Stepping into the logistics industry can be daunting. Supply chain roles are typically fast-paced, complex, and demanding. But they’re also rewarding when you know you’ve met your customers’ needs.
Three years ago, Hanna Xu joined JW Fulfillment, a third-party logistics provider (3PL), as a project manager, and she has been learning ever since. We sat down with her to hear what she’s discovered along the way and what other 3PLs and shippers can learn.
Q: What do you wish you’d known before starting your current role?
I didn’t realize how many different moving parts there are that make up the world of logistics: first mile, middle mile, last mile, customs clearance, and more. Each stage has its own complexities and areas of expertise. If you don’t have previous experience with shipping, I recommend that you find someone you can learn from, ask a lot of questions, and work with established and reliable carriers who know the space.
Even with the best providers and planning, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. You need to stay positive when those disruptions occur and have a list of resources ready, so you know who to call for support – whether that’s your broker, a backup freight provider, or even your forklift repair vendor. I have found that people want to help, and everything is solvable.
Q: You have said that you are constantly sharing and receiving information in your role. How do you manage the continual flow of communication?
Logistics isn’t a regular nine-to-five job. Calls come in after hours or during the weekend. It can feel overwhelming at first but keep a good mindset and stay positive. You will get used to it, and it will become more manageable.
The biggest communication challenge I experience is in international shipping with all the varying time zones. There can be a 12- or even 15-hour time difference. If you’re missing information, you can lose a whole day waiting for answers. To prevent delays, we have standard operating procedures (SOPs) and documentation for the customer to fill out. Then we can set the rate and pickup time and reduce the churn of going back and forth.
Q: What would have been helpful to know about optimizing your operations?
Overall, I’d say a dedication to consistency and vigilance. It is important to review capacity needs monthly or even weekly so you can plan and secure capacity. When you’re booking container loads or full truckloads, there are tools that can create load plans to optimize the space inside. Everything needs to be tight, but you should also pay attention to the weight. Different states have different weight limitations, so ask about that before trying to put as much as possible into one container or trailer.
We see volumes surge around the holidays and Amazon Prime Days, so we typically can prepare for those. Fluctuations have been especially challenging this year, not only because of peak season but also because of geopolitics. It is crucial to have good inventory controls and data analysis based on historical sales and customer behavior.
To optimize inventory and the overall network, we run a relatively straightforward analysis for our customers so they can see where they ship to the most. Based on that information, we can determine which U.S. city or port they should ship into and develop a comprehensive strategy. We had one customer shipping most of their inventory into our Los Angeles warehouse, but our analysis showed that they were shipping products to New Jersey and Florida the most. Now they position more inventory on the East Coast.
Q: We all know the little things matter a lot in transportation. How do you approach it?
It is all critical. The proper packaging is essential for international shipments because they have a longer travel time and multiple touchpoints. You also want to design your packaging based on specs and surcharges so you can save money and maximize your shipping capacities.
Labeling is also essential. Make sure the most important information is on the products and it’s all included in the documentation. You want the people in the warehouse and anyone handling your shipment to know exactly what it is and where it is going.
These might sound like simple things but I’ve learned the hard way to get them right the first time!
Keep reading
To learn more about Hanna, JW Fulfillment, and how they tap into the Amazon network via Amazon Freight, read their case study.
