Solutions In this edition
Asia Pacific June 2015 Quiet achievers
10
Healthcare logistics solutions
14
The shelves are full
22
Safety and compliance spotlight
24
Polished for performance
SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS
Inside Linfox’s dedicated Healthcare facility in New South Wales.
Solutions Asia Pacific June 2015
Contents Chairman’s note
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CEO Australia and New Zealand message
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CEO Asia message
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Asia Safety Workshop leads the way
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New fleet boosts Parmalat partnership
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Quiet achievers
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Care goes out to Western Sydney
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New leadership
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Healthcare logistics solutions
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Driving health and wellbeing
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New ‘snacks hub’ takes shape
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A sustainable partnership
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Future Leaders Program
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Rewarding healthy habits
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The shelves are full
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Record breaking deliveries for SAB Miller
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Safety and compliance spotlight: Linehaul
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CEO for a Day
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10
Quiet achievers
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Healthcare logistics solutions
22
The shelves are full
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Safety and compliance spotlight Cover shot: The truck wash at Linfox’s Erskine Park workshop in action.
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Future planning
Being able to take a long-term view of the supply chain industry and not being captive to the market has held Linfox in good stead for nearly six decades. Future planning – the desire and ability to make decisions now on vital investment for the ongoing benefit of business and the community – is fundamental to that long-term view. Linfox, together with six other leading transport and logistics operators took the rare step in May to publicly call on the Federal Government to undertake its commitment and to complete the Inland Rail project between Melbourne and Brisbane. It’s not often that Linfox will take such a public stance however, with freight volumes on Australia’s east coast set to double by 2030 and triple by 2050, Inland Rail is the best solution to these freight challenges and an incredibly important opportunity for this country.
Service and safety When it comes to road freight, it takes a team of dedicated mechanics and service staff to ensure that our fleet of more than 5,000 Australian vehicles remains in first class condition, and meets our strict safety and compliance standards. Regarded as our quiet achievers, there are more than 100 mechanics, technicians and support staff through the Linfox workshop network. They are the team behind the scenes who provide the best service for our customers and importantly keep our people and the community safe and they need to be acknowledged for the tasks they are all involved in. Asia growth Linfox is to play a vital role in Kellogg’s US$130 million dollar ‘snacks hub’ investment in Asia Pacific, providing warehousing, haulage and freight forwarding services at its manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
We are pleased to be involved in the newly-built regional facility that aims to strengthen Kellogg’s position in its core and emerging markets. In India, the Linfox team at the SAB Miller distribution centre has already broken the site’s previous outbound delivery record after just three months of operation. Health and wellbeing Another important investment, the health and wellbeing of our people, is delivering impressive results. Our dedicated Healthy Fox program recently enjoyed great success with its Kickstart weight loss challenge. It is encouraging to know we have made the right choice when more than 850 employees from 91 Australian sites participate in the event, the first of its kind at Linfox. There are no prizes for being second best in today’s fast paced operating environment. Here at Linfox, our intention is to be the best, and we always aim to win.
Peter Fox - Chairman
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CEO Australia and New Zealand message
Leaders of the future
Much has been researched, written and debated about the meaning of leadership as individuals, in the community and in business. During May, I met an inspiring young Indigenous community leader, Adam Douthat. I was fortunate to spend time with Adam, a 26 year old from Sale, after he won the Generation One ‘CEO for a Day’ competition. The initiative was organised in partnership with the Linfox Indigenous Engagement Program. Adam’s genuine interest, enthusiasm and questions reflected on the importance of leadership in business, the responsibilities it carries and why personal, community and business values are intrinsic to leadership. Adam’s time and interest in our business only serves to reinforce our investment in the Indigenous Engagement Program. The program seeks to create real opportunities for training and development, mentoring and employment for Indigenous Australians.
Teamwork One of our core business values, ‘Teamwork’ was evident during April when the warehouses of two of our customers suffered severe storm damage in New South Wales. Fortunately, the facilities were not staffed at the time. Employees from all areas of our business, from operations to IT to safety mobilised to have services up and running again as quickly as possible. It was very much a testament to the approach of our people to step in, step up, and help to get the job done. Executive Leadership Team No stranger to teamwork, we welcome Major General Mick Slater, AO, DSC, CSC (Ret) as the new President of Government and Defence. Mick joins Linfox after 37 years of service with the Australian Army with senior roles in training, operations, HR management and organisational change. He takes over from Gary Allen who has commenced in the role of President Resources and Industrial.
