OPSI Systems is Awarded the 2007 Logistics Achiever Award for Supply Chain Optimization
Johannesburg, South Arica, October 10, 2007:
OPSI Systems, in partnership with Clover Primary Distribution,proudly accepted the award for supply chain optimization at the 2007 Logistics Achiever Awards held in Sandton, South Africa.
OPSI Systems’ entry outlined the development and implementation of PLATO (Primary Logistics and Transport Optimizer), which was born out of specific needs identified at Clover Primary Distribution (CPD).
At the beginning of 2004, Clover Primary Distribution (CPD), South Africa’s largest provider in chilled and frozen product distribution, decided to explore their options for upgrading their existing transport management system and put out a tender to all of the leading logistics technology providers.
The new system was required to handle CPD’s increasing order volume, the growing fleet in use (including Clover’s own vehicles as well as external contractors) and the shrinking time periods for scheduling and planning.
Staff from OPSI Systems and Clover Logistics analysed the processes in place at Clover Primary Distribution. After a long tendering process, Clover made the strategic decision to select OPSI Systems as the technology provider.
To address Clover’s needs, OPSI Systems created a specification document that was accepted by Clover. OPSI Systems developed the PLATO system based on this specification. By implementing PLATO, Clover gained a central management system that is able to make the transportation process efficient and more cost effective. PLATO complements Clover’s existing order-management, forecasting, warehouse-management and financial-administration systems.
PLATO was designed to be the intelligent control centre that:
- collates orders from a variety of integrated order-processing, replenishment and forecasting systems,
- integrates with OPSI's PLATO scheduling engine to build optimal loads using sophisticated algorithms that honour operational and physical constraints,
- optimizes service performance by efficiently procuring transportation using haulier rating information and on-line load publication,
- maintains up-to-date load statuses by retrieving vehicle allocations as well as dispatch, delivery and proof-of-delivery information directly from the warehouse,
- enhances the visibility of shipments by providing vehicle GPS tracking information via the integration of a variety of third-party service providers,
- manages debtor and creditor contracts and tariff structures to enable the system to allocate accurate transportation costs and revenue information, and
- provides intuitive user interfaces to easily manage the volumes of data.
OPSI was able to complete a nationwide implementation of PLATO throughout Clover’s national network of depots. The platform was integrated with a number of back-end systems, and, through the web-based portion of the system, personnel at branches can now view relevant information, dispatch and receive loads in real-time.
Both Clover and OPSI learned that, by having a primary distribution optimisation system that is centralised and based on a powerful scheduling engine, accurate fleet planning can be realised – resulting in realistic delivery time commitments.
With these improvements, Clover has realised a direct benefit in terms of customer satisfaction, employee efficiency, and of course the bottom line.
In short, having PLATO precisely designed to Clover’s primary distribution specifications has streamlined and optimised their entire supply chain process and has made the process easy for all parties involved while, at the same time, decreasing the required manpower – adding up to tremendous savings for the entire organization.
For more information, please contact:
OPSI Systems ®
|
About OPSI Systems
OPSI Systems, founded in 1997, is a software development and consulting house based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We focus exclusively on tools and services related to the supply chain, with a specific focus on vehicle logistics and demand prediction. We supply off-the-shelf routing and scheduling tools but also welcome work on custom projects for individual clients. OPSI products optimise the logistics for over 60 companies globally. This translates to providing logistics for over 2000 vehicles daily. OPSI has more than 60 man years of combined experience in developing fleet logistics technology.
OPSI Systems® and PLATO™ are trademarks of OPSI Systems CC. All other trademarks and registered trademarks referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners.
About Clover
Clover’s mission “is the superior procurement, production, marketing, sales and distribution of branded consumer goods (BCG) to customers in the Southern African region at benched marked costs, with margins sufficient to ensure Clover's long term growth”. The Clover Group is currently the biggest dairy group in South Africa, with a turnover in excess of R3,6 billion and a staff complement of approximately 6 300. Clover Primary Distribution is a business unit within Clover formed in 2002 specializing in the primary distribution of products for Clover, Danone Clover, Clover Danone Beverages and various outside principals. Among others it includes Unilever South Africa, Eskort Processed Meats, Today’s Foods and Mageu.
