SCLAA April Newsletter 2022

APR ‘22

WHAT’S ON

IN THIS ISSUE

SCLAA Welcomes New Platinum National Partners - HERE Technologies - Think Global Logisitics (TGL)

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APR ‘22

WHAT’S ON

IN THIS ISSUE

03

Chair’s Message

05

Behind the scenes at the Australian Supply

WELCOMING OUR NEW PLATINUM PARTNERS

Chain & Logistics Awards with ASCLA Chair Stephen Lakey

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Achieving Sustained Change: Why most process

13

Transform hindered workers to empowered decision-makers with Zebra Workforce Connect

15

Straight Talk from David Doherty OAM

17

Weber Case study

18

SCLAA Platinum Partners

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How to minimise (the next) supply chain

improvement efforts fail

disruption

NEW NATIONAL PARTNER

21

Automation Strategies for Distribution Success

22

Automation drives growth and flexibility as local manufacturing resurgence sets Australia and NZ up for bright future ahead

25

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SCLAA New Platinum Partners

APR ‘22

The support for the Awards this year was overwhelming and on behalf of the Board and SCLAA members, much appreciation and a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors of the event- JLL, uTenant, Gamma Solutions, RFSmart, Dematic, Swisslog, LMA & Biarri.

A very special mention needs to be given to Gold Sponsor and media partner for the evening, ImportExport TV. Professionally but not obtrusively, facilitating on the spot interviews with guests at pre drinks, with our sponsors and winners, and providing that Red Carpet experience which

Sue Tomic

very much added to the atmosphere of the evening.

“ASCLA’s” does sound much like “Oscars” after all…

SCLAA National Chair Director/Principal Consultant for Chain Consulting Services, based in Sydney.

Appointed to the Board in 2019, Sue is currently SCLAA Chair.

Chairs Report 2022 After a tumultuous couple of years for the supply chain and logistics industry, SCLAA celebrated Industry Excellence at the 60th Annual Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards (ASCLA)– long considered the industry’s night of nights.

I was honoured to open the event with a welcome speech, It has been a long time in the making, but the 60th Annual

highlighting the importance of recognising excellence in

Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards (ASCLA) hosted

the industry and acknowledging the disruptive impacts

by the SCLAA was held at Crown Palladium Melbourne on

Covid has had across the industry. I emphasized two

March 18th and it didn’t disappoint. A record 370 attendees

important “C’s“ that SCLAA delivers as part of its core

representing over 150 companies working in, or directly

purpose- Connection and Collaboration, and the one it

supporting the industry, were present.

assists to mitigate -“Crisis”.

With the event sold out prior to registration close and our

Luckily, my address was short, and the ever-talented Actor

Secretariat still receiving phone calls asking for inclusion

and comedian Shane Jacobsen, took over the MC role

whilst on the way to the event, you know just how much

and kept both our table, and the room rolling in laughter

the Awards were anticipated, and how eager the industry

during the night.

is, for in person reconnection.

Of course, there is much preparation work behind the scenes that resulted in such a stellar eventBig THANK YOU to Stephen Lakey, Chair of the ASCLA Event Committee, (who provides more insight on the awards night later in this newsletter edition), NSW State Director and Chair of the Judging Committee , Cathy Anne Jones, (SCLAA received a record number of submissions across all 10 Award categories), the Victorian Committee members who assisted in the lead up and on the night, and Megan White, for all her expertise with managing

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sponsors, National Partners and event co-ordination tasks.

APR ‘22

Plans are underway for the next Awards ceremony being

On behalf of the SCLAA, I would like to thank the

held in early November 2022, so stay tuned for key dates

following sponsors for their generosity and some very

in coming months for Submissions and Sponsorship

spirited and competitive auction bidders for their

opportunities.

support, which helped raise almost $10k for the charity.

Highlights of the 60th Awards can be viewed here: https://www.sclaa.com.au/ascla-awards/ And I hope you also enjoy the photo spread presented in this edition of the newsletter.

In addition to the Awards, around the country, 8 other events were held during March/April, with a special mention to the NSW Industry Networking Breakfast at the very prestigious Members Dining Room in NSW Parliament House.

The momentum is continuing with the Supply Chain Planning & Logistics Summit and Retail Fulfilment Summit that will both will be co-located in 2022, at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park on 31 May – 2 June 2022. We look forward to seeing many of our members and Partners there, and if you are attending, please come and meet our NSW Committee at the SCLAA Exhibition stand.

Other exciting upcoming events include local and global Industry Conferences, site visits, the SCLAA Mentoring programme and our first series of Executive The theme was Building Resilience. Certainly, very

Round Table events commencing in NSW (May) and

fitting, as it was one of worst deluge storm mornings in

QLD (June).

Sydney, but that didn’t deter the 150 attendees!

Finally, a very warm welcome to our new Platinum See highlights of the event here:

National Partners - Here Technologies and TGL and

https://youtu.be/MXPIN2CMiy0

National Partner, Ligentia!

The event was held on International Women’s Day 2022.

