Delivering Quality Logistics Information Since 1947
January 1st, 2009 — Issue 14 January 2009, Trends
Dubai is known to be a centre of trade from time immemorial and as much as it
grows as a business hub, illegal cargo still uses the route to reach other destinations
The demand for antiquities is phenomenal. And whenever there is phenomenal demand for a product, it is usually matched by supply. This is where the supply chain of smuggling antiquities gets kicked off – in the want of the consumer.
December 1st, 2008 — Issue 13 December 2008, Trends
Strategies that go beyond the basics are shared by Mirko Matrich, Sean Monahan and Sumit Chandra, all with A.T. Kearney
Supply chain globalisation is the natural outcome of today’s expanding consumer markets as companies struggle to meet the dynamic needs of growing markets and new consumer segments. Despite the risks caused by economic and political uncertainties, global supply chains are the wave of the future. Companies that make key decisions early – about entering new markets, balancing risks and opportunities and managing costs and complexity – are more apt to remain leaders in their industries.
November 1st, 2008 — Issue 12 November 2008, Trends
Connecting the lengths and breadths of nations – a rail network is essential for
growth. If that is an understatement, so is the fact that the UAE needed a rail
network yesterday! Updates seem positive.
The region’s rail plans are best described as immense
These days, the GCC’s rail sector is receiving global attention. And for good reason. The plans are ambitiously immense, as well as being a lucrative incentive for private investment. It is no wonder then, that updates on the ongoing projects are being received with open ears.
October 1st, 2008 — Issue 11 October 2008, Trends
Proposals for a series of truck stops in the UAE would be welcome for haulage drivers and serve as a focal point for logistics services
As the weather starts to cool and UAE motorists start to dream up enjoyable daytrip itineraries, spare a thought for the thousands of truck drivers who, come winter or summer, drive through the heat for hours on end, are restricted in when and where they can drive, and have little in the way of amenities and services to help them off the roads.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Trends
For fleet managers, nothing is more important than keeping vehicles running and productive. Maintaining vehicles, including repair, upkeep and downtime, can have a huge impact on a fleet’s bottom line. A proactive, preventive maintenance programme can help fleet managers keep vehicle repair costs and downtime to a minimum
Many fleets simply take a reactive approach to vehicle maintenance because they do not have access to the right tools. In a widely distributed fleet, that could mean costly repairs, not to mention vehicle downtime. Fleet managers need to be able to monitor and collect data on the “health” of their vehicles to fix problems early and reduce costs.
Scheduled maintenance Even simple maintenance like regular oil changes can help reduce engine wear and make the vehicle run cooler and last longer.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Trends
Perhaps it is only fitting that the largest shipper in the world lays claim to the largest ship in the world – the Emma Maersk. With twice the overall fleet capacity of its nearest rival, Demark-based Maersk Line is in a league of its own
On her initial journey from China to Europe, hauling 45,000 tonnes of Christmas goods, the Emma Maersk was worthy of much attention. Often hailed by other ships that passed, the vessel’s master, Henrik Solmer remembers it vividly. “They said, ‘Hey, we heard about you and it is nice to see you coming. You are beautiful and it is a good speed that you are doing.”
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Trends
Taking care of a fleet of vehicles is an important part of earning profits for any company. Could an appropriate fleet management software be the solution?
When a company has a fleet of more than 50 to 100 trucks, the assets need to be protected. Investing in a fleet is a big expenditure. It could cost anywhere from AED750,000 to AED5 million (US$204,000 to almost US$1.4 million) and the expenses do not end there. In fact, they begin from there. Annual replacements of parts such as tyres could cost a minimum of AED20,000 (US$5,435). With other costs to be considered, a turnover ratio becomes difficult to achieve.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Trends
When European transporter providers came up with the diesel accord, they thought they had held on to their customers. But thanks to spikes in fuel prices, they’re about to lose their businesses. A lesson to providers in this region
Nobody expected fuel prices to rise in such a mercurial manner. One coping mechanism adopted by transport providers with big and small fleets in Europe – the diesel accord – has failed miserably. Gravely affected are the smaller transporters who are stuck between the diesel supplier and their customers. As diesel becomes increasingly expensive, not every costumer is willing to pay the full price for it. The diesel accord works a little bit better for larger companies.
September 1st, 2008 — Issue 10 September 2008, Trends
Al Futtaim and Home Centre are both big companies with big fleets of vehicles out and about on Dubai roads. But how do they manage these gigantics fleets?
Tom Nauwelaerts, Head of Logistics, Al Futtaim
Al Futtaim has a massive transport fleet which it uses for several purposes, from delivering furniture for IKEA to full truck loads of vehicles that run across Arabia, to project cargo with all the range of container loads and oversized heavy haulage car transport vehicles… the complete range. And managing such a gigantic fleet is no mean feat.
Having recently joined the company, Tom Nauwelaerts, Head of Al Futtaim Logistics, is in the thick of organising his fleet so as to have a semblance of order in the coming months. “A fleet of this size is challenging to manage on its own,” he explains. “Couple that with the speed of Al Futtaim’s growth. All of it rolled into one is a nightmare.”
July 1st, 2008 — Issue 9 July/Aug 2008, Trends
Are you too late to secure space the Bahrain Logistics Zone?
Where do I hand in the Bahrain Logistics Zone tender?” an American businessman hurriedly asks the security guard in the lobby of the General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) in Bahrain. He is rushing to meet the deadline for applications to lease land at the one sq kilometre plot of land dedicated to re-export and value-added logistics at the new Khalifa bin Salman Port.
