From: ASAP
OshKosh B'Gosh, a premier global marketer of children's apparel and accessories, has awarded around 98 percent of its-Asia origin logistics work to global supply-chain service provider APL Logistics. This includes consolidation of vendor shipments in nine countries in Asia as well as a multi-country consolidation program at APL Logistics’ Asia hub.
"APL Logistics has earned the lion's share of our business because they give us top-notch service, and because they save us substantial time and expense," said Dennis Defnet, OshKosh's manager of Corporate Transportation, based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Founded more than 100 years ago and best known for its classic bib overalls loved by young and old, OshKosh is known as "America's Family Brand."
Improving Cycle Times, Reducing Logistics Costs
Using other providers, OshKosh was experiencing delays in consolidating shipments and shipping them, and began turning increasingly to APL Logistics, which had been a secondary provider for about three years. By January 2003, APLL had been awarded a third of the Asia business.
"In the third quarter of 2003, it became clear that APL Logistics, along with our ocean carrier and other partners, were helping us shave ten days off our transit times from most origin points to our North American distribution centers," said Defnet.
Given the high value of OshKosh's popular merchandise, Defnet said the company developed a cost model for goods in transit, and found that the transit reductions are helping to significantly reduce logistics costs. "APL Logistics provides a competitive advantage in terms of speed-to-market for our product, and is improving our service to internal customers and to retail outlets," he said.
"Upon analyzing OshKosh's international sourcing patterns, we determined that APL Logistics could help shorten the company's order and distribution cycles by consolidating shipments from more than 40 separate vendors in Asia and managing the transportation of full container loads to the U.S. and other destinations," said Hans Hickler, chief executive officer of APL Logistics.
The time and cost benefits result from APL Logistics' ability to engineer and effectively integrate all the elements of a complex international supply chain, including the export logistics and transportation management, Hickler said.
Presence in All Key Markets, High Service Levels
"Currently, APL Logistics is performing OshKosh's consolidation work in nine Asian markets where OshKosh sources," said Tom Hickey, head of APLL's international sales function in the Americas. "Multi-country consolidation (MCC) of OshKosh B'Gosh merchandise from other sources into full container loads for shipment to the United States is handled through our MCC hub in Singapore," he added.
Hickey said APL Logistics works with all major carriers to meet the transportation needs of its clients.
"OshKosh values APL Logistics for its on-the-ground presence in all key markets, responsive staff, excellent communication, advanced documentation-handling technologies, and problem-solving skills,” added OshKosh's Dennis Defnet. "Overall, they are providing the high level of integrated logistics service we value, while allowing us to operate more cost-efficiently."
According to Bob Bodee, APLL's director of sales for the Central Region, based in Chicago, OshKosh is a forward-thinking leader in its industry. "OshKosh takes a strategic, integrated view of the overall supply chain, rather than focusing just on a single component. For this reason, our relationship with them has grown steadily. We are happy to have earned their trust."
ABOUT OSHKOSH B'GOSH - OshKosh B'Gosh, Inc. is best known as a premier marketer of quality children's apparel and accessories, available in more than 50 countries around the world. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
ABOUT APL LOGISTICS - APL Logistics offers end-to-end supply-chain management services enabled by leading information technology. APL Logistics has more than 4,000 employees around the world and operates in more than 50 countries. APL Logistics is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) and is headquartered in Oakland, California.
June 2004
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