Industry leaders Marika Calfas CEO- NSW Ports, Alison Cusack, President of Wista, spoke about resilience of the supply chain, women in the industry. The event also raised funds for the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) in Sydney.

Helen Waters Silvia, CEO of WAGEC discussed turning resilience into action, and the work her organisation does to help women and children.

“With the work that we do, it’s not just about the thinking, the critical thinking that goes behind it, it’s about the action we put in with the women we support,” she said.

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APR ‘22

Behind the scenes at the Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards with ASCLA Chair Stephen Lakey It was a long time in the making but the 60th Annual Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards (ASCLA) hosted by the SCLAA was held at Crown Palladium Melbourne on March 18th and it didn’t disappoint. After an online only awards in 2020 and postponement of the 2021 awards the 60th Anniversary of the Awards attracted a record attendance. Conditions at last were perfect with no interstate travel restrictions or density limits and the supply chain community responded with enthusiasm and their hard earned cash to attend the industries most prestigious and highly anticipated awards with close to capacity attendance.

We were delighted this year to welcome Shane Jacobson as the event MC. Shane of course is best known for his lead role and AFI award winning performance in the hit movie Kenny and appears in numerous Hollywood movies including The Bourne Legacy (2012) and The Dressmaker (2015). Shane was the perfect host and kept the laughs rolling throughout the night while pulling together the various segments of the event. Something that many would not know is Shane’s link to supply chain & logistics with his business supplying trucks to the entertainment industry.

Shane’s trucks are a common fixture at movie sets around the country providing catering, green rooms, staging & general transport to the entertainment industry.

A change in this year’s format was to increase the networking aspect of the event – the entertainment was incorporated through the night rather than dedicated sections and networking over pre-dinner drinks and during meals proved a hit with the guests. It has been a long time since the industry had the chance to get together on a large scale and there were many happy faces and teary eyes as people caught up with friends and colleagues from around the country who they hadn’t seen in years.

A key to running a quality event that is still affordable is having industry support. This year the support was overwhelming with much appreciation to our sponsors JLL, uTenant, Gamma Solutions, RFSmart, Import Export TV, Dematic, Swiss-log, LMA & Biarri.

The Awards night aimed to acknowledge outstanding achievement in Supply Chain and provide encouragement for future excellence. There were 10 award categories covering various areas of supply chain with nominations judged by an SCLAA judging panel headed by Chief Judge Cathy-Anne Jones. The judging panel chose a High Commendation recipient and a winner of the ASCLA for each category.

Personally, there is great satisfaction seeing the faces of award recipients as they receive their award and the knowledge that some encouragement and industry recognition can do amazing things for that persons career and their future contribution to our industry. The exposure that comes with winning an ASCLA tends to open up opportunities for these high achievers This year’s winners were: Automation, Robotics or Emerging Technology DHL Supply Chain - Kent Rogers & Karl Brooks; and Packsize Pty Lyd High commendation - Starshipit

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APR ‘22

Big Data, IT & Business Intelligence GHD Digital High commendation - Navia Freight Environmental Excellence Award Schneider Electric High commendation - Packsize Australia (IKEA project) Industry Excellence Award Tom Fitz-Walter - TMX Global High commendation - Lance MacManus - Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) International Supply Chain Award IFC Global Logistics Pty Ltd High commendation - Seko Logistics Pty Ltd Start-Up Award Adiona Tech High commendation - Team Ofload Supply Chain Management Award Swisslog Australia; and Manhattan Associates High commendation - Complexica Training, Education & Development Award TAFE NSW - Supply Chain & eCommerce Team High commendation - Swinburne University of Technology Future Leaders Award Chethan Vijaykumar Jain - Marley Spoon; and Margaret McGhahan - Coles High commendation - Nick De Klerk - TMX Global Logistics Management Award World’s Biggest Garage Sale - Yasmin Grigaliunas High commendation - Linfox - Wayne Clissold

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APR ‘22

Our keynote speaker this year was ANL Shipping line MD, Shane Walden. The keynote as you would expect was very topical given the turmoil currently in international shipping. Shane delivered an on-point presentation and provided an outlook and insights on international shipping only available from someone coming from the inside world of international shipping. Of note, Shane forecast that current shipping pressures would continue at least until mid-2023.

We also had an inspiring presentation from uTenant co-found Kyle Rogers who spoke about his journey in co-founding Australia’s leading on-line industrial property platform uTenant. He introduced us to the concept of co-opetition (cooperation with your competition) which provided inspiration and encouragement to us all.

The Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) host the awards annually through their National board & State based divisions consisting of a dedicated group of Supply Chain professionals volunteering their time to promote and support the supply chain & logistics industry. Planning for these awards started in February 2021 and I take my hat off to those who contributed to the awards. The awards were entirely organised and run without an external events management company and was a success entirely due to these hardworking individuals. A massive thanks to the entire SCLAA VIC/Tas division for being there leading up to the awards and on the ground during the event, VIC/Tas president Rakesh Bandipelli, the ASCLA committee, Judging panel & Chief Judge Cathy-Anne Jones, The National Board, SCLAA chair Sue Tomic, secretary Megan White, Meg Ogier and the TAS team for your support and to everyone who contributed on the night.

