Big W, Bluescope Steel and Victoria University were among the trophy winners at last night’s national Supply Chain and Logistics Awards
By Anna Game-Lopata | November 9, 2012
Big W, Bluescope Steel and Victoria University were among the award-winners at last night’s national Supply Chain and Logistics Awards in Brisbane.
Fifteen
awards were presented to ten companies and four individuals last night at the Brisbane Convention Centre for the Supply Chain and Logistics Association’s (SCLAA) annual
industry awards presentation.
One of the oldest and most prestigious supply chain industry awards programs in Australia, the Supply Chain and Logistics awards are run by Australia’s SCLAA with support from the likes of DB Schenker, KTM, AMCAP Rand Refrigerated Logistics
Curtain University and the Portland group.
Supply Chain Management
The Supply Chain Management award was won by Big W for its 89,000 square meter Distribution Centre (DC) in NSW, which incorporates Australia’s first multishuttle goods to person (GDP) order fulfilment system, installed by Dematic.
The system comprises a Dematic multi shuttle storage buffer and sequencing system. It also includes country’s first automated goods to person picking stations.
“Big W
is now achieving significant benefits from the GDP system including pick rates of 491 order multiples per hour, per pick station,” says Logistics Manager Philip Town, who accepted the award.
“This compares very favourably with our conventional throughput of around 130 order
multiples per hour.”
“I feel very honoured to accept this on behalf of the team that put the operation together and would like to thank the Dematic team that got us on track in regards to integrating and getting the systems right,” Town says.
Storage and Handling
The only company to receive two awards, Big W also took out the Storage and Handling of Materials award for the Hoxton Park, NSW DC.
Key among the many innovations within the new Big W Hoxton Park Distribution Centre, Sydney is a 50,000+ ColbyRACK pallet storage system, a 12 deep, 2,500+ capacity Pallet Live Storage system and a a three multi-level walkpick- to-belt pick module.
The DC also utilises a Voice-Directed Ride-Pick-to-Pallet operation, close to 3 kilometres of integrated conveyors and
a 300+ cell Crossbelt Conveyor Sorting System capable of sorting over 8000 items per hour to 44 despatch lanes for order consolidation.
“Effective from day one, the Dematic storage and handling systems were capable of doing 8,000 cartons an hour,” Big W’s Philip Town says.
“It actually does 8,000 cartons an hour and we’ve had it running at 9,000 cartons an hour. I’d never seen anything like the goods to person system before, and from day one it achieved all our goals.”
Highly commended in the Supply Chain Management category was Honda Australia and in the materials handling category
Yale Materials Handling received a commendation.
The Training and Education award, dedicated to the late Professor Peter Gilmour, was won by Victoria University for its industry mentor program for undergraduate and post graduate supply chain management students.
The volunteer program which pairs students with seasoned professionals, broadens students’ industry knowledge and ideas, enables professional development and improves mentees confidence to make the transition from university to working life.
Victoria University Faculty of Business and Law Program Director Dr John Hopkins developed the initiative with colleague Careers Education Project officer Peter Folino, who now manages it.
Part of the Master of Business for Supply Chain Management, Dr Hopkins says the mentor program is one of many great supply chain and logistics programs the university has on offer.
“I’m gutted I couldn’t be there to accept the award,” Dr Hopkins says. “It’s a fantastic achievement and we are very honoured to have our program recognised in this way.”
Director of Victoria’s Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics at Victoria University Hermione Parsons says the Business and Law faculty program is achieving excellent results.
“Dr Hopkins has done a wonderful job developing this initiative,” Parsons tells SupplyChain Review. “Our congratulations to John!”
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) was highly commended in the category.
Environmental Excellence
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads division Transport Certification Australia (TCA) for its Intelligent Access Program (IAP) initiative aimed at improving safety, productivity and environmental outcomes for the Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane corridor.
