Governor Roy Cooper ordered people in the state of North Carolina to stay at home for thirty days, until April 29, 2020, in another step to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Governor Cooper’s Executive Order No. 121 takes effect on Monday, March 30 at 5:00 PM and reduces the size of gatherings to 10 people. You can read the entire press release at the link below.
Although Mecklenburg County has ordered a stay-at-home proclamation beginning tomorrow, our facilities will remain open for business. The US Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Administration (CISA) has deemed our industry as critical infrastructure. The supply chain is an essential part of how the United States of America operates on a daily basis. We are doing everything we can to encourage our employees to come to work so we can do our part to help our country. Learn more a the link below…
As of March 26, 2020, Mecklenburg County (where we have 9 of our 12 facilities) issued a stay-at-home proclamation. Although this should not affect our operations, HR has put together a letter for all employees to use as documentation they are working for a company deemed essential in case they have difficulty getting to any of our buildings.
You can read the complete proclamation at the link below…
Our President and Owner, Scott Carr, shared the following information with our employees, clients, and partners last week to update them on how we are reacting to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis. Whether you are looking to do business with us or trying to find work, these are important guidelines you need to be aware of.
Like many of you, we have been closely following the developments around the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We wanted to provide you with an update on how we are addressing the ongoing situation in regards to our employees as well as our clients and partners. Listed below are several precautions we are taking across our network to minimize any potential spread of the virus and disruption in day-to-day operations.
OPERATIONS
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) coronavirus prevention signs have been posted at all facilities
Hand sanitizer stations have been placed in high traffic areas (bathrooms, breakrooms, etc.)
Instructed janitorial staff to increase cleaning of high traffic areas
Frequent cleaning of workstations and any shared equipment
Ongoing communication to shift labor from building to building to cover call outs
Expanded network of temporary staffing agencies to cover extended absences
EMPLOYEES
Ongoing Coronavirus education and updates
Avoiding physical greetings / Keep three feet of distance
Working with health insurance provider to pass on updates
Mandating anyone with symptoms stay at home, follow CDC guidelines
EXTERNAL
Asking visitors if they have traveled to high risk areas
Conducting any recruiting in reception areas
Avoiding physical greetings / Keep three feet of distance
Limiting truck drivers and visitors to reception areas
Restricting suppliers and vendors to essential visits only
We have established an internal task force to continue to monitor coronavirus developments across our network. If we have additional updates that would affect specific facilities or clients, we will make you aware immediately and outline any additional actions we are taking. This is unprecedented territory, and we can’t forget that we are better off getting through it when we remember that we are all in this together. If there is anything else we can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
By Kara Jesse, Senior Manager of Project Development at Bonded Pac
We
all know how important onboarding, the process of bringing on new clients or
projects, is to business success. As a co-packer, clients come to us with
all different kinds of projects. Sometimes it’s a one-time project, other
times it could be on-going work that involves moving existing product and
services into our facility. Each has to be handled in a different and
unique way.
Our
onboarding process starts with getting to know the client and identifying their
specific needs. In some cases, we may have to adapt to what they need
based on an established system. With others, we are creating a whole new system
for them. In both situations, we always focus on these five areas: point of
contact, systems set-up, quality standards, first article, and retailer
requirements.
Point of Contact
The first
thing we do during onboarding is assign each client with a single point-of
contact, a Project Manager. The Project
Manager will work with the client to establish a project timeline based on
material availability and project due dates.
They handle everything from tracking product arrival to ensuring
finished goods are produced and shipped out on time. Most importantly, the Project Manager is responsible
for one-to-one communication with the client, making sure they are kept
up-to-date with what’s going on throughout the entire project.
Systems Set-up
Our packaging software from Nulogy assists in making the systems set-up as easy as possible. Project Managers are able to utilize the same part numbers our clients use, which helps to alleviate communication issues. Product is tracked from receipt, through production and shipping to allow full traceability. We also set our clients up with access to our web-portal, which provides them with real-time visibility of their inventory as well as several reporting features to track receipts and shipments.
