Amway Reveals Tips for Building a Smarter Supply Chain

Amway, a world-leading nutrition, beauty, home and personal care products company, relies on Access Business Group to manage manufacturing and logistics for not only its own brands, but for many of the best known brands from other Fortune 500 companies. Amway has been in business for more than 51 years with well-known brands such as NUTRILITE, ARTISTRY, eSPRING and iCOOK, among many others.

 

With a global presence in more than 60 countries Amway's complex supply chain network required a global warehouse management platform that would improve inventory management and traceability, increase throughput and standardize business processes worldwide.

 

On October 5, 2011, during a CGT web event, Deb Parm, director, North American Logistics of Amway's Access Business Group LLC, revealed the company’s journey through warehouse management. Below are some highlights from the event:

 

--Parm started the event by explaining how Amway operates as a comprehensive supply chain -- from researching and cultivating natural and organic ingredients for many of its health and beauty product formulas to the efficient warehousing and logistics operations that deliver products straight to its consumers. She also revealed how Amway was able to achieve global visibility into inventory across the supply chain, ensure quality control and brand protection, and reduce supply chain costs while improving responsiveness, through a new warehouse management solution implementation. Parm closed with some lessons learned for others just starting their WMS journeys: “Start with the right program structure with assigned roles and responsibilities. I’d also suggest a heavy focus in change management and above all else, make it fun.”

 

--Dawn Andre, director, CPG Industry Marketing & Strategy for RedPrairie, was also on hand to explain why successful a warehouse management system (WMS) can be the foundation for smarter supply chains. This included some core functionalities, results and best practices for implementing a WMS. Andre talked about creating an intelligent supply chain. She explained, “There are four key processes that make up an intelligent supply chain. They are sensing, reacting, learning and then taking action.” Andre then gave a real-life example of an intelligent supply chain using a company that makes detergent. “We’re excited about being a partner to lay the foundation for supply chain excellence,” Andre closed.

 

To listen to this event in its entirety, click here.