I am also pleased that an internal appointment has been made to my former role of General Counsel and Company Secretary. Mark Whitworth joined Linfox in 2007 and brings to the role legal expertise coupled with a strong understanding of commercial drivers for our business. Stop for Safety Vision ZERO is the cornerstone of our business. Our annual ‘Stop for Safety’ has been brought forward to mid-July across all of our sites. Working together to create and maintain a culture of strong leadership, teamwork and individual accountability is what’s required to make safety a part of every decision made, every day by everybody.
Annette Carey CEO Australia and New Zealand
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CEO Asia message
New horizons Recently I was asked a question about how Linfox Asia is preparing for the upcoming Asean Economic Community (AEC), a single regional common market of Asean countries, and what this would mean for our business? With our regional head office in Bangkok, Thailand is our largest operation in the region and is a central location within ASEAN. With the expectation that the AEC will lead to a more regional supply chain setup this fits very well with the Linfox operational model. Many of the ASEAN countries are among our most established customers and with further investment in our teams and systems in those countries, we see some very promising opportunities. Linfox’s history of investing in our own fleet, warehouses, systems and the countries in which we operate will serve to complement this vision.
Sustainability is another core focus of our activities, and I am encouraged to see one of our major customers, Unilever, has released an update on its ‘Sustainable Living Plan’ which shows it is realising its long term vision. Unilever’s sustainability targets are synonymous with Linfox’s commitment to carbon emission reduction and I look forward to working with them further to achieve greater reductions as we continue to improve transport efficiencies in the supply chain. Safety continues to be a major focus for us and I can proudly report that the inaugural Linfox Asia Safety Workshop held in Malaysia was encouragingly successful. It was refreshing to see a new wave of innovation being driven by safety professionals from across the region. The ideas and suggestions from the workshop will be invaluable as we complete a three-year Safety Action Plan for Linfox Asia.
“ Safety continues to be a major focus for us and I can proudly report that the inaugural Linfox Asia Safety Workshop held in Malaysia was encouragingly successful. ”
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In India our daily commitment to safety was on display as Linfox team members working at SAB Miller’s distribution centre in Sangareddy were presented with new motorbike helmets. Motorbikes are a common form of personal transport in India, so the gesture went a long way to highlight to the local workforce, the importance that Linfox places on safety, not only in the workplace but also their daily commute. Malaysia is also the backdrop for our new partnership with global cereal and snacks brand Kellogg’s at their new US$130 million dollar cereal and snacks hub. The new deal will see Linfox Asia provide back-of-factory warehouse management using the latest technology in racking and storage. I am pleased to say that Linfox will play a vital part in one of the region’s most advanced operations of its kind.
Gabby Costigan CEO Asia
Asia Safety Workshop leads the way Safety was the word on everybody’s lips during the inaugural Linfox Asia Safety Workshop held in Malaysia in April.
Smiling for safety: Front row left to right: Hairul Nizam, John Mathews, Rattanasiri Watthanakamin, Bo Geng, Revu Chavan and Saj Iqbal. Back row left to right: Sombat Suwanjandee, Gabby Costigan, Adam Billington and Vinoth Baskaran
Hosted by Linfox Asia CEO Gabby Costigan, the workshop brought together senior safety professionals from Thailand, Malaysia, China, Indonesia and India who shared their experience and offered practical solutions which will underpin a three-year Safety Action Plan for Linfox Asia. Gabby was encouraged by the enthusiasm and innovative ideas that circulated around the two-day workshop.
“This was the first opportunity we’ve had to get together and collectively tackle safety as a region. “Safety is the cornerstone of what makes Linfox great and while Asia is a challenging environment to promote new safety initiatives, I’m pleased to say that our employees, customers and communities are working towards a common goal,” Ms Costigan said. The two-day workshop consisted of brainstorming ideas and identifying behavioural hurdles to be addressed. The workshop was also an ideal forum to analyse technological advancements in the industry, which have the potential to protect and save lives.
