DHL Unveils New North America Trade Lane Initiative to Expedite Cross-Border Shipments
DHL has initiated a new program to streamline the movement of shipments across borders within North America. The North America Trade Lane effort is intended to save time and money for U.S., Canadian and Mexican companies within the region's express and ground-parcel market. It involves extensive changes to DHL's networks, infrastructure and services. Specifically, DHL is enhancing its facilities, fleet and related infrastructure, in part through the addition of new international gateways and expanded Border Operating Centers (BOCs). It is also adding bilingual customer-service representatives and other personnel to help customers with cross-border shipping. In the first five years of the new initiative, a series of expanded BOCs will focus on shipping across the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders. Beginning in 2007, each of the BOCs will include under one roof everything needed to speed up shipments, DHL said. Included in the program will be advanced technology inspection equipment, fast-track customs clearance and specially trained staff. Early in 2007, DHL will open BOCs in Tijuana, Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa and Matamoros, Mexico, with companion U.S. locations just across the border. The company will also expand facilities in Canada, where it previously enhanced its offerings with the 2003 purchase of the Loomis express and ground-parcel network. New services will further aim to expedite cross-border shipments. DHL's "Break Bulk Express," for example, will allow customers to combine packages into one large shipment, which will later be broken out into its individual package components, and delivered accordingly, by the vendor. In another company announcement, DHL Global Forwarding, part of DHL's logistics division, announced plans to expand its Charlotte, N.C. operations by moving to larger facilities near CharlotteInternationalAirport. The 52,000-square-foot site combines the operations of DHL Danzas Air & Ocean and Exel Freight Management, which previously did business at two separate locations in Charlotte.
North American Initiative: http://www.dhl-usa.com
Expansion in Charlotte: http://www.dhl-usa.com
Oracle Issues New Tool for Scheduling, Network Optimization
Oracle Corp. is offering new capabilities in the form of Oracle Production Scheduling and Oracle Strategic Network Optimization. The tools integrate capabilities from Oracle's JD Edwards and PeopleSoft Supply Chain Planning suites with Oracle's Supply Chain Management applications. They allow manufacturers to optimize supply and distribution networks, mitigate risk, maximize shop-floor throughput and reduce supply-chain costs, according to the vendor. Production Scheduling helps manufacturers to optimize process, semiconductor and discrete manufacturing shop-floor operations through out-of-the-box integration with Oracle Discrete Manufacturing, Process Manufacturing and Shop Floor Management. Customers can create detailed shop-floor schedules that automatically detect floating bottlenecks, simulate corrective actions and measure shop-floor performance improvements. Strategic Network Optimization allows companies to simulate supply-chain risk, develop long-range plans and create high-level supply strategies. Users can analyze "what-if" scenarios to detect vulnerabilities in their supply networks. The new offerings can be deployed as standalone products, or as part of the Oracle E-Business Suite. http://www.oracle.com
Aldata Enhances G.O.L.D. Suite With Product Info Management
Aldata Solution, Inc., a vendor of software for the retail industry, has made a series of enhancements to its G.O.L.D. Core Retail Suite. The changes include the addition of product information management (PIM) capabilities to the vendor's Item and Price Management Module, which allows buyers to bring items into their supply chains more quickly. They can securely enter and validate supplier data without actually importing the data into the G.O.L.D. database. Aldata has also upgraded its service-oriented architecture (SOA) modules with extensions to G.O.L.D. Mobile, an in-store mobile operations tool. It enables the execution of store ordering, inventory management, out-of-stock management and retail price management via a handheld device. The module extends G.O.L.D.'s ability to reference centralized data directly in real time to store mobile end-users. Aldata is also adding functionality to its warehouse management system (WMS) software. A Distribution Center Capacity Planning Module includes supervision and planning management, enabling retailers to optimize their limited labor resources based on actual and expected inventory movements. http://www.aldata-solution.com
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Zosel Associates Launches Division for Logistics Training
Tom Zosel Associates, Ltd., a consultancy focused on distribution and transportation services, has launched a Training Division to help clients integrate logistics best practices with human resource management and development. Training programs can be conducted on the client's site or at TZAUniversity in Long Grove, Ill. The courses are designed and led by specialists with expertise in developing performance-improvement programs at distribution centers throughout the country. The Training Division is headed by Michael Droske. Other services offered by Chicago-based Zosel include productivity improvement, labor-management and other types of logistics software, logistics training, strategic distribution planning, facility design, material-handling engineering, and transportation system design. http://www.tzaconsulting.com
Walnut's New Void-Gard Prevents Shifting of Cargo Loads