The success of the awards this year has the organising team thinking about how we can top this one for the 61st awards with some great ideas already put forward. Watch this space Supply Chain!

To read more about the awards and to see the photos and video, please click HERE

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APR ‘22

Sponsor - JII

Sponsor - Dematic

Sponsor - RF Smart

Sponsor - Gamma Solutions

P8 Event Sponsors

Sponsor -Biarri

Sponsor - utenant

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Sponsor - IMA

Sponsor - Import Export TV

P9 Sponsor - SwissLog

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Event Sponsors

Sponsor

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SCLAA Board

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Victoria Committe

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Achieving Sustained Change: Why most process improvement efforts fail Your project team analyses your business activities and

forms culture; forms mindset.

identifies an opportunity for a process improvement

When our people know the ‘why’ of Continuous

to increase performance and as a result, customer

Improvement, and the why of any given change, you

satisfaction. Your project manager utilises the 5S

are giving them a reason to subscribe to the change.

Framework to identify and remove waste, for a more

When they are aware of why the change is important to

organised, safer and efficient workplace environment.

them, to the organisation, and for the greater good, they

The new process policy and steps are written out in

are more likely to adopt an identity of someone who is

great detail and illustrated visually on posters around the

willing to go along with or advocate for the change. This

workplace, and you engage your team in an interactive

means that their values and beliefs may shift towards the

workshop to ensure they have the knowledge and skills

change, and this means your people are more likely to

required to perform the tasks.

look forward to learning the knowledge and capability of how to implement that change in their behaviours in the

Your company has undertaken a comprehensive effort

workplace, resulting in a greater likelihood of sustained

to see a continuous process improvement, addressing

change in the physical environment.

the physical environment, behaviours and your team’s knowledge and capability, BUT your efforts only result in

The lesson? We need to work on the invisible and the

short term performance increases, rather than sustained

intangible levels of change, to see a sustained change

change.

in our environment.

Where did you go wrong? You employed a systematic

If you are interested in understanding more about the

tool to sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain

importance of attending to the intangible levels of

significant changes to the environment, wrote new

change, watch the highlights video of the Innovative Talks

policies, and empowered your people to change their

Workshop that featured special guests from State Library

behaviours through training… but in only focussing on the

of Victoria.

areas of change you can measure, you forgot to take care of the intangible levels of change that are necessary to

In the discussions, the importance of attending to the

see sustained change.

intangible levels of change ‘below the line’ became very apparent, as it is through their team’s uncompromising

It is the hidden levels of change that provide motivation

attention to all levels of change that State Library were

and enable a mindset of change.

able to empower, motivate and successfully change the

You must take care of Values and Beliefs, Identity and

mindset of their organisation, to achieve significant and

Purpose (the ‘why’), because the combination of these

sustained improvements. Watch the video HERE

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APR ‘22

Transform hindered workers to empowered decision-makers with Zebra Workforce Connect There’s disruption on the frontline.

Workforce Connect can be used to determine powerful insights and improve productivity. It also enhances

Employees

in

transportation

and

logistics

face

a

disconnected workplace with gaps in communication,

workflow and location visibility via automated safety measures which protect frontline staff.

information and technology. The decentralised work environment makes it difficult for organisations to track

All of this goes far to foster collaboration, increase

the location of employees, equipment and orders in real-

productivity and raise customer service to new heights.

time.

Here are four key areas warehouse managers can transform with the help of Zebra Workforce Connect.

As a result, frontline workers are buried in tasks and burdened by inefficiencies, from juggling multiple

Four areas you can transform with Workforce Connect

devices to managing disjointed workflows.

When information flows freely and collaboration happens naturally, workers move away from task-oriented work

This directly leads to inefficient delivery and dispatch

and break out of their silos. Empower your employees

operations and worker safety concerns.

with the digital tools to solve problems on the spot and apply cognitive skills to better serve customers.

Without a unified digital workplace solution that fosters collaboration, increased engagement and information

1.

Warehouse operations

sharing, communication and information gaps will

•

Minimise hardware - Zebra Workforce Connect

continue to grow — and frontline morale will continue to

eliminates the need for bulky 2-way radios and keeps

decline.

employees connected anywhere, anytime.

•

But there is a way to close information and communication gaps, and usher in a new era of transformation — with

Manage tasks – Easily assign and manage tasks and assignments

•

Zebra Workforce Connect.

Connect with groups – Eliminate group huddles with the “message of the day” function

• Workforce Connect enables warehouse managers to

Improve security – Get critical real-time alert and alarm notifications

consolidate critical workflows into one fully connected platform – giving their frontline workforce a complete

2.

Worker/Driver Safety

solution. It covers the entire spectrum of frontline needs

•

Prevent distractions - Silence notifications and lock

from communication to collaboration, from information to safety, all in one connected platform.

Offering strong analytics and reporting capabilities,

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the screen with “Driver mode” •

Signal an emergency - Hit a button to notify dispatch of an emergency

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productivity and shrink revenue.

3.

