Conquering Overflow Leads to a Long-Term Partnership

Warehousing, Health Care Logistics, ManufacturingWhen a global medical device manufacturer turned to Suddath to manage overflow product, it found a long-term partner that also provided warehousing and value-added services.The ChallengeOne of the world's largest medical device manufacturers needed full-pallet storage of finished goods to manage overflow quarantine product.The company had outgrown their distribution center and needed an overflow solution quickly, but also one that could grow and be effective for the long term. After partnering with Suddath®, the client's needs grew and they also required an efficient third-party logistics operation. To assist in this endeavor, Suddath began coordinating warehousing and value-added services such as case picking orders for the client's customers.The SolutionAfter building trust in the partnership, Suddath was given the opportunity to manage the entire inventory of quarantine product.This complex process included receiving quarantine finished goods directly from the client's manufacturing lines, storing the quarantine product, and identifying and pulling samples of the quarantine product for the company's quality assurance (QA) group for evaluation. After a thorough evaluation, the logistics team would release the quarantine product as directed by the QA group. Suddath was also tasked with operating the manufacturer's on-site raw materials warehouse by leveraging the use of a dedicated on-site team.Because of this successful operation, the client wanted to expand the partnership in a way that would help them to more efficiently realize their daily production goals. Suddath's team set up a lineside delivery operation to deliver raw materials directly to the point-of-use area within the client's primary manufacturing lines to support the company's busy production schedule.Suddath now works directly with the procurement, planning, and scheduling departments to deliver the right material at the right time.The RESULTSThe partnership between Suddath and the client grew from a single service opportunity into a successful, multifaceted, decade-long relationship.Suddath now operates a dedicated on-site warehouse and two off-site warehouses that integrate a top-of-the-line shredder for materials/packaging destruction of raw warehouse materials. Suddath processes approximately 85 tons of materials per month.Two labeling machines were also installed at its off-site distribution center to manage the labeling of finished goods for the client's Latin and Central American customers.Suddath's support with the labeling operation has increased multipacks per month by 114% in two years. This success has led to more volume with plans to expand to additional countries.To learn more:phone: 800-288-7833 web: suddath.com/logistics