Parcel - October 2008 - (Page 39)

industry news from mark taylor Shipping managers are often faced with high turnover, seasonal peaks and temporary employees. Shipping personnel are not the highest paid employees, and English is often their second language. Maintaining accuracy, consistency, and reliability can be difﬁcult with a staff that may not understand a company’s standard practices. One of the shipping manager’s biggest concerns is eliminating mistakes, and given this environment, it can be a daunting task. People are not perfect. Humans make mistakes. Every error is an opportunity to design and implement a better shipping system. Gerber’s strategy is to note every problem. Each time a frustration presents itself, write it down on a master list. If possible, quantify the cost of the problem, prioritize the list, and look for answers that can be solved with a systems solution. The ultimate goal is a perfect operation that an unskilled person could master with little or no training. One of the best practices is to leverage technology. When I evaluate a shipping operation, I look for what can be done with a computerized shipping system, eliminating the opportunity to make mistakes. I look for sticky notes on the computer monitor that detail rules for speciﬁc customers. Every company has exceptions. Some customers pay for freight and others do not. Some shipments are sent collect, while others are prepaid. Some customers want their shipping billed to their accounts. How many of these special shipping rules are actually written down? What standard operating procedures are only known by the shipping clerk? What if that person leaves, gets sick or goes on vacation? Systemizing shipping operations prevents mistakes. Shipping programs are reliable and consistent. The greatest beneﬁt of technology is that it can perfectly and quickly accomplish tasks that can take humans several hours. Technology is not a ﬂawless cure; it is a tool. Using tools is what makes us human. Technology needs to serve us. The payoff for change is that technology, when properly implemented, can make your life easier, increase productivity, reduce errors, improve proﬁts and decrease the level of stress in your life. Mark Taylor, MBA, DLP, is the President of TAYLOR Systems Engineering Corporation and the Chief Logistics Ofﬁcer of RedRoller.com. He is the author of Computerized Shipping Systems: Increasing Proﬁt & Productivity through Technology. Taylor has been named a Distinguished Logistics Professional (DLP) by the American Society of Transportation & Logistics in recognition of the contributions he has made to the ﬁeld of logistics during his 30-year career. He can be reached via email at MTaylor@TAYLORSystemsEngineering.com. www.PARCELindustry.com October 2008 39 http://www.RedRoller.com http://www.atpaclogistics.com http://www.atpaclogistics.com http://www.PARCELindustry.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Parcel - October 2008

Parcel - October 2008 Contents Editor's Note What Would Augello Say? Best Practices Survey Results Going with the Flow Is Your Parcel Network Optimized? Last (Mile), but Not Least Moving From Manual to Automated Fulfillment A Race for Excellence Making Ends Meet Is Your Job Killing You? Software Selection Demystified Controlling Costs On the Mark Product Profile New Products & Services Advertiser Index Wrap Up

Parcel - October 2008

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