Customer experience

•

Enhance customer service by giving customers real-

With Workforce Connect, hindered workers are empowered

time updates

to become effective problem solvers, contributing their best to the organisation. Critical workflows are streamlined

4.

Dispatch Operations

in one place, on one device, equipping workers with the

•

Enhance visibility - Monitor delivery status and driver

information they need, right at their fingertips.

location on a desktop dispatch client • •

Streamline dispatch - Connect with field workers

No matter the size of your business, Workforce Connect has

directly from the dispatch interface

an option for you. Its scalable, modular architecture means

Oversee workers’ location - Get real-time trip reporting

you can select the features you need for your business.

and location history Find out the benefits of empowering your team with Disparate devices and disconnected employees slow

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Workforce Connect

APR ‘22

Straight Talk from David Doherty OAM David Doherty OAM is a past Preseident and Life Member of the SCLAA and a highly regarded logistican. Send your Straight Talk feedback and comments to davidoh1@optusnet.com.au The past few years have been difficult for Supply Chains ,

the magic ,you must be prepared to look beyond what

Logistics and Communities. No argument!

you currently believe.”

Can you do that? Can you see the magic of a new way –

The mental anguish, the loss of jobs, the delays and

an innovative solution?

failures in deliveries, varied disruptions, destruction of confidence, abnormal cost increases and such have been

We are often limited by our current beliefs with related

evident.

internal restrictions preventing us from confronting challenges with courage to advance possibilities for new

Times have been tough! Times are still tough! Doomsayers

ways (thinking).

abound. Problems persist. Covid is still impacting sources

Can you overcome the internal beliefs and barriers

and freight operations.

(unconscious bias)?

People yearn for a return to “the good old days”! Of

Technologies changed the game forever for supply chains

course, that will not be happening anytime soon.

and logistics. The enormous benefits came accompanied by security failures and system hacks on a global scale

I have endured many catastrophes over my life journey.

. However ,there is still considerable evidence of the

Difficulties sometimes seemed insurmountable yet,

fragility of technologies, systems, and such.

somehow, we found ways to endure and progress.

Disruptions emanate from evil sources in many countries.

Failures and problems represent challenges for learning

A real audit is an essential tool in the fight against cyber

and improvement. Challenges provide opportunities to

crime and supply chain failures.

embrace learning, flexibility, adaptability, and innovation.

Ignore these issues at your peril!

SCL experts have always boasted of capabilities in being flexible, adaptable, and Managing crises.

Have you had a technologies/systems security audit recently? Do it now!

Our education, training and learning experiences allegedly have created people competent to deal with all

The avalanche in online shopping during the pandemic

manner of SCL challenges. We do it every day.

has created unrealistic expectations in order fulfillment ,as well as a few new methods in freight and transport.

So, these troubled times have produced an environment

The jury is still out regarding the future potential of some

built for our SCL skills and knowledge to come into play.

of these players/methods but again the landscape has

The times are made for us to thrive whilst facilitating

changed forever. Freight and transport operators must

solutions , alternatives, and value driven operations.

reinvent to provide required updated user service levels.

We must demonstrate our abilities in vigorously

Promises to deliver must be realistic ,based on the

influencing business and people to create, implement,

relevant environment.

supply chains and logistics operations that deliver better outcomes for all partners/collaborators and users. These

Do not promise what cannot be delivered! Deliver what

grim times are made for supply chain and logistics

has been promised!

professionals and practitioners.

Call centers have failed continually during the pandemic.

It is our time to shine!

I wonder if off shoring and cost reduction programs were wise in the circumstances. I have given up on airlines and

I read a book about inspiration recently. One of the adages in the book was a suggestion, “If you want to see

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telcos!

APR ‘22

Customer service must be non-negotiable. On shoring

Genius is not common. Root causes must be determined

,real wages, relevant training , and proper goal setting/

and addressed. Innovation comes from clear discipline

KPI’s are all critical success factors.

and effort. Eureka moments are rare. Imagination is a valuable commodity.

It is time for call centers and related customer services to be reinvented as a critical business success tool-not a

Be brave enough to let your imagination surge to reveal

cost taker.

the “magic”.

Buy now pay later schemes are a source of great concern

“The problem human beings have is not that we

to me. I foresee eventual disaster for vulnerable people

aim too high and fail, but that we aim too low and

when economic circumstances demand settlement.

succeed.” (Michael Angelo)

The schemes have certainly contributed to business

“Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully

growth/consumer purchasing but at what eventual

understand the situation” (Anon)

cost?

Stay safe!

Perhaps a subject for a future Straight Talk Column.

Namaste There are often intentions to complicate issues and

David Doherty OAM

expound solutions to show off personal cleverness.

davdoh1@optusnet.com.au

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Weber Case Study

Android Migration on Mobile Devices Allows Voice Capability with Increased Productivity and Safety Gains at Weber Grills Being one of the largest brands in the industry, day-to-day challenges in the Weber supply chain inevitably develop — managing stock movements, maintaining visibility of what is where, and keeping staff safe and on track with product picking. The mobile devices in use were approaching their end of life due to the operating system becoming unsupported which brought up productivity and safety issues; the need to move the mobile device out of the workers’ hands to allow them to pick goods effectively and the handling of bulky items that require two-handed picking which cannot be achieved with a device in hand.