“It is now encouragingly clear that all stakeholders appreciate the benefits of partnering with Linfox to address safety and I’m very happy to accept recommendations from all the delegates. I am confident that these recommendations will drive our safety vision forward into the future,” Gabby added. The three-year Safety Action Plan for Asia is on track for completion by the end of this year.
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A custom-made 24 pallet refrigerated trailer for Parmalat.
New fleet boosts Parmalat partnership Custom-built refrigerated trailers have been added to the Linfox fleet in South East Queensland as part of Linfox’s expanded partnership with milk and dairy producer, Parmalat.
A Linfox truck transports the Arnott’s mobile biscuit bakery to Luna Park in Sydney.
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New fleet The 43 custom-made 22 and 24 pallet trailers offer maximum utilisation of fleet, improved safety features and optimal fuel efficiency.
The new work builds on Linfox’s existing distribution services for Parmalat in New South Wales and Far North Queensland. “Linfox will manage the distribution of around 24,000 loads each year from Parmalat’s production sites in South Brisbane, Richlands and Nambour,” explained FMCG General Manager, Frank De Cata. “Our network for Parmalat in Queensland will extend from Cairns in the north, to the Gold Coast in the south, to the outback town of Longreach in the west. “Linfox brings proven expertise in milk distribution to Parmalat and we look forward to furthering our partnership.”
“Cooltrax monitoring equipment provides real-time monitoring of trailer temperature and alerts us to any unexpected changes in temperature,” said Frank. “Each trailer is fitted with non-slip flooring to prevent slips in damp conditions. “The fleet is also fitted with digital weight gauges to allow the maximum use of vehicle space without the risk of overload. This also helps drivers to ensure their load levels are safe and compliant.” Parmalat is owned by Lactalis, the largest dairy company in the world. Parmalat specialises in the production of branded milk and dairy products and is one of the largest manufacturers of milk, yoghurt and fresh dairy products in Australia. We see their products in the dairy case as Paul’s, Vaalia, and Oak and Ice Break flavoured milk, to name a few.
Operations Manager Parmalat SEQ, Paul Longley
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Quiet achievers
It takes a team of dedicated mechanics and service staff to ensure Linfox’s fleet of more than 5,000 Australian vehicles remains in top condition and meets Linfox’s strict safety and compliance standards.
Mechanic, David Harford and Apprentice Mechanic, Matthew Assaf.
Mechanic, Brian Baker
“The Workshop teams are often referred to as the quiet achievers of the transport business,” said National Fleet Operations Manager, Lyn Gould. “They’re the people who work behind the scenes to keep our trucks on the road and looking their best, provide the best service for our customers and importantly, to help keep our people and the community safe.” Linfox employs more than 100 mechanics, technicians and support staff through its workshop network. The team is supported by a group of managers with extensive technical, safety and compliance expertise.
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Full service Linfox operates ten workshops across Australia, from Pooraka in South Australia to Port Hedland in the West. Linfox’s largest workshop is in Erskine Park outside Sydney. The team service and repair around 280 vehicles each week and wash 30 trucks and trailers daily. “The workshop features sustainable service equipment, including a modern water-recycling truck wash facilities and energy efficient lighting,” said Lyn. “An onsite diesel refuelling facility includes one Adblu and two diesel tanks which are accessed by our fleet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Safety comes first The Workshop team is responsible for ensuring all vehicles meet Linfox’s uncompromising safety and compliance standards. “Ensuring the safety of our people and the community is our number one priority,” said Lyn. “This is reflected in the quality of the team’s workmanship and excellent maintenance records. “At a minimum, all Linfox equipment is maintained according to relevant Australian regulatory requirements as well as the maintenance recommendations specified by the manufacturer.”
The Workshop team is responsible for ensuring all vehicles meet Linfox’s uncompromising safety and compliance standards.
Mechanic, Bobby Tenorio
Fleet National Safety Manager, Darren O’Sullivan works closely with team members to regularly review and improve onsite safety standards. “In the last year, the team has significantly improved all key safety performance indicators,” said Darren. “We also encourage near miss reporting.” Team members are actively involved in developing safe work procedures. “It’s a ‘hands on’ role, where managers are encouraged to work side-by-side with our service staff,” said Darren. “We work by the philosophy that you can’t prevent injuries without getting your hands dirty. That means getting elbow deep in grease and oil.”
