On Wednesday after work, the Cluster for Logistics in Luxembourg held its Logistics Autumn Evening at the Chambre de Commerce in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
Following the introduction by Malik Zeniti, Manager of the Cluster for Logistics, Carlo Thelen, Director of the Chambre de Commerce and President of the Cluster for Logistics, explained that logistics is no longer involves just transporting equipment from point A to point B, and that quality does not come for free. He explained that the event would address quality and security, including in the pharmaceutical sector, where one pallet can have a value of up to €1m. He added that it is not only goods that need to be secured in transit, but also drivers and other personnel too.
He announced that the logistics diploma course at the Lycée in Bonnevoie and thethe Lycée de Lallange has 40 students this year, with apprenticeships on offer from next year.
Tony Wright, CEO of Exelsius, and a cool chain specialist, delivered the Keynote Address on Added Value in Logistics, focusing on investment in facilities, education and people. He confirmed that Luxembourg has a lot to offer and stated that added value is the key, with a massive shift away from traditional warehousing as new services add value to the supply chain.
Particularly in the pharmaceutical and lifestyle sector, he defined value creation as focusing on Process, People and Patients.
In the UK, logistics operators must be licensed, supporting Good Distribution Practice (GDP); on the other hand, in the US there are currently no airlines that are GDP certified. He referred to new labelling causing confusion to logistics operators who are not (yet) certified, with the aim of the sector to create Logistics Reality from the current Logistics Hope.
In Luxembourg, the new handling facility at the airport stands out due to the quality implemented and complemented the foresight and vision of those behind the policy decision-making.
Improving the level of the process quality is only possible with quality people, for whom training is more than words. In Luxembourg, training succeeded as it was seen as a more holistic process and was supported by senior managers and directors at transporters and forwarding agents, etc.
While adding value can come at a price, it is the overall cost of ownership that counts; there is a real value to the service. For shippers there is reduced risk and improved quality due to enhanced standards. If price is the only decision-making factor, quality will suffer - cheap and effective solutions may not be fast.
The event continued with presentations from various operators and other actors in the logistics sector in Luxembourg and abroad.
Photos by Geoff Thompson (top): Tony Wright