Quality Systems
It’s imperative to know
ahead of time what quality standards are expected from the client and that they
are clearly defined. We see ourselves as
an extension of our client’s business, so we do everything we can to meet or exceed
quality expectations. We rely on close
communication to set-up quality standards and checks before we get started on any
project. We have even established a
quality system that enables us to mirror our client’s specific needs and ensure
success.
First Article
A lot of times
we are the eyes for our clients, so we always make sure to put together a first
article for every project. The first
article is a document that the Project Manager creates that includes a copy of
the bill of materials, label formats, pictures of the finished good, and
stacking diagrams. We tailor each first
article to meet the needs of the client, and do not begin production until the
document has been signed off and approved by the client. The first article is then uploaded into our
system for reference by our production and quality teams throughout
production.
Retailer Requirements
Most retailers
have a specific set of vendor compliance guidelines that must be followed. This can include pallet types, shipping
labels, placard placement, display design, bill of ladings, etc. We understand and value our client’s
relationships with their retailers, and work with them to ensure we meet the
specific requirements they outline for us.
Interested in learning more about our onboarding process and how it can help make your next packaging project a success? Click here to start a conversation today with us!
By Jan McCormick, Jr., Director, Marketing & Communications
You’ve probably heard by now that we’ve hired Sean Ryan, a transportation industry veteran, to lead our brokerage division. Sean’s been tasked with turning what most considered a value-added service into a brand all on its own, and he’s definitely got the experience to make it happen. This Q&A dives into his new role and plans for the division, gets his take on the industry and digital brokers, and details how he sees relationships as what will lead Bonded Transportation to success.
What drew you to this position?
The entrepreneurial aspect was what really interested me in the position, along with the tremendous growth aspect of the business. From a company perspective, Bonded as a whole was very intriguing to me. I like the family-owned background. It’s not a big conglomerate with private-equity involved, which is something I wanted to stay away from. The position fit my background, which is pretty much all over brokerage. I’ve done everything from accounting to dispatch to sales to operations. And I still really enjoy all of that stuff on a daily basis. I told both Scott (Carr, President) and Dave (Jesse, COO) that I don’t want to get into a position where I’m not involved in a lot of those aspects. I still like to talk to a driver on the phone, but I also want to be able to talk to someone in the c-suite about our services, what resources we offer, and how we can help.
What are some of your key resources?
It all starts with our people, because that’s the best resource we’ve got. I’ve inherited a great team of industry veterans, and my job is to mold them into outstanding service providers for our clients by focusing on relationships. From a technology standpoint, 3Gtms is great transportation software that has a ton of capabilities. We are growing into it, and I see a lot of opportunity as we continue to build it out. We are also looking to tie it in with our warehouse management system, which will really help our current clients. We are building a solid carrier network working with companies like EPES, and my job will be to double or triple that and create more value. Brokerage is really about being able to reach out to the capacity of the market, so the more carrier relationships we can build the better.
Anything specific you are focused on offering?
Our focus right now, and where we have the most
success, is truckload, LTL, and expedited.
But I see a lot of opportunity in drayage. I would love to be able to grow our container
business. We get a lot of containers
that come into our facilities that I would like to see us assist with, and
we’ve got the relationships to do just that from a carrier perspective.
How would you envision the division’s growth?
We have to continue to create value for our
current customers, that will automatically help expand current operations. I would
like to be able to integrate the current technology, and really make sure we
are providing quality customer service and that personal touch. Being able to further develop the
relationships we already have with clients bringing freight in and out of our
facilities. We already have some that
are using us for assistance, but I’d like to see that really take off.
Externally, we’ve set our sights on the small
to medium size companies where they don’t have the capacity to handle their
freight. We’d like to take that burden
away and grow it into a partnership. Companies with somewhere under $5 million
transportation spend is where we are looking.
Where do you see the transportation industry
headed?
Our industry as a whole is deep into digital. Everything is based off of new technology. Gone are the days of the fax machine,
scanning, things like that. Even the phones are going by the wayside to some
extent. Carriers can log-in and grab loads. We don’t necessarily do that yet,
but it’s feasible once we get our volumes up. The way market has shifted and economy
has changed, that’s led to the industry changing as a whole. The way it’s
evolved over the past 10-12 years, especially with the rise of digital brokers,
has really made a dramatic shift in the way we do business and daily
operations.