The Erskine Park workshop features modern water-recycling truck wash facilities.
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Care goes out to Western Sydney The Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL club shares the football landscape with soccer and rugby. And while the competition is fierce, the club is determined to forge links in the community that stretch beyond the football pitch.
Giants player Adam Tomlinson joined Ali Faraj and Emad Elkheir from the community engagement team as they visited Granville Public School in Western Sydney.
In their fourth year in the AFL, the Giants have quickly established a presence in the community by delivering quality programs to those who need it most. Last year more than 12,000 people took part in community club initiatives. Now with the help of Linfox and another seven foundation businesses, that figure is expected to double following the launch of the club’s CARE program last month. The innovative initiative has a longterm vision to stop the cycle of disadvantage in communities across western Sydney.
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Linfox founder, Lindsay Fox praised the aims of the CARE program which are synonymous with Linfox’s commitment to supporting communities it operates in. “Sport plays a pivotal role in the community, so I am certain this program will do a lot of good for a lot of people and I look forward to seeing the results,” said Mr Fox. “Linfox is proud to help lift communities in Western Sydney and provide opportunities for families, talent and hard work to thrive,” added Mr Fox. The CARE program will focus on areas such as social cohesion, numeracy, literacy, health, environment, science, nutrition, youth employment and leadership.
Giants CEO David Matthews said: “Giants Care wouldn’t be possible without the significant investment made by our foundation partners such as Linfox and we thank them for their support. “We are proud of the work we do in the community and GIANTS Care will see us take this to a whole new level across Western Sydney,” added Mr Matthews. For more information about the CARE program visit www.gwsgiants.com.au
While his new role is a far cry from the chaos of East Timor, rebuilding disasterstricken communities or training an army, Mick’s military experience has prepared him to tackle a range of complex problems. New President of Government and Defence, Mick Slater.
New leadership
Major General Mick Slater, AO, DSC, CSC (Ret) is the new President of Government and Defence. Mick joins Linfox after 37 years of service with the Australian Army. As President Government and Defence, he leads a 600-strong team to deliver warehousing and distribution services for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at more than 20 sites across Australia. Breadth of experience Mick commenced his military service as an Infantry Officer and has held senior roles in training, operations and change management. He commanded and coordinated the International Stabilisation Force in East Timor in 2006. Led by the ADF, the mission restored peace and stability to a country that had suffered a breakdown of civil authority and order. In 2011, he was appointed by then Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh to lead the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, responsible for rebuilding Queensland’s infrastructure and communities after the devastating floods and Tropical Cyclone Yasi. Government and Defence is Linfox’s newest business unit. The team manage complex issues and change on a daily basis.
And while his new role is a far cry from the chaos of East Timor, rebuilding disaster-stricken communities or training an army, Mick’s military experience has prepared him to tackle a range of complex problems. “All the significant missions I’ve undertaken have presented the same core challenge – leading teams to find solutions to big problems involving complexity, uncertainty, risk and competing priorities,” said Mick. His experience has also equipped him with strong leadership skills. “Leading people is about sharing a vision and providing people with the support and motivation to achieve that vision,” explained Mick. “I believe in empowering every individual to do their job, giving them the resources and authority that they need but equally holding them accountable commensurate with their responsibilities.”
Facilitating change Under Mick’s leadership, the Linfox team will continue to streamline the ADF’s logistics operations. “The team is consolidating the ADF’s logistic operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs throughout the supply chain,” said Mick. “This includes the roll out of the latest warehouse management systems to further improve and automate operations. These changes are supported by the ongoing training and development of our people. “It’s a true partnership between Linfox and Defence, and a relationship that is in the best interests of the government and the country.” Mick replaces Gary Allen, who was appointed to the role of President Resources and Industrial in April.
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Healthcare logistics solutions
Helping some of the world’s largest and most respected pharmaceutical companies to supply vital equipment, medications and treatments is an important and essential role.
“Linfox has partnered with Mundipharma for more than 12 years, providing warehousing and distribution services for sensitive pharmaceutical products in line with stringent safety and government compliance measures.” Robert Ingui Mundipharma Finance & Operations Director
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It’s a service that Linfox’s team of healthcare logistics experts delivers with pride. Linfox Healthcare Logistics provides highly-specialised and efficient supply chain services to companies specialising in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical equipment and nutritional products. The team deliver a range of customised logistics solutions, including warehousing and order fulfilment, temperature controlled storage, secondary packaging, customer service, debtor management, distribution management and control of service sensitive products.
