issue is plaguing supply chains nationwide, making for a plethora of capacity issues as well as rate increases and planning problems. While there are several things that companies can do to try to recruit new drivers, it is becoming a reality that many will have to find ways to work around the shortage, as you can’t predict the future and it remains entirely possible that even more drivers will leave the workforce as they retire. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help ease the burden and focus on efficiency in order to help with the capacity crunch.

Putting more time and effort into the planning process can help organizations run their supply chains more efficiently. This includes taking a proactive approach towards inventory planning and maximizing routes to cut down on the number of trips that need to be made to fulfill customer requests. At Zip Xpress we’ve talked a few times about our headload services that can provide reliability and flexibility while optimizing multiple shipments on a single truck. This service gives customers the option of shipping smaller shipments but keeping the on-time service of a full truckload. And thanks to our dedicated service schedule, we will make our deliveries on time every time. Period.

Ultimately, manufacturers will need to plan around the oncoming driver shortage. Consider options such as Zip’s headload service, as well as a commitment to planning supply chain operations from the top to avoid unnecessary late deliveries due to the lack of truck drivers. By staying on top of this planning process, we can avoid late shipments. The shortage is a real and tangible issue across the industry, but there are many highly focused professionals who can put strategies together in order to keep transportation running smoothly. To see what our professionals can do for you, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Safety in the Supply Chain

From the time a product is thought up to the moment it arrives in a consumer’s home, there are many things that take place. The supply chain can be long and complicated, with multiple warehouses and factories involved, even for some of the most seemingly simple items on the market. In planning for product development and distribution, there are many safety hurdles that must be overcome, and all parties involved should be sure to promote a safe, proactive culture within their organization to ensure the well-being of their employees and their customers. Taking a little bit of extra time to follow safety measures in the beginning is beneficial for anyone who has a hand in moving a product through the supply chain.

A safe environment starts at the top, with those in management and executive positions being key players in creating the right culture. Anyone who works in a warehouse, drives a truck, or even calls shots from a remote desktop should have the proper training and resources before they are given the power to make decisions regarding distribution and transportation. It is essential for any logistics organization to place an emphasis on strong, updated safety training programs and to continually educate their employees about the steps that must be taken to ensure safe and proper transport of their products.

At Zip Xpress, we understand that we need a safe environment to ensure everyone can come home safely. We stress this importance across the organization and can rely on our dynamic team’s experience to ensure that everyone comes home safe. Everyone at Zip Xpress is an experienced logistics professional that understands we’re all one team and an injury to one is an injury to all. We have our own safety processes and procedures that have been developed with years of experience and the understanding that every member of the supply chain is a human being that wants to go home safely at night. It’s simply another factor in developing a more optimized supply chain. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!

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Staying Committed to Sustainability

Formulating and enacting green initiatives can be a challenge for any company, and it’s made even more difficult by the need to get all employees on board. While certain sustainable policies may not affect every employee in the same way, it is still important for organizations to ensure that their workers are understanding and committed to the idea of a greener company. This doesn’t mean forcing beliefs on the workers or changing their entire scope of responsibility. There are many ways that companies can educate their employees on sustainability and instill an interest, or even a passion, for working towards a greener world.

Sustainability benefits not only the environment, but also the companies that practice it. By focusing on sustainable practices, businesses can lower their energy and waste costs in the long run. Educating employees about this may help them realize that a more efficient company is a more profitable one. Once employees understand what’s at stake, they become more focused on the mission of creating a more sustainable company. This can work wonders on a team mentality, and may encourage employees to consider greener action in the future, as well as make them feel valued and significant (which they are in any productive company). Every employee feels appreciated when they see their suggestions come to light.

One of the ways Zip Xpress can assist with your company’s sustainability initiative is with our Carbon Footprint Reports. These reports tell you exactly how much less carbon dioxide is being put into the atmosphere and the effect your company is having on the environment. We can advise on any inefficiencies in your supply chain and provide solutions that can help make your company more sustainable. The feedback provided will be clear evidence on what the company is doing to become more sustainable. From there you can devise your own initiatives and together we can create a more sustainable world. To learn more about how we can help with your initiatives, start today with Zip Xpress!