Fortunately, the team at Weber is forward-thinking and stays abreast of the latest technology available in the supply chain. The decision to move to Android was a simple one for Weber, with the Honeywell CT40 mobile device being chosen after a proof of concept was completed. This was achieved with the help of Intermax by using the Ivanti® Velocity migration platform. This platform enables easy transformation of older, green screen-based applications to a modern, touch-enabled layout on the Android operating system without a line of code being written. The Ivanti solution meant that the adoption of the new devices within the Weber warehouse could happen in days rather than months.

Once the Weber application was working on the Ivanti Velocity platform, Weber was able to add voice to their processes, a technology they had only been considering months prior but without an effective solution in mind. The ability to add voice meant that warehouse staff no longer needed to physically interact with their mobile device. They were now able to rely on voice commands and acknowledgement.

What started as a common need to update mobile devices has resulted in a streamlining of warehouse processes that use the power and simplicity of voice and unlock productivity gains in the Weber supply chain.

Continue Reading…

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THE SCLAA ACKNOWLEDGES THE VALUABLE SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM ITS NETWORK OF NATIONAL PARTNERS. PLATINUM PARTNERS

NATIONAL PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS.

Interested in becoming an SCLAA National Partner?

1300 364 160 secretary@sclaa.com.au

APR ‘22

How to minimise (the next) supply chain disruption The health of global supply chains, once the sole preserve of

flooding affected large parts of Queensland. Food

supply chain professionals, is now a topic of wide business

supply chains were severely disrupted. A subsequent

interest and has far-reaching implications for every aspect

enquiry found coordination of the various parties

of business operations. As organisations strive to maintain

working to restore essential services—including food—

productivity under the constraints created by the pandemic,

was a key element of resilience, and improvements

Director of Digitalisation Strategy at TIBCO, Alessandro

would minimise the impact of future disruptions to food

Chimera, looks to the future of digitally intelligent supply

supply chains.

chain networks.

•

Tropical cyclone Larry made landfall near Innisfail in far north Queensland on 20 March 2006, with wind gusts

In the past, discussions about supply chains were restricted

estimated at 240 kilometres an hour. It was considered

to logistics and transport engineers, procurement directors

the most powerful cyclone to have hit Queensland in a

and, of course, dedicated supply chain professionals.

century. It destroyed 90 per cent of Australia’s banana

Global supply chains performed to a choreographed

crop. The supply chain’s ability to meet consumer

pattern known only to trained staff who understood the

demand was constrained by government restrictions

interdependencies between a vast number of working

on importation of bananas. For several months after

components – from factory production lines to trucks, ships

the cyclone, banana prices increased by more than 500

and aircraft, and the physical products being shipped.

percent from pre-cyclone retail prices of generally less than $3 a kilogram.

So long as supply chains operated efficiently and consistently, delivering as required, the supply chain

The 75 per cent disruption factor

cognoscenti could look forward to their annual industry

It has been estimated that today, as many as 75 per

awards dinners without too much external interference. But

cent of companies have been impacted by supply chain

times have changed. Now everybody wants to be involved in

disruptions. We must also remember that some industries

the supply chains relevant to them.

have a snowball effect upon others; when there is a production shortfall in the semiconductor industry for

Post- and pre-pandemic realities

example, most other industries are affected.

The world has witnessed significant disruptions across the supply chain during the past two years of the pandemic.

But, cataclysmic as these incidents can be, business leaders

But this period is not without precedent. Important lessons

need to be aware that it is possible to minimise their

were learned during previous disruptive events, and supply

impact. There are of course many challenges; very often we

chain organisations slowly realised the importance of

do not have timely access to accurate data to understand

taking their experiences forward to build a better and more

(let alone anticipate) potential disruptions.

integrated digital supply chain.

Where a business can recognise early warning signals, it can While the recent pandemic cannot be classified as a typical

proactively control and manage the scale of impact that any

risk event i.e., the scale of its impact on supply chains

disruption has on its business.

has never before been seen, significant disruptions have

Strategy #1 - Optimise the supply chain

happened in Australia in the past.

By tactically optimising the supply chain that a business operates in, it can elevate itself to a ‘never the last to know’

•

In September 1998, a major rupture took place at a gas

status. This involves empowering its IT stack with a modern,

plant at Longford, Victoria which caused explosions

event-driven infrastructure to deliver superior forecasting

and fires that killed two employees, injured more, and

and agile decision-making. The business then benefits

led to closure of the plant and two others at the same

from real-time insights that enable it to manage disruptive

location. Between them, they supplied 98 per cent of

events, forecast demand, improve customer satisfaction,

Victoria’s gas. Consumers were without supplies for up

and ultimately increase sales.

to 19 days. 1.4 million households and 89,000 businesses were affected. The estimated cost of the accident to the •

Strategy #2 - Build an agile and adaptable business

Victorian economy was $1.3 billion.

model

December 2010 and January 2011, widespread PIn19

The business lesson here is rather like a palm tree in a

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storm. If you’re able to bend, you’re less likely to break. It’s a

and protagonists in their immediate supply chain. They also

little-known fact; when the wind blows hard against palm

need to examine their suppliers’ suppliers. If a direct supply

trees, it actually strengthens their roots. They come out of a

is compliant and ethically sound, that’s fine — but are that

storm even stronger than they go into one.

organisation’s own suppliers engaged in any form of child labour, human trafficking or other modern-day infraction or

The same principle applies to an organisation’s supply chain.

wrongdoing?