Walnut Industries, a designer of cargo-restraint techniques, has introduced Void-Gard, a new product meant to prevent the lateral shifting of cargo within intermodal trailers, containers and railcars. Made of reusable polyethylene, Void-Gard fills horizontal spaces between columns of cargo. It is designed to address the inherent limitations of cardboard, wood and air dunnage bags, the company said. Adjustable in length, Void-Gard eliminates the need for shippers to stock a variety of void-filler sizes. No tools are required for installation. According to Walnut, the product far exceeds the Association of American Railroad's approval standard compression strength of 1,500 pounds. Walnut Industries is also the maker of Ty-Gard 2000, a cargo-restraint system using flexible bands reinforced with industrial-strength fibers that are pre-bonded with a patented adhesive. http://www.voidgard.com
MSC Offers Desktop-Based Simulation Tool for Manufacturers
MSC Software Corp. has developed SimOffice, a desktop-based simulation tool for manufacturers. It is intended for engineers who design, analyze and test complex mechanical parts used in end-product designs. The product is compatible with the newly launched Microsoft Windows Vista, enabling operations in a Vista desktop environment. Engineers can generate reports and exchange product-performance data to aid in design decisions. In addition, SimOffice is upwardly compatible with MD Nastran, which provides engineers in complex supply chains with the ability to utilize existing data and processes across OEM and supplier organizations. SimOffice supports multiple types of analyses, including linear static, linear buckling, normal modes, steady-state heat transfer and dynamic-frequency response. The software is designed for out-of-the-box integration with 2007 Microsoft Office Groove and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. It is available through resellers who are part of MSC Impact, a global channel program. http://www.mscsoftware.com
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Axonn Devises New Asset-Tracking Hardware for Wireless Use
Axonn LLC, a vendor of asset-tracking hardware for the Globalstar Simplex asset-tracking service, has made commercially available the AXTracker MMT. The new product features 2.4 GHz radio capabilities for wireless programming, along with a smaller, low-profile design and increased battery life. It includes a low-profile design that does not require external power or harnesses, and can be easily installed with double-sided adhesive tape or screw mounting. The unit's rugged construction makes it suitable for use in extreme operating environments. Equipped with a removable battery module, the MMT carries a battery life of up to seven years, according to Axonn. Users can extract XML from data and program a single device using a wireless laptop or PDA handheld device. In the future, Axonn said, MMT will allow data to be transmitted to radio-frequency gateways in yards or at security checkpoints. It can support roaming sensors, such as door and temperature sensors. Global Simplex systems provide one-way communication, from the asset. The technology keeps costs low and battery life high, and is especially suited for assets without available external power, the vendor said. http://www.axonn.com
Scenic Adds Shipment Rating and Manifesting to sce-Star
The sce-Star suite of business applications and connectivity tools, offered by Scenic Technology Corp., now includes the sce-Ship shipment rating and manifesting system. Built on Microsoft .NET platform specifications, sce-Star is written in Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET, and relies on the SQL Server. Sce-Ship in a multi-carrier shipping tool which can be deployed on single or multiple servers, and globally accessed via a Web browser. The system integrates easily with existing warehouse management, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other host systems. It allows complex business rules and different carrier modules to be developed and plugged in, reducing risk and operational costs, according to Scenic. Sce-Ship can quickly interrogate rates from one to many carriers once all relevant information is available. It completes orders with minimal touch points and boosts shipment throughput, the vendor claimed. http://www.scenictechnology.com
IJS Global Enters Latin America With Opening of Brazil Office
IJS Global, Inc. has opened its first company-owned office in Brazil, marking its entry into the Latin American market. IJS is a freight forwarder of ocean and air shipments, as well as a non-vessel operating common carrier. Its new office in Sao Paolo offers a full range of transportation and logistics services. The move represents the first step of a planned expansion for IJS Global within Brazil and across Latin America. Heading up Latin American operations is Luiz Figueira, a 15-year logistics veteran. He was previously Brazil country manager for an IJS competitor. Before that, he worked for EGL Inc. and Air Express International Corp. In his new role, he reports to John Gallahan, IJS's president and chief executive officer for Asia-Pacific and Americas. In recent weeks, the company has expanded operations in Asia, launched a continent-wide European network, and begun operations on the Indian subcontinent. http://www.ijsglobal.com
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LXE Debuts New Mounted Computer for Use on Smaller Vehicles
LXE Inc., a manufacturer of rugged wireless computers for supply-chain execution applications, has introduced the VX3X vehicle-mounted computer. According to the company, the new unit is ideal for use on smaller warehouse vehicles such as pallet jacks, walkies, pickers and narrow-isle lift trucks, all of which have limited space for mounting computers. The VX3X uses the Windows CE operating system and is designed for the Microsoft .NET platform. Smaller than a traditional lift truck-mounted computer, the unit features a 1/2 VGA color LCD screen that is readable in any lighting condition. It gives operators the option of inputting data via a touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard, or attachable scanner. The computer's body consists of specialized plastic that is resistant to shock and vibration, and is suitable for rugged industrial operations, LXE said. It includes wireless 802.11b and g capability, and runs on a 12-80VDC fully isolated power supply. The device uses LXE's ToughTalk voice-recognition technology to operate in industrial-grade voice applications. http://www.ems-t.com
