Under a recently announced contract, Menlo Worldwide Logistics LLC will team with Bayer MaterialScience LLC's BMS NAFTA Supply Chain Center to implement a strategic re-engineering program. Menlo will assume the role of supporting a comprehensive logistics and warehouse optimization effort by BMS to bring new efficiencies and cost and service improvements to its supply chain.
Menlo's role includes planning and management of outbound transportation across BMS' various modes, including rail, air, bulk truck, truckload (TL), less-than-truckload (LTL) and barge, as well as support for equipment tracking and visibility, freight payment and audit. BMS will retain responsibility for procurement of equipment and carrier contracts.
In December 2008, Menlo went live with its operating platform for all LTL and Truckload shipments. Bulk truck, bulk rail and barge shipment responsibilities were transitioned in January to Menlo, which now supports shipment planning, routing and management for BMS' facilities in Newark, OH; South Charleston and New Martinsville, WV; Channelview and Baytown, TX; and Columbus, GA. As part of the transformation initiative, Menlo also is integrating its Logistics Management System (LMS) with BMS' SAP platform to enable visibility within BMS' enterprise resource planning and management system to provide enhanced shipments status, as well as performance metrics for transportation operations.
"We are very pleased to be able to leverage the resources and best practices of Menlo Worldwide Logistics, one of the largest providers of transportation planning and operations management services,” said Tim Tyler, director, Logistics Operations and Distribution Safety, Bayer MaterialScience. "Their experience and extensive operations expertise will bring best-in-class processes to BMS, while using a variable cost model which supports our competitive improvement strategy in today's rapidly changing competitive environment."
This is a highly strategic engagement for our logistics and transportation organization. It brings new capabilities to our team that add value—improved service levels and variablized costs—and enables us to leverage and focus on the strengths we consider to be our core competencies," added Dr. Haakan Jonsson, vice president and Head of the Supply Chain Center, "
Bayer MaterialScience, LLC, is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 15,100 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2008 sales of €9.7 billion ($12.8 billion). The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries.