High-tech facility Linfox’s state-of-the-art Healthcare facility in New South Wales was designed and built specifically for the healthcare industry. The 29,000m2 facility can store up to 30,000 pallets. With ambient, chilled and frozen storage areas, it caters to a vast range of ambient and temperature sensitive products. The facility’s high security systems also offers protected storage for dangerous goods and controlled products scheduled under the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) classification system.
Proven expertise Linfox has serviced the healthcare industry for more than 15 years and built strong relationships with global pharmaceutical companies including Aspen, Ferring and Mundipharma. The team has recently partnered with other companies seeking to grow their markets in Australia, including Japanese pharmaceutical company, Eisai. FMCG General Manager Mike Sullivan said: “Customers come to us seeking a tailored approach to healthcare logistics management.” “We assist companies to expand into new markets and protect product integrity, ensuring regulatory compliance and providing secure storage solutions.”
“The team manages all aspects of customer service, including order fulfilment and accounts to ensure operational efficiency and cost effectiveness.” More than just warehousing The team is acutely aware of the vital role of logistics in the delivery of health-related products and services. “It’s a big responsibility and one that sometimes requires team members to go above and beyond their normal duties,” said Mike. “The team regularly receive praise from our customers for our service and responsiveness. “We take the view that people come first. This can mean last minute deliveries of life-saving treatments to providing out-of-hours assistance.”
Our services
Linfox Healthcare Logistics provides end-to-end supply chain management, including: • Q uality management that meets internationally recognised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards • Validated cold chain capabilities • S ecurity for dangerous goods and controlled products • Full customer order-to-cash services • Debtor management • Customer service management • Over-the-counter and prescription medicines • Cutting-edge SAP system
Our facilities
• 29,000m2 distribution centre • 30,000 pallet positions • Security vault • Temperature controlled ambient facilities • Cool room and frozen storage capacities.
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Weetbix is one of Australia’s most popular breakfast cereals.
Driving health and wellbeing
Increased demand for gluten free cereal is driving new delivery services for Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing in Western Australia.
“I have personally appreciated the responsiveness of Linfox to Sanitarium’s changing business needs. The Gluten Free Weet-Bix project is one of many examples of Linfox finding solutions to new challenges that work.” Rob Scoines, General Manager for Logistics – Sanitarium.
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Weet-Bix is Australia’s top selling breakfast cereal but until recently, the popular product was off the menu for people with coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity. Last year, Sanitarium launched its gluten free Weet-Bix and the product is proving popular with consumers across Australia. “Linfox provides transport services from Sanitarium’s dedicated glutenfree manufacturing facility in Carmel, Western Australia,” explained Linehaul General Manager, Ian Strachan.
Sanitarium produces a range of well-known brands including Weet-Bix, Up&Go and So Good soy and nut milks.
Linfox driver, Daryl Walker at the Kewdale distribution centre.
“The products are loaded onsite and transported to Linfox’s Kewdale multiuser super site before being cross-docked into containers destined for the east coast.” Long term partnership Linfox has enjoyed a long term partnership with Sanitarium spanning almost 15 years. The team also provide interstate and local deliveries of Sanitarium products, including Weet-Bix and Up&Go, from the company’s primary production facility on the New South Wales Central Coast.
“Linehaul use a combination of road, rail and coastal shipping to provide interstate distribution services in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia,” said Ian. “Our FMCG team also provide warehousing and local distribution services throughout NSW and Western Australia.” Linfox is committed to delivering ongoing efficiencies for Sanitarium through advanced stock visibility and forecasting tools.
“We continuously monitor and assess order patterns in the eastern states to optimise the use of our fleet, ensuring we consolidate loads and streamline deliveries,” said Ian. Gluten Free Weet-Bix is endorsed by Coeliac Australia and New Zealand.
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The Linfox and Kellogg’s teams at the Kellogg’s new regional snacks hub, south of Kuala Lumpur.