What’s your take on digital brokerages?
They have their place, but I come from the old
school customer service aspect of things when it comes to brokerage. It’s the
human interaction, the relationships, and that’s where I get concerned about
them. Unless we are in a perfect world,
and that’s hard with the business we are in, things are going to go wrong or
need to be tweaked. This business is one
of those things where the human interaction will never go away, so
relationships are essential to be successful.
In my past jobs, we worked with the same carriers and clients for 10-15
years because we were committed to that human interaction. I’d like to be able to do the same thing here
at Bonded.
What do you say to businesses out there who are
looking for help moving freight?
Although I’d like to say, ‘Give us all your freight!’, it’s hard to get a lot of companies in the mindset to give us everything and say have at it. Customers now are so intelligent because of the data that they have at their disposal. It’s going to come down to quality service and relationships that will set us apart from the other brokerages. We’d like to be able to build a relationship with a lane or two, show them we can get the work done, and grow it from there.
Interested in learning more about how Bonded Transportation plans to set itself apart from the competition? Contact ustoday!
Industry veteran Sean Ryan aims to take brokerage
division of Charlotte, NC-based 3PL to new heights
CHARLOTTE, NC (September 30, 2019) – Bonded
Logistics, a leading provider of single-source third party logistics (3PL)
solutions, announces that Sean Ryan has been hired as Director of
Transportation to lead it’s brokerage division, Bonded Transportation.
“We were extremely excited that we were able to find Sean to fill this position,” states Scott Carr, President of Bonded Logistics. “Sean has shown tremendous initiative since coming aboard. We know it might take some time to get up to full speed, but we have a lot of plans that we feel are well within reach with his experience.”
Bonded Transportation offers a wide range of flexible freight solutions to support its client’s transportation needs. As Director, Ryan is responsible for management of the entire brokerage division, including strategic direction, execution, and carrier relationships. His initial focus is to create growth internally within Bonded’s broad client base, and then set a direction to take the business to new heights by expanding external clientele. He reports to Dave Jesse, COO of Bonded Logistics.
“Sean brings a high level of expertise and extensive
experience in the brokerage world,” adds Jesse. “We’re focused on
expanding the carrier base and providing a cost-effective solution to our
clients with transportation. This division is a big part of the overall
solution that we want to be able to provide when it comes to logistics
solutions, as well as to be able to help support our other two divisions when
they have a need.”
Prior to joining Bonded, Ryan spent the last six years as Vice
President of Strategic Development and Procurement for Apex Transportation
where he was charged with monitoring existing as well as new client growth and
assuring a positive return on investment. He brings a wealth of industry
experience in brokerage operations with stints at companies like Armstrong
Transport Group as Branch Manager, Flynn Transportation as Director of
Operations, and KMR Logistics as Director of Business Development.
“There is a lot to do, but I am very excited about the growth
opportunities,” says Ryan, who has over 23 years of expertise in the
transportation and supply chain industry. “We have already seen some
organic growth since I came aboard, and now I am working on getting up to speed
with the technology side and building out my team to figure out how to tackle
the external growth.
“Bonded was very intriguing to me because of it’s family-owned
background and history, with both Scott and Dave telling me to look at this
opportunity in a very entrepreneurial way to build it out and grow
things. So far, it’s everything I thought it would be and a lot more.”
Warehouse will act as a distribution center for current consumer goods manufacturing client in need of a dedicated facility
CHARLOTTE, NC (August 27,
2019) – Bonded Logistics, a leading provider of third-party
logistics (3PL) solutions, announces the opening of a 115,295 sq. ft. dedicated
warehousing facility in Charlotte, NC, to accommodate for growth of one of its newest
clients.
“It’s always nice to be able to take on a dedicated space for a client,” states Dave Jesse, Chief Operating Officer for Bonded Logistics. “We have been selective over the last few years with our growth in situations like this because it typically means a long-term relationship. We want to make sure we’re building a lasting relationship and adding value to our client’s supply chain.”