It must be flexible enough to absorb shocks both major and minor, including natural disasters, unpredictable demand

Strategy #4 - Build a supply chain network

fluctuations, and even unforeseen pandemics.

The result of these actions can enable a business to build a strong supply chain network. This is a virtual construct

An adaptive and resilient supply chain can also unlock

with a corresponding set of physical entities that increases

opportunities to build entirely new lines of business. When

collaboration between supply chain processes where

COVID-19 hit, demand for hand sanitiser surged. The

trading partners are participating.

active ingredient of hand sanitiser is alcohol. A number of Australia’s independent distilleries producing whiskey, gin

Data can be exchanged through APIs over modern cloud-

and rum pivoted to hand sanitiser production. In April 2020,

based architectures and processed in real-time. These can

no fewer than eight were listed as making sanitiser.

interconnect multiple internal data sources with external service providers such as news feeds, weather data, logistic

Strategy #3 - Be sustainable, diverse and compliant

information, market data, sales data and production data.

A sustainable supply chain is not only about reducing

A more accurate picture of the supply chain can then be

carbon emissions, but also about engaging with suppliers

created.

on key aspects like environment, labour, diversity, and risk.

It is also all about measuring, tracking, and working towards

The analysis of those datasets with trained AI models

100 per cent compliance. Analysing suppliers down to the

can detect early signs of disruption and suggest how to

nth tier minimises the risk of being disrupted because

minimise their impact. Cloud-based technologies are also

early signals can be used to select an alternate supplier.

more agile and able to pivot faster to new business models,

Unfortunately, most executives do not have clear visibility

and redefine the supply chain network.

into their supply chains beyond tier one, let alone tier n.

It is now more important than ever to build resilience in Drilling down to the nth tier enables a company to ingest,

supply-chains and develop a culture of adaptability. This is

analyse and apply AI on all its datasets, thus contributing to

the moment to strengthen our roots and bend like the palm

deeper insights and better decision making. Organisations

trees.

need to look deeper still, not just at the patterns, players

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Automation Strategies for Distribution Success Distribution is a dynamic challenge, and businesses are increasingly realising the imperative to automate within the supply chain.

Today’s businesses are under increasing pressure from customer and market demands, challenges around labour costs and availability, and the rising costs of warehouse space in many cities. In addition, ongoing disruptions, and volatility both at home and overseas is putting more pressure on supply chains to become more agile and resilient.

In this eBook, Dematic explores the four biggest imperatives to optimise today, the key areas for optimisation opportunities, and the technologies and innovations delivering efficiency and resilience in supply chain and logistics operations.

Download this Dematic eBook today to learn about: •

The four big imperatives for businesses to optimise

•

How businesses can optimise processes, human activity, inventory, and information

•

Key solutions and technologies available, and what factors they improve

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Automation drives growth and flexibility as local manufacturing resurgence sets Australia and NZ up for bright future ahead

By Francis Meier, Managing Director, Swisslog Australia and New Zealand. Francis has worked with Swisslog in various capacities for more than 25 years, including as Managing Director of several company divisions in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Australia and New Zealand, where he has been MD for the past seven years.

Industry in Australia and New Zealand has a bright future ahead of it. It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, with Covidrelated supply chain disruptions and tighter working regulations causing genuine problems to companies in the here and now.

But one of the benefits of the global pandemic has been the number of opportunities relating to manufacturing “coming back” to the region. For this to be highly successful, automation – in a broad sense – needs to be utilised practically and intelligently to make the economics work, and set the foundation for future success and adaptability to change.

How to make the most of an investment in automation Automation can help companies build resilience to constantly changing global environments, as well as reducing reliance on human labour in the supply chain. Automation systems are an important strategic step in keeping operations continually viable, regardless of external impacts.

But fully-automated logistics and warehousing systems, such as those that Swisslog provides to companies in more than 50 countries, are not just a one-size-fits-all machine that you press a button and everything runs perfectly.

It’s important, right from the outset, to be clear about the requirements and goals of the automation system. Every application, from food and beverage and e-grocery, to retail and manufacturing, has unique needs, and every warehouse will require a different set-up to optimise the output of automation technologies.

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Swisslog Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Francis Meier sees a bright future for the region, with a resurgence in local manufacturing, and automation software that helps turn big data into intelligible insights and practical solutions

It’s equally important to continually learn and optimise the system once it’s in place. Harnessing the huge amount of industrial data available is crucial in learning where bottlenecks occur, and where the system can be tweaked to improve performance and profitability.