New ‘snacks hub’ takes shape
Linfox will play a vital role in Kellogg’s US$130 million dollar ‘snacks hub’ investment in the Asia Pacific, complete with a satellite racking system. Linfox has secured work with global cereal and snacks brand, Kellogg’s to provide warehousing, haulage and freight forwarding services at its manufacturing facility in Malaysia. The newly-built regional snacks hub, located south of Kuala Lumpur, produces halal-certified Pringles for Asia Pacific markets. The investment aims to strengthen Kellogg’s snacks business in core markets and increase growth in developing and emerging markets. Strategic partnership Linfox will provide back-of-factory warehouse management of Kellogg’s finished goods, raw materials, packaging and seasoning products. The team will also haul finished goods from the plant to the Klang Port for export and provide freight forwarding and customs clearance services.
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FMCG Operations Director, Barath Ashok said the partnership will create around 15 new warehousing jobs in the short term and up to 25 new jobs in the second year. “Like Kellogg’s, Linfox is firmly focused on increasing our footprint in Asia and we’re pleased to be awarded this important work,” said Barath. Smart technology Linfox manages Kellogg’s warehouse activities with the help of a satellite racking system. The system optimises pallet storage capacity and reduces travel time for warehouse operators and manual handling equipment. Supply Chain Operations Director – Kellogg’s Snacks Asia, Nancy Gipson said the team selected the highest capacity satellite racking system available in the Malaysian market.
“The racking offers high-density pallet storage to enable operational efficiency and future growth,” said Nancy. “Linfox was chosen as the most professional logistics partner to efficiently manage our operations in the end to end network.” Kellogg’s is the world’s leading cereal company; second largest producer of cookies, crackers and savory snacks; and a leading North American frozen foods company. Its popular brands include Special K, Pringles, Pop-Tarts, Corn Flakes, CoCo Pops, Mini-Wheats and many more.
A sustainable partnership Smart solutions are reaping productivity and sustainability benefits for Linfox and CHEP Australia.
The humble pallet is a vital piece of equipment in any logistics operation. It’s a tool that is used thousands of times daily by Linfox sites to store and move customer products. In fact, Linfox manages more than two million CHEP pallet movements each year. A recent review of the pallet delivery service by CHEP Logistics for Linfox has led to a total saving of 269 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Smart solutions Effective pallet flow design can significantly reduce transport costs, improve supply chain efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. “Our challenge is finding the most cost efficient and sustainable way to transport pallets within our network and to customers,” said CHEP Key Account Manager, Andreas Bauspiess. “The previous model relied on a combination of road and rail to transport pallets returning from Western Australia to Linfox’s Victorian sites, via the CHEP service centre in South Australia. “We recognised the inefficiency of this model and worked with Linfox to devise a more efficient solution.”
Linfox manages more than two million CHEP pallet movements each year.
CHEP commissioned Linfox to transport empty pallets direct from the Linfox rail yard in Perth to its Victorian operations, bypassing the CHEP service centres and streamlining the delivery process. “In utilising Linfox’s own rail service, we’ve increased the use of rail from 84 to 99 per cent and eliminated double handling,” said CHEP Sustainability Manager, Nicole Boyd. “This solution has led to a significant annual saving of greenhouse gas emissions.” 20-high initiative An increase in CHEP’s standard pallet stack height has also lead to significant cost savings and reduced carbon emissions. CHEP has gradually increased its maximum pallet stack height when transporting empty pallets from 15 to 20.
“Most Linfox sites in Australia have already adopted the new pallet stack height for safety reasons,” said Linfox Group Manager, Safety and Sustainability Andrew Niven. “The initiative has reduced by 100 the annual number of trips between CHEP and Linfox sites. “It’s another example of how Linfox and CHEP are developing smart solutions to improve supply chain efficiencies and minimise their environmental footprint.” CHEP Australia, supplies services and transports pallets, containers and crates for many of the world’s largest supply chain operations.