Located in Suite B at 7300 Reames Road, the warehouse is in the NorthPark Business Park just north of the city of Charlotte. It’s Bonded’s 11th building in the region, and includes a mix of bulk and rack storage, 24’ ceilings, 12 dock doors, and seven additional dock doors that could be added to create a cross-dock configuration. It’s being utilized as a distribution center for a current consumer goods manufacturing client that was in need of a dedicated facility environment.
“We are very fortunate and blessed with this continued growth,” states Scott Carr, President of Bonded Logistics. “This is due in large part to the hard work from our team members that do a fantastic job, each and every day, to concentrate on our client’s needs to support their customers.
“Growth like this continues
to be important as we are challenged everyday by our client’s need for change
and innovation. Through these experiences, we get more information and
learn techniques that can help us improve business across our entire network.”
The opening of Bonded’s newest facility takes the company’s total footprint to 2.4 million sq. ft. across 12 locations in five NC counties. It will employ 20 full-time staff, including 10 new hires, bringing the company’s total headcount to over 475 employees.
Bonded Logistics has named James King to the position of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager and Cynthia Lewis to the position of Training Manager.
In this BLI Blog post, we discuss how the AIB Standards benefits not only our food and beverage clients, but has a broader impact on all of our clients.
MCNA quality management systems audit
shows 3PL provider’s continued compliance with 9001:2015 Standard
CHARLOTTE, NC (April 18, 2019) – Bonded Logistics, a quality-driven third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Charlotte, NC, announces that the company has successfully completed their ISO 9001:2015 recertification audit. This audit was completed by Management Certification of North America (MCNA), and includes a recommendation to add three facilities to Bonded’s certificate.
“This
was a thorough review of processes and procedures,” states Wallace
Everett, who leads ISO efforts as Quality Administrator/Project Manager for
Bonded Logistics. “It
included things like the way we do forklift training, the way we do the picking
process, the way we do the internal audit process, and the way we do corrective
actions. The
Auditor was very impressed with the achievement of standards across the network,
and we had no corrective actions.”
The International Organization for Standards (ISO) provides guidance and tools across various aspects of quality management to help companies like Bonded Logistics be more efficient and effective. The audit, which took place in the first quarter of 2019, covered five days and four locations. The MCNA auditor reviewed criteria around the 9001:2015 Standard, with ISO recertification focused on conformity and effectiveness of the quality management system as well as a demonstrated commitment to maintain or enhance overall performance.
“We
have come a long way in the last five years,” adds Everett, who’s been
with Bonded since 2014. “There
were times when it was difficult to get documentation. Now, we are seeing more accountability,
getting better results, becoming more efficient, safety logs are up-to-date, and
everyone is working as one team. The
Auditor cited us as ‘efficient and innovative’ when it comes to maintaining
integrity of the standards and continuous improvement. That’s a testament to the focus our people put
on quality.”
In addition to ISO recertification, the MCNA auditor recommended three facilities that Bonded had been preparing for ISO certification. The first unit, a 200,000 sq. ft. distribution facility located in Newton/Claremont, NC, opened in 2017 and spent much of last year prepping to meet the ISO standard. The second unit, a 135,000 sq. ft. manufacturing support operation in Mebane, NC, has been part of the Bonded footprint since 2016. The third unit, in operation since 2011, is a 101,000 sq. ft. distribution facility located at 6601 Service Road in Charlotte.
“Getting ISO recertified shows our continued commitment to meet or exceed our Client’s needs,” states Scott Carr, President of Bonded Logistics. “This is a reflection of the hard work put in by our employees every day to focus on higher standards when it comes to quality and customer satisfaction. I truly appreciate everyone’s efforts.”
By Jan McCormick, Jr., Director of Marketing and Communications
Wondering how contract packaging could provide a way to boost your marketing efforts? Two very impactful words – secondary packaging. Secondary packaging offers a great way to highlight your brand and showcase your products in a crowded retail space. But this type of packaging can be difficult, especially with the equipment, space, and labor involved to get it all done. That’s where companies rely on contract packaging for assistance.
Bonded Pac handles secondary packaging for a broad range of CPG clients including retail displays, multi-packs and variety packs, kits, twin-packs and bonus packs. Let’s go a little deeper into each of these areas to see if one might be a good fit for you.
