Features - December 2010 January 2011

Access 1 2 3 – the brains behind the beige

What sizeable logistics operation could operate without the assistance of a warehouse management system? Early adopters obtained considerable competitive advantage, driving out costs, achieving better utilisation of scarce resources and integration of information across the business to make more informed decisions. read more »

Editorial

The features we run in FTD are usually planned a year in advance, and when we sat down this
time last year and scheduled a ‘disaster management’ feature for this December issue, little
did we think then that we would be receiving content from an all-too-real perspective. The
7.1 magnitude earthquake that rocked Christchurch and surrounding areas in the early hours
of the morning on Saturday 4 September left the region’s infrastructure and supply chain
practitioners reeling. read more »

New Zealand must drive up productivity to grow economy

New Zealand must radically ramp up its productivity if it is to compete in the global marketplace, say the country’s leading ‘lean’ practitioners, KAIZEN Institute New Zealand (KINZ) and Skills4Work. A new partnership between these two organisations announced in October aims to lead the drive to greater productivity across all industry sectors from healthcare to manufacturing. read more »

Truck driver training made safer

Learning to drive a heavy vehicle is a daunting task, especially when faced with taking one out on the road for the first time, but a new method for delivering training is making the job far easier and safer, and is achieving a better result. read more »

KiwiRail keeps goods moving into Christchurch

Within 36 hours of the big Canterbury quake, KiwiRail was delivering important freight – mostly FMCGs – into Christchurch by rail to Rangiora and via road-bridging into the city. Within 48 hours, it was back transporting 10,000 tonnes of coal per day on the Midland Line, with other freight services in the South Island restored just five days later.
read more »

Port ensures vital goods reach Canterbury
following once-in-a-lifetime event

September’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake was a once-in-alifetime experience and something Cantabrians will remember for the rest of their lives. As the major trade gateway to the South Island, it was vital Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) was able to keep essential food, fuel and other supplies flowing through to the Canterbury region. read more »

Common ground for forklifts and lawnmowers

Iconic Kiwi company Masport, which is this year celebrating 100 years in business both locally and globally, is also undergoing change at its head office. Built in the early 1940s to produce lawn mowers, their old warehouse has been demolished and relocated within the existing factory building.
read more »

Richard Thorpe at Oceanbridge Shipping

FTD talks to New Zealand’s supply chain managers about their jobs.

I’m the projects and marine trade manager of Oceanbridge Shipping’s specialist projects and marine division. Basically, I look after any enquiries that come into the company regarding freight that will not fit in a container – and in the marine sector, it’s all about the shipping of boats. read more »

Mentoring – what’s in it for you?

While being mentored is by no means new, it’s only recently been recognised as a great tool to fast track and get ahead in one’s career. Beverley Main, chief executive of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, explores what career mentoring offers to the parties involved.
read more »

Weekend operation checks taxi safety in Tauranga

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Police carried out a joint enforcement operation to check the safety and operator compliance of taxis in Tauranga on Friday 19 November.
read more »

Oliver Wight launches integrated business and supply chain planning education academy in New Zealand

Business improvement specialist consultancy Oliver Wight has announced the launch of a two-week business and supply chain planning education academy in New Zealand.

read more »