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Future Leaders Program
Eleven potential leaders from Australia, China, Thailand and New Zealand graduated from Linfox’s 14-month Future Leadership Development Program in March. The specialised program supports and develops staff in junior management positions by equipping them with the skills, tools and disciplines to enhance their leadership skills. Thailand Solutions Leader and program graduate, Sakdipat Suvarnazorn, affably known as Pop, says the program has given him a rare insight into top level management practices. “The program dramatically improved my understanding of the business from a region-wide perspective. “Personally I have vastly improved the way I communicate with people and have identified areas that I can work on as I look to take the next step in a senior management position,” he said
The 14-month program includes leadership-based classroom sessions, networking opportunities and interaction with senior executives. Linfox Learning Specialist Sarah Danckert said the program demonstrates the company’s commitment to developing the talent from within Linfox. “Our people are our biggest asset so this program identifies their potential and equips them with the skills to drive performance through others,” Ms Danckert said. Program highlights • The group presented to senior Linfox executives • Participants were exposed to unique sites such as Defence and logging operations in Auckland • Achieved heightened self-awareness through 360 surveys and professional coaching.
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Sakdipat Suvarnazorn - Pop Born in the bustling capital of Thailand, Sakdipat Suvarnazorn, known as Pop, developed a love for the way things functioned from an early age. After earning a Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Pop moved to England where he completed a Masters Degree of Science in Engineering Business Management, which introduced him to the world of supply chain solutions. After returning to Thailand, Pop joined Linfox where he implemented the vehicle guidance tracker RoutePro and coordinated the establishment of the Tesco Distribution Centre in 2007. Currently, Pop is a Solutions Leader and is working on a continuous improvement program that aims to identify efficiencies in across the business.
Healthy Fox Program Manager, Marian Merrigan, Kickstart Challenge winner, Jason Kain and Site Manager Darren Smith.
Rewarding healthy habits The investment in health and wellbeing was embraced across Australia with a new challenge for Linfox employees. The Healthy Fox Kickstart Challenge is a ten-week program that rewards weight loss and healthy lifestyle habits among employees. Linfox driver, Jason Kain won the 2015 Healthy Fox Kickstart Challenge in May. Jason lost an impressive 17 kilograms during the 10-week challenge which he puts down to reviving his passion for cycling and making healthy food choices. “I’ve increased my activity through cycling and my energy has really increased,” said Jason.
“I’d let myself go but it wasn’t until I became active again that I realised just how bad I’d been feeling. Now I feel great.” He was awarded $1,000 for his efforts. More than 850 employees from 91 Australian sites participated in the weight loss challenge, the first of its kind at Linfox. Healthy Fox Program Manager, Marian Merrigan said: “We’re delighted with the participation rate and the real results achieved by our people.”
“Research shows that effective workplace health programs can lead to positive personal and organisational change, including increased productivity, job satisfaction and reduced absenteeism. “Sustained lifestyle change is difficult to achieve alone. The Healthy Fox Program empowers employees to improve their health and wellbeing through education and professional support.”
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The shelves are full
The Linfox team in India have successfully completed a significant warehouse transition for Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Over three months, the team migrated three Unilever sites to one mega distribution centre Chennai. The new site is India largest modern DC, spanning more than 51,000m2. In the first months of operation, the team put away more than 4.6 million cases and issued more than 4.1 million cases.
The new facility offers Unilever improved cost efficiency and a centralised solution to their supply chain requirements. The mega DC is home to Unilever’s extensive range of home and personal care brands, including Dove, Ponds, Comfort and Rexona. Linfox has partnered with Unilever in India for nine years.
HUL Procurement Director Asia, Mr. Kallol Mukherjee and Procurement Manager South Asia, Mr. Nagesh Telang toured the distribution centre with Linfox Operations Development Manager, Bijoy Korembeth, Linfox Regional Manager (South), Saranga Kannan and team members.
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Linfox CEO Asia Gabby Costigan presents the Linfox team with new helmets.
Record breaking deliveries for SAB Miller
The Linfox team at the SAB Miller distribution centre in India has broken the site’s previous outbound delivery record after just three months of operation. The global beer giant appointed Linfox to manage its outbound supply chain operations from its distribution centre in Sangareddy in early 2015. The team achieved a record outbound delivery rate in April, topping the site’s previous record by 25 per cent. Linfox’s team of transport coordinators work overnight to schedule and coordinate vehicles for the next day’s deliveries. The day shift team then load and coordinate deliveries to local government liquor depots. The task calls for exceptional organisational, negotiation and time management skills. In just three months, the 15-strong team has distributed more than 4.2 million cases of beer to to local government liquor depots.