Retail Displays
Retail displays, also referred to as Point-of-Purchase (POP) displays, are a great way to rise above in a sea of store clutter. POPs draw attention to a particular brand or special offers that create additional value or showcase the advantages of a product. These displays are generally located at the check-out area or other high-traffic location where the purchase decision is made. Retail displays can be as simple as a countertop display with product or a full-on four-sided pallet display with lights and mechanics.
Our flexible 218,000 sq. ft. facility and scalable labor force allow us to handle both small and large projects for any type of permanent or temporary retail POP displays. We utilize the latest packaging software for end-to-end project management, inventory control, and client visibility. Get added insight into four critical components to creating successful POP displays by clicking here.
Multi-Packs / Variety Packs
Multi-packs and variety packs create a wide range of benefits for your business. Introduce products, attract new customers, reduce excess inventory, and increase sales to name just a few. The variety pack gives you a unique opportunity to share more of your products with consumers, whether it be different flavors or products. A multi-pack is a package of multiple units of the same product, and it offers consumers an opportunity to pay less per unit. In both instances, the consumer gets a better price and the manufacturer pushes more volume.
We offer various types of equipment to produce multi-packs and variety packs, including shrink wrappers, steam tunnels, and L-sealers. Our resources are planned and designed for this type of work, specifically when it comes to equipment, facilities, systems, and project management. Learn how we make packaging multiple products easier by clicking here.
Kits
Kitting is the process in which individually separate but related items are grouped, packaged, and supplied together. Also described as assembly, it can be grouping unfinished materials together in order to create a finished product, or assembling two or more finished products into a bigger group. Kitting is typically done when you need to bring multiple items that are not manufactured together to make one complete unit. There are a variety of items that are kitted, such as direct mailers, product samples, mops, and disaster kits.
Our production and warehousing facility can handle production as well as storage of raw materials for kitting. Our team of packaging professionals can provide engineering, design, proto-types, and project management. In-house procurement and sourcing helps us find the best prices on materials and components.
Twin-Packs / Value Packs
Twin-packs and value packs are often used for promotional giveaways such as “buy one get one free,” samples of a new product, or travel size versions of a larger product. Sleeving helps to get product to stand out above the competition in the aisle or on the shelf. Twin-pack and multi-pack shrink sleeves work with all sorts of products and markets like food, beverage, beauty, health, and more. Sleeves create a 360° full-length billboard around these packs allowing for more space to market product.
We’ve invested heavily in steam tunnels because it provides the highest level of shrink quality for sleeving. Flexible resources along with modern equipment help our Key Account Managers fulfill small to large-scale orders and meet demands on short lead-time orders. Strict quality control ensures customer-matched quality standards and attention to detail on every pack.
Now that you’ve got the lowdown on how we can help boost your marketing efforts, it’s time to take the next step. Reach out to us to see how we can help get you started!
Thomasnet, a go-to resource for product sourcing and supplier selection, highlights contract packaging as an industry trend…
How a Contract Packaging Partner Can Drive Efficiency for your Operation
Contract packaging is a general term used to describe the group of services offered by a third-party packaging provider. These companies provide an outsourced option to manufacture, assemble, and package products that other businesses market and distribute.
Contract packaging can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Depending on the type of product being packaged, final packaging solutions may take the form of:
Thermoformed/plastic clamshell
Blister packaging
Bags
Liquid filling
Shrink wrapping
Retail point-of-purchase displays
Customized packaging solutions
Operations performed during contract packaging can range from relatively simple tasks such as barcode labeling to more complex processes including planning, designing, and fulfillment.
Contract packaging providers offer numerous benefits and represent an essential point in the industrial supply chain. Outsourcing packaging to third parties places the responsibility and capital required for equipment, training, materials, staff, and software into the hands of another entity. This allows businesses to focus resources on core tasks related to their business, such as development and growth. Third-party product packaging services are frequently used in many industries, such as:
By Jan McCormick, Jr., Director of Marketing and Communications
Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are critical to measure success in business, and the logistics industry is no different. The trouble with KPI metrics is that there are so many it can get confusing as to which are most important to track. In fact, a study by the Warehouse Educational Research Council captures over 30 of these across areas such as productivity, finance, employees, and labor.