IAP supports is the first use of the TCA national telematics framework without which access for higher productivity and more environmentally friendly vehicles would not be possible.
“It just shows what technology can do for environment, for freight productivity and reducing congestion and increasing safety so it’s a winner all round,” says Director of Compliance and Industry Authority Mark Mitchell.
“You’re tracking trucks, you’re weighing them on the go, you know when they’re coming and going, so I think this kind of monitoring is the way of the future, so thanks very much.”
Highly commended in the category was Polystyrene Recycling Queensland.
Information Management
The Information Management Award went to BlueScope Steel for its re-structure in a difficult time. Steel capacity was reduced from 5.2 million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes to better align manufacturing factory capacity to domestic demand.
“Benefits include $1.6 million achieved for better payloads, improved planning and productivity,” says Systems Manager Peter Susovich.
“We improved DIFOT (delivery in full and on time) by a total of 0.5 percent by improving transport visibility and employing systems to assist with safety management”
“It’s been a hard slog for last 6 years, but it’s been a terrific effort by the guys. I just want to thank Project manager Jason Barclay and the management team that have supported this project, thanks guys.”
Highly Commended in the category was Delta Shelving Systems.
Manufacturing Logistics
TAE Gas Turbines won the Manufacturing Logistics Award for its role as the first Australian company to develop
Aluminium Vacuum Brazing
technology.
Developed over four years, this
cooling technology is used
in areas such as
liquid electronics enclosures, cold plates, heat exchanges, wave guides and radar assemblies.
“The requirements for these items is growing especially give the growing cooling needs of modern electronics especially within the aerospace and defence arena,” says TAE Gas Turbines’ Ken Newton, who accepted the award.
“TAE Gas Turbines is one of the few companies worldwide to develop and offer these capabilities.
“Thanks very much to the manufacturing team, without their dedicated efforts and support we wouldn’t have got this done.
“As a military engines business, we were able to secure a contract with Harris Corporation to manufacture this water cooler electronic chassis, and from there it just got bigger and better.
“It was only achievable because of our manufacturing and because we used our suppliers as our partners, not just suppliers. So thanks very much.”
Industry Excellence
The 2012 Industry Excellence Award was presented to Energex Materials Manager Aaron Relph who managed the company’s relocation to two new distribution centres at Eagle Farm and Larrapinta.
Relph also works with the younger generation within the industry and says he would like to see a schools program developed for trades people to expose the industry to school students in an effort to encourage education in the industry.
“This is a surprise. I’d just like to thank my leaders present and past, especially Andrew for putting me on this journey for the Association and thank you very much.”
Highly commended in the category was Transform Director Louise Perram-Fiske from Queensland’s Department of Transport and main Roads.
Future Leaders
Bunzl Outsourcing Services Operations manager Daniel Di Stasio was named the 2012 Future Leader, taking out the trophy on the Future Leaders Award.
In the last 12 months Di Stasio has risen to a number of challenges, including rising to the leadership as Chair of Western Australia’s Future Leaders Group and being able to support the next generation of future leaders in the industry.
“Di Stasio’s career is also testament to his outstanding capabilities and he’s a fine example of a future leader,” Event Master of Ceremonies and Queensland SCLAA Chair Vince Aisthorpe says .
Clearly modest, Di Stasio did not expect to receive an award.
“I honestly didn’t expect this, just thought it would be a great way to finish off the year, having a drink with the guys. The other finalists are just fantastic, it’s incredible, I still can’t believe it,” he enthuses.
“This is an incredible honour and I still can’t believe I’ve won. This award really goes to my team, when I was at Schenker and now Bunzl without them I’d be nowhere.
“There’s a great saying get great people around you and to support you and you’ll go places and that’s what I’ve done, so to my team and the companies that have guided me it’s been fantastic, and it’s been fantastic to be part of the Association so thank you.”
Highly commended in the category was SeaRoad Shipping Equipment Manager Meg Rollins.