Linfox CEO Asia Gabby Costigan recently visited the site to congratulate the team and present them with new motorbike helmets. Motorbikes are a common form of personal transport in India. New helments were presented to thank the team and to reinforce Linfox’s
commitment to safe behaviours both at work and in our personal lives. SAB Miller is one of the world’s leading brewers with more than 200 beer brands and some 70,000 employees in over 80 countries.
CEO Asia Gabby Costigan presents SABM VP Manufacturing Mr Suranjan Dass and SABM Country Head of Procurement Mr Shirish Wakchaure with a scale model of a Linfox truck.
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Drivers Michael Cook and Brad Henderson consult the Safety Leadership Journal at the Linehaul site in West Melbourne, Victoria.
Safety and compliance spotlight: Linehaul
In the remote outback town of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, Linehaul’s NT Area Manager, Rick Holmberg updates the safety board that hangs near the entrance to the tiny site office. The safety board, found at every Linfox site, is a visual tool used to track site safety performance. Rick is just one of two employees at the Tennant Creek rail terminal that Linfox manages on behalf of Genesee & Wyoming Australia. But despite the site’s remoteness and size, Rick is an active participant in Linfox safety programs. “When it comes to safety, engagement and communication are crucial,” said Linehaul National Safety Manager, Chris Hensworth.
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“Whether we’re communicating with sites that employ one or 100 people, we instil in our teams a sense of accountability, openness and continuous improvement.” Linfox Linehaul employs around 500 people across Australia, from Tennant Creek to the bustling rail yard in West Melbourne. The team specialises in interstate transport, combining road, rail and sea. “Linehaul has a broad remit, so our challenge is to deliver Linfox’s Vision Zero safety program in a way that is relevant and accessible to all our people,” said Chris. “I’m proud to say that the team has reduced its total recordable injury frequency rate by sixty per cent since 2008.”
Communication is key The safety board is just one initiative designed to keep safety front of mind. The safety and compliance teams conduct regular safety audits, known as Safety Pulse Checks and Chain of Responsibility audits, issue Tool Box Safety Alerts and newsletters and hold weekly Stop for Safety sessions. “Stop for Safety meetings bring together our safety influencers, including our Linehaul President, managers, contractors and customers to discuss our performance and set our safety expectations,” explained Chris. “Key messages then filter though to employees through weekly Toolbox Talks.” Chris believes that near-miss reporting is one of the most effective incident prevention tools. “We view near misses much like a ‘free-kick’. It’s an opportunity to learn from incidents that haven’t resulted in injury or damage and to prevent them from happening again,” he said.
Reward and recognition Recognising and rewarding safe behaviour is another important element of the program. “We regularly recognise individuals who embrace our Vision Zero safety program and host celebration barbeques at sites when safety milestones are achieved,” said Chris. “But watching our safety performance improve year-on-year is in itself the biggest reward.”
“We empower our people to stop, think and plan to ensure not only their own safety but the safety of those around them.”
Linehaul National Compliance Manager Vanessa Carlin and Northern Territory Area Manager, Rick Holmberg, Linehaul.
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CEO for a Day The role of CEO was viewed through different eyes when Adam Douthat took over the reins at Linfox after winning the Generation One ‘CEO for a Day’ competition.
Linfox CEO Annette Carey and Adam Douthat.
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The 26 year old from Sale in Victoria spent the day shadowing Linfox CEO, Annette Carey at the Linfox Head Office in Melbourne. Generation One is dedicated to providing opportunities for Indigenous Australians to gain ongoing employment. Adam spoke enthusiastically about the opportunity: “It was an enlightening day and one that has added to my life experience. I’d highly encourage all Aboriginal youth to apply for the competition.” After a few nerves, Adam also met Linfox Founder, Lindsay Fox.
“Once we sat down and started chatting I was instantly relieved as it turns out he’s a very humble man and showed genuine interest in my passions.” The initiative was organised in partnership with the Linfox Indigenous Engagement Program. “Linfox shares Generation One’s commitment to ending the disparity between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians,” said Annette. “This goal will be achieved through real opportunities for training and development, mentoring and employment.” Visit www.generationone.org.au for more information.
Inside Linfox’s dedicated Healthcare facility in New South Wales.