Which of these KPIs are important when measuring the success of a logistics service provider? We looked across our varied client base and identified six key metrics that we measure for all of our clients in one form or another. Then we sat down with our Chief Operating Officer Dave Jesse to provide his thoughts on each.
On-time Receipts: This metric is generally measured as the time it takes for us to receive inventory, put away into our facilities, and record into our warehouse management system. We measure this in hours for our clients, and most have a target for us to perform this task anywhere from two to 24 hours.
“It really comes down to the sense of urgency for the inventory from the client.,” says Jesse. “For our manufacturing support clients, they typically have short windows because the inventory turns so quickly. But when you have a distribution client with a lot of inventory and you are bringing in a large shipment, that 24-hour time frame works fine for them.”
Order Cycle Time: This KPI is a variation of total order cycle time, and is measured as the time from when an order is placed to when it is shipped. For 3PLs, we are not always aware of when the order is placed with our client, just that an order has been dropped to us and it needs to get shipped. This period of time, which is established at the outset of the agreement, is what we get measured on, typically in hours.
“Our typical order cycle time is 24 hours from the time we receive orders from our client. But the changing business environment, particularly in the B2C marketplace, is driving shorter cycle times.”
Order Picking Accuracy: This is the measurement of orders picked without errors, and is usually measured as a percentage of the total lines picked for an order.
“We rely on our internal checking processes prior to shipment to ensure a high level of accuracy. We have developed an internal application to provide a 100% scan validation of order picking accuracy. This works great when our client’s inventory is bar coded, and virtually eliminates any errors in shipping. Best in class in our industry is 99.5% to 99.9%, and we are always pushing to be at the top level of those numbers across our network.”
On-time Shipments: This KPI is measured as the percentage of orders shipped at the planned time. When an order is dropped to us, it comes with a scheduled shipment time that can be as quick as a few hours or as long as a week. What matters for this metric is that the order is ready for shipment within that window.
“On-time shipments are critical because it has to do with our client’s service to their customers. Generally, we get 24 hours to ship an order out on-time, but in certain situations we get a hot order and that window can shrink to just a few hours. If it’s a future order, we could get up to one week. What matters to our client is that we hit their shipment target, and we strive for best in class of 99.8% or better.”
Inventory Accuracy: This is a measurement of the physical inventory in our facility compared to the inventory reported in our warehouse management system. Measured as a percentage, this is usually calculated through a physical inventory, but we have put in place cycle-counting in our locations to help better manage inventory on a day-to-day basis.
“The systems and processes we’ve put in place along with rigorous cycle counting enables us to keep our best in class ratings of 99.9% when it comes to inventory accuracy. That’s always our goal.”
Days on Hand: This KPI measures the number of days raw materials or finished goods sit in inventory in our facilities until they are shipped out to our clients or their customers. Days on Hand is almost always measured in days, and this figure helps our clients identify their slow-moving inventory vs. fast-moving inventory.
“When we share days on hand of inventory by SKU and velocity to our clients, it can often times be eye opening. This metric can point to SKUs that they have excess inventory for, and also highlight fast moving SKUs that they have critically low inventory on. We do this as a service to help highlight opportunities to improve their inventory turns.”
Although all of these KPIs may not be a top priority for every client, they are definitely measurements that will help to make sure a logistics service provider like Bonded is doing their part to improve a client’s supply chain. Have some questions or looking for a deeper dive into these measurements? Reach out to us here!
Twin-packs and value packs are often used for promotional giveaways such as “buy one get one free,” samples of a new product, or travel size versions of a larger product. 
Contract packaging can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Depending on the type of product being packaged, final packaging solutions may take the form of:
Order Cycle Time: This KPI is a variation of total order cycle time, and is measured as the time from when an order is placed to when it is shipped. For 3PLs, we are not always aware of when the order is placed with our client, just that an order has been dropped to us and it needs to get shipped. This period of time, which is established at the outset of the agreement, is what we get measured on, typically in hours.