Port of Rotterdam Opens Major Rail Link to Germany

The Netherlands has opened a long anticipated rail line, which links the Port of Rotterdam (Europe's largest) with Germany. Although the rail line will help ease truck congestion around the port, many say Europe's neglect of its railways needs to change.

Nearly three-quarters of all freight shipped within the 25 member states of the EU moves via truck, while rail represents about 14 percent.

The European Commission set out to address this imbalance five years ago. The goal was to increase rail's share of the cargo transport mix to 25 percent by 2020. But five years later, the commission's efforts have delivered only modest results. Rail's share of the non-sea freight transport market has increased to about 16 percent in 2006 from around 14 percent in 2001.

Most agree that the new rail line from the Port of Rotterdam to Germany is a good, albeit expensive, start. But, there's much further to go.

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Top Firms Using Technology to Reduce Landed Cost

Global trade solutions provider Management Dynamics says new research from the Aberdeen Group, entitled "Global Trade Management Strategies: Surviving Growing Complexities in 2007," reveals the importance of technology in reducing landed costs.” Aberdeen surveyed more than 200 enterprises for the study, according to which:

• Companies that currently have import or export compliance automation are 1.4 times more likely to have reported increased customs clearance speed over the past 2 years
• Companies that currently use a global supply chain visibility platform are twice as likely to have reduced total landed costs, lead times and lead time variability from international locations over the past 2 years

The Aberdeen research analyst who authored the study noted that, “Technology plays a critical role in providing the much-needed visibility into international orders and shipments and facilitating the management of all aspects of global trade. Based on this study’s findings, Best in Class companies have used a variety of technology enablers to support GTM (Global Trade Management)." She added that, "These enablers have helped to better plan, execute, and track transactions while keeping global supply chain risks at bay.”

To read more, click here.

World Trade, NASSTRAC, AST&L, ISM and NITL present the seventh of 12 webinars in the 2007 Supply Chain Management University series:

Lean Six Sigma Logistics

Date and Time: July 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm ET

Professor: Thomas J. Goldsby, Ph.D.

University: University of Kentucky

Sponsor: C.H. Robinson 

Course Objectives:

      Logistics, Lean, and Six Sigma form a natural union.  Logistics is about managing inventory.  Leanis about speed, flow, and the elimination of waste.  Six Sigma  is about understanding and reducing variation.  Therefore, Lean Six Sigma Logistics embodies the elimination of wastes through disciplined efforts to understand and reduce variation, while increasing speed and flow in the supply chain. 

      This session illustrates how Logistics Flow, Capability, and Discipline can form the essence of a successful logistics strategy that yields robust processes – processes that delight customers at the lowest possible costs.

Missed a previous event? No Problem! The First 6 Webinars are Now Available On-Demand!  

Visit the archive section and choose from previously held events by leading U.S. Supply Chain Management Universities, at http://supplychainwebinar.worldtrademag.com.