How does automation continue to shape Industry 4.0?

Industrial data is being captured and analysed in greater quantities than ever before. However, even though there are great ideas around the use of big data and artificial intelligence, these are often too theoretical or complex, without enough penetration into the real world.

Our industry (and this is one of our roles as an automation technology and software leader) needs to continue to make this useful data accessible and intelligible. We do this through the use of user-friendly tools and interfaces that allow users to efficiently synthesise data and use the findings to optimise factory and warehouse performance. The automation industry is consistently pushing through boundaries and limitations to deliver important advancements that deliver warehouse efficiencies. Technologies like digital shadows (the sum of all the data left behind when using a digital device) can be harnessed to further optimise processes and adapt warehouse systems.

Building supply chain resilience As Covid continues to create chaos with supply chains globally, companies that had invested in automation already are now reaping the rewards of their foresight. Automation allows companies to be less dependent on human labour, which

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has been a challenge with Covid restrictions and staff

customer curb-side pick-up, too, or a hybrid of pick-up and

absenteeism through catching the virus, or being forced to

delivery.

isolate through being a close contact.

Growth in customised automated handling Many of Swisslog’s customers opted to further extend their

As product diversity continues to increase, different

automation solutions, to continue to mitigate against Covid

shapes, sizes, and weights of product are being added to

as it evolves over time. Because Swisslog uses best-in-

production lines. Rather than fitting new products into

class automation technologies, we were able to remotely

standard size boxes, where total space is often not utilised

commission many sites during the pandemic, so that

efficiently, companies are now seeking more automated

projects could still be delivered on time, even through strict

handling for picking individual items, with technologies like

Covid guidelines.

Swisslog’s ItemPiQ, for example.

Additionally, there are now more health and safety laws

Technologies like ItemPiQ (pictured above) not only utilise

being introduced to protect workers, and so there should

clever gripping technologies to handle a wider variety of

be. But companies without an alternative to human labour

product types, but also feature intelligent vision systems

in critical areas of the supply chain have often been left

that utilise the latest artificial intelligence technology

with no alternative to meet production and distribution

to detect unknown items and choose the best picking

requirements. This is just one instance where automation

method, simplifying the process of teaching the robot

can be industry’s great friend – allowing production to

about new objects.

continue, and creating new jobs in data analysis, system

Innovations such as these make our shared future exciting.

operations and optimisation, as well as essential equipment

We look forward to sharing our enthusiasm and leadership

maintenance.

with industry that is focussed on a shared successful future, and on the great new opportunities relating to bringing

Automation can build resilience to future problems, too, because it provides the flexibility to adapt operations swiftly to new circumstances. And, having a build up of easily intelligible data about current operations means its simpler to identify where changes could occur to meet new requirements.

Trends shaping the future of automation Growth in Micro-Fulfilment Centres In Swisslog’s area of automation expertise – warehousing and logistics – we are seeing a strong movement to the use of MicroFulfilment Centres (MFCs), especially in the food, beverage, and retail industries, with the US leading the way.

The growth in MFCs is largely driven by the need to

manufacturing back to local regions.

fulfil orders and meet demand at a more localised level.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Automated MFCs allow companies with or without a

Ruby Wannous

brick-and-mortar footprint within a particular area to

Marketing Executive

move fulfilment closer to customers in order to reduce

Swisslog Australia Pty Ltd

transportation costs and enable shorter delivery times, benefitting both the retailer (or Fast Moving Consumer

A: 10 Herb Elliott Avenue, Olympic Park, NSW, 2127

Goods (FMCG) producer), and the customer.

T +61 416 865 553

Companies can build a micro-fulfilment centre as a

E: ruby.wannous@swisslog.com

standalone facility, or inside or bolted on to an existing location, to expand fulfilment capacity, which is something we are likely to see increasing in Australia and New Zealand, as customer demands continue to shift. MFCs can support

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With 35 years of experience in mapmaking and approximately 7,000 employees across 56 countries, we are the world’s leading location platform company.

Today, more than 160 million vehicles run on HERE map data. Our global ecosystem of customers, partners and developers across a variety of industries includes some of the biggest and best-known brands.

What we do We detect and process real-world changes in location data.

Our platform, uniquely combining location content and software, enables people, enterprises, and governments to be as successful as possible. Using our platform, our customers can run adaptive applications, such as driver hazard warnings or routing-as-a-service. They can power new mobility and supply chain solutions - all while maintaining user privacy and security.

As advancing technology better connects disparate data types, we see a paradigm shift with new use-cases emerging.

Autonomous vehicles, digital twins, and smart city infrastructure rely on precise location data. These use cases additionally require a real-time understanding of how objects, systems, and people interact with one another on the move – they need a digital representation of reality.

We call this the era of Spatial Intelligence. It relies upon a complex and growing volume of location data. However, even today, many organizations find themselves sitting on large amounts of siloed location data, unable to take full advantage of its value. This is where HERE can help. Our open location data ecosystem connects and makes sense of multiple types of location data in a secure, flexible, and valuable way.

