EPCA '09: More effort should go into chem logistics - consultant

06 October 2009 10:51  [Source: ICIS news]

BERLIN (ICIS news)--The chemicals industry should put as much effort into optimising its logistics and supply chains as it does into production, a consultant said on Tuesday.

Edouard Croufer, director of chemicals and healthcare at consultancy AD Little, said that the industry should apply skills attained in optimising production to activities “outside the fence” such as transport.

"Companies must anticipate and understand changes in global supply chains and create a system which is transparent to their customers," Croufer told delegates at the 43rd European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) meeting.

Herve Montjotin, CEO of transport company Norbert Dentressangle, added that the chemical industry needed to create key partnerships with logistic service providers to unlock value in the supply chain.

"There is an enormous amount of optimisation we have not tapped," he said.

Montjotin said that Norbert Dentressangle had sought to collaborate closely with the petrochemical industry, but success had so far been limited because of the industry's opportunistic approach to transport procurement.

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By: Elaine Burridge
+44 20 8652 3214

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