The Continental Tire factory in Sarreguemines, France, has increased its production of tires from 33,000 tires per day to 38,000, thanks to a real-time location system it installed in September 2011 to track tire components. The RTLS has also helped the company reduce wastage of tire components, known as "semi products," by 20 percent.

Challenge: Previously our client, one of the world's largest engines and machinery manufacturers, spent years trying to build systems and get more information from its service providers, before moving to the cloud with a pay as you go service - lower risk approach with better results.

Challenge: Our client, one of the largest steel suppliers and distributors in the Midwest, needed improvements in order accuracy and productivity, as well as real-time inventory. In addition, our client needed to track and document mill test certificates for more accurate proof of pull and ship.

Challenge: Global flooring company was experiencing growing sales and increased pressure on logistics. Client had manual processes and lacked visibility. Reports showing freight spend were nonexistent. Verifying shipment deliveries became labor intensive. Client needed to become more competitive with their delivered sales pricing.

Challenge: Our 3PL client experienced challenges handling a service parts returns operation that was added to their scope of services for a major automotive OEM. Site managers, experienced in repair and refurbishment processes but not in distribution processes, had set up the facility and operations with little advance notice. The operation was losing approximately $100K per month.

Challenge: Our client made a bold promise to its customers. Order any of its 600,000 products from its vast super store of industrial supplies by 8:00 pm EST, and get next day delivery. But with more than 2 million square feet of warehouse space and the highest SKU count in the industry, keeping that promise was a challenge.

Challenge: Auto Manufacturer loses track of high-value Asia-made after-market parts going to dealers, despite routing through consolidators.

Challenge: A worldwide leader in rail transportation equipment hired us to manage the entire supply chain process. The client chose us, a 4th Party Logistics (4PL) provider over 3PL service providers because of our unique advantages - a single point of contact for the entire supply chain, more agile in responding to market changes, and being independent of assets to be able to select only the best service providers for the client.

A conversation with Jim Van Leenan, CEO and president of Flash Global Logistics.