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APR ‘22

THINK GLOBAL LOGISTICS Think Global Logistics is an Australian owned and operated international freight forwarding company. We specialise in offering business to business logistics services to all industries. We offer services in sea freight, air freight, domestic freight, warehousing and customs clearance. Through these services, we are able to provide you a true end to end solution for your shipping needs. Our commitment is to create relationships based on trust, safety, and teamwork.

We take extra care in understanding your business’s current needs, priorities and future steps and determine how we can support you as your logistics partner.

At TGL, our mission is to be the best movers of freight. Through our people focused approach, we deliver a tailored experience to our clients by bringing a welcoming face into a faceless industry. Together with our staff, customers, and our partners we aim to create a strong community we call Think Global Logistics. We are a forward-thinking company that believes in the value of technology and the future it will provide for the logistics industry. At TGL, we strive to challenge, disrupt and improve our industry through innovation by building technology that is purposeful and simple to use.

Our THINKERS are the lifeblood of our business. They offer a tailored experience to each of our clients through their industry expertise, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Our team of THINKERS are built on diversity, equality, acceptance, and our passion for life.

Our three key pillars are: •

Easy & transparent, fixed pricing: Our pricing is designed to be transparent, showing you no hidden costs and easy to understand.

•

One dedicated Solutions Specialist to guide you: From start to finish, you will have one point of contact, ensuring your shipment arrives safely and on time.

•

A multitude of channels to communicate: We communicate the way that suits you, be it via apps such as wechat, whatsapp, email, or traditional methods of phone and texts. We are more accessible to help make your life easier.

https://tgl.co/

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SCLAA WELCOMES NEW NATIONAL PARTNER

Ligentia’s Australia business delivers data-driven supply chain solutions that provide end-to-end visibility and sustained impact to customers in the retail and EComms sectors, as well as healthcare, animal care, non-perishable food sectors and other fast-moving, direct-to-consumer brands.

Our growing team of 70+ people support customers with 360-degree Supply Chain services including: • Supply Chain Management and tailored solutions • International freight forwarding services (import & export by sea & air) • 3PL warehousing & distribution services • Overseas vendor management and training • Value Added Service (VAS) solutions at origin and destination • Customs clearance and document management • Platform-based technology, supporting critical path PO and inventory management solutions • Pre-retailing Value Added Services (VAS) solutions from China & SE Asia into Australia • Project logistics (including Heavy Lift, Break-bulk and end-to-end Lead Logistics services) Our Australia business comprises: Container handling yards, distribution centres and operational offices situated in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney • Transfer facilities situated in Perth, Adelaide, Chinchilla, Miles, Townsville and Darwin • A brand-new bespoke logistics gateway warehouse facility with capacity available now in Truganina, comprising: • 14,000+m2 warehousing space • 4,500 m2 super canopy • Located in the heart of Melbourne’s busy western industrial corridor • Fully fitted to service the specific needs of customers in medical supplies, food and hygiene, consumer goods and electrical product distribution • Connect with our experts at: https://www.ligentia.com/

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NSW President Division Report Our first event for the year, The International Women’s Day event under the Supply Chain and Logisitics Association of Australia held at Parliament house on Tuesday 8th March 2022 was particularly special.

Rain and Floods around Sydney would not deter a full room from attending this event as it means so much to many.

Strength, resilience and power was on display by our keynote speakers Marika CEO of NSW ports and Alison Cusack principle maritime lawyer of Cusack and Co all in the name of our charity partner the Women’s and Girls’Emergency Centre (WAGEC).

This year we decided to honour International Womens Day by holding this event and celebrate the strength, resilience and power of Women all over the world.

As a father to a 4 year old girl, my main priority in life is to raise her to know she is strong, resilient and powerful and to not know any limits. A special thanks to Katie Walacavage, Cathy-Anne Jones, Megan White and Sue Tomic for organising a flawless event, my first as NSW President would not have happened without you.

Today we honour Women around the world and celebrate their achievements, to my Daughter, my Wife, my Mother and my Sister you’re the reason, example and inspiration in my Strength, resilience and power as a man.

Happy International Women’s Day. Julian Branccaciopeople management to ensure employees and stakeholders alike remain informed and aware of how to ust weeks before Christmas and with no disruption to customers, despite moving thousands and thousands of pallets

Our sincere thanks goes to SCLAA for raising $9,835 through your 2022 International Women’s Day Resilience Breakfast.

Your fundraising efforts will support women and children as they build safe futures following experiences of homelessness, domestic violence and social disadvantage.

It takes all of us to end gender-based violence, which is why we are so appreciative of your generosity.

Sincerely,

Helen Silvia Chief Executive Officer 36-38 George St, Redfern NSW 2016

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wagec.org.au

APR ‘22

2022 MENTORING PROGRAM

The 2022 Mentoring Program will be opening applications for Mentors and Mentees soon, so please keep an eye out. We encourage you to get your applications in early so you don’t miss out!

The Program is structured in 5 steps and more information about the format will be communicated shortly.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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1300 364 160 secretary@sclaa.com.au sclaa.com.au

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