Merial Limited is a world-leading animal health company that produces pharmaceutical products and vaccines for livestock, pets and wildlife. They are on the cutting edge of product development and innovation, providing millions of doses worldwide annually to keep livestock and pets healthy.

When Merial abruptly lost their 3PL provider, they required an immediate relocation of their high volume Midwest distribution center. The challenge of creating a full logistics solution for an immediate turnaround within weeks of a fall sales promotion was presented to Jacobson Companies. Additionally, Merial proposed that Jacobson find a solution to redesign their national distribution network by the end of the year.

Wasting no time, the Jacobson Companies implementation began. Phase one required Jacobson Transportation to coordinate and move the Merial inventory to Des Moines, IA. Within three weeks, Jacobson Warehouse created a new regional distribution center in Ankeny, IA complete with systems, labor, and management to meet the high volume of the fall sale promotion.

Over the next few years, the Jacobson-Merial team created efficiencies that opened the window for further re-designs of Merial's domestic distribution network. In October of 2006, Jacobson opened a new regional distribution center in Delano, PA and closed the Ankeny, IA and Athens, GA facilities. While improving service to the Northeast region, this reduced overlapping shipping lanes and again downsized the network from three facilities to two. At the same time, Jacobson implemented a Pick-to-Light system in both facilities that improved order processing by 25%.

Today, Jacobson has same-day processing of all orders that are received by 5:30 p.m. local time. The network will process between 4,000 and 11,000 packages per day via UPS and FedEx. Strict validated processes are in place to ensure that all biologics are packed in a manner that keep them cool throughout transit and they arrive at their veterinary clinic destination within the required temperature range. Each of the Jacobson facilities is equipped with back-up generators and redundant systems to ensure that product quality and communication is maintained through various emergency situations.

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