Logistics Magazine’s Mercury Awards winners were announced at a gala ceremony at Sydney’s WatersEdge restaurant in Walsh Bay on December 5th.
Over 100 guests from a wide and prestigious group of Logistics and Supply chain organisations networked and enjoyed a top notch dinner while receiving the winners of the awards.
“Industry Awards provide the opportunity to recognise business achievements and celebrate the many people whose contributions carry forward a company’s success,” says Logistics Magazine editor Anna Game-Lopata who was MC at the event.
“Now in its second year, Logistics Magazine’s Mercury Awards program is designed create the opportunity for supply chain management and logistics organisations to reap the rewards of innovation in their specific fields.”
Logistics Leader sponsored by SmartTrans Ltd.
Queensland Rail was the winner in the Logistics Leader category, which awards proven industry excellence.
“QR is delighted to win the Logistics Leader award,” says QRNational Intermodal Sydney major account executive Tim Ryan.
“It’s an honour to receive this recognition from Logistics Magazine.”
“We believe our key success factors gave us the winning edge, including, among many others: Our people, innovation, customer focus, green credentials, operational and technical excellence and outstanding commitment to safety.”
“QR is now a $3 billion a year business with $9 billion in assets and an exciting future.”
“We are now expanding our national footprint and strengthening its commercial and customer focus to capitalise on growth in the national freight market,” Ryan says.
“This award further cements our reputation as fully-integrated rail business that offers operational and technical excellence and strives to cater to the ever-changing needs of our customers.”
Finalists in the category were: Woolworths, FedEx and Schenker Australia.
Top Transport, Logistics and/or Distribution Provider, sponsored by CHEP Asia Pacific
A new category to the 2007 awards program, the Top Transport, Logistics and/or Distribution Provider recognises innovative approaches taken by Australian 3PLs or LLPs to develop relationships and technologies that afford clients significant competitive advantage.
The 2007 winner was Maersk Logistics.
“To be recognised amongst our peers this way is a great achievement,” says Nicholas Penhall, Supply Chain Management – Integrated Logistics Management at Maersk Logistics.
“Being nominated and winning any award is a humbling process, but we would not have been able to succeed without the strong partnership that has been developed between Maersk Logistics and Unilever.”
“Our focus in the early stages of our relationship with Unilever was to get the basics right, thereby ensuring we had a strong platform to support future developments,” Penhall says.
“Our customer operations and client development team then worked closely with Unilever to build strong relationships, trust and to ensure the goals of both organisations were aligned.”
“When we explore potential initiatives, we use our simulation tools and the knowledge of our clients business to evaluate the end-to-end supply chain taking into account both direct and indirect costs,” he explains.
“After this has occurred we are able to create solutions that are customised to meet the current and future needs of the clients business.”
The strategic developments we implemented for Unilever revolved around our Spective visibility tool which is capable of providing real time SKU level visibility,” Penhall says.
“This has allowed us to enhance Unilever’s supply chain efficiency and reliability and has also helped us to focus on a total supply chain solution rather than addressing individual processes.”
“Maersk Logistics does not undertake marketing in the traditional sense, so brand awareness through our solutions development team as well as industry recognition such as this award, are extremely important,” Penhall says.
“Although we have had huge success globally, enhancing the awareness of our supply chain service in the local marketplace is necessary for the ongoing development of our business.”
“Having been evaluated by independent judges to be the most deserving of this award shows that the work we have been doing is truly a differentiator against our competition.”
Finalists were: Kagan Brothers, Glen Cameron Group and CEVA Logistics.
Best Manufacturer sponsored by Toyota Material Handling
Dairy manufacturer Bega Cheese was the winner in this category which offers manufacturers the opportunity to demonstrate leading strategies that maintain supply chain consistency, reliability and profitability.
The company’s supply chain manager Grattan Smith says he was shocked to win the award given the quality of the other finalists.
“It is a great outcome for my team and the company overall,” he says.
“Our focus on ‘getting the job done’ across all supply chain functions whilst achieving a four-fold increase in volume over the last five years, gave us the winning edge.”
“Our people have been the key to success, along with remaining flexible and agile.”
Bega Cheese has always been recognised for the quality of its dairy products,” Smith says.
“Supply chain management underpins this success and business growth. In 2000 Bega Cheese won the HA Ritchie Trophy and now in 2007 the Mercury Award for best manufacturing logistics.”
“This demonstrates to our customers’ a commitment to delivering value as well as quality products.”
Finalists in the category were Parmalat Australia and Cadbury Schweppes.
Technology Application sponsored by TIG International
Always hotly contested, the Technology Application category was taken out by joint winners for the first time.
The category which awards innovation and the ability to leverage technology creatively to achieve competitive advantage was won by Advanta Software for its partnership with Stream Solutions in a project for Westpac and Paccon Logistics for the application of its Tynecat trolley technology for Laminex New Zealand.
“We are thrilled to have been selected in what was a very strong field,” says Advanta managing director Robert Kery.
“It is nice to have recognition for one’s efforts, and the introduction of the Mercury Awards by Logistics Magazine is most welcome.”
“The Westpac project we submitted was pretty impressive. It is a prestigious high value contract, running at $100 m per annum and the integrated print management and e-procurement solution based on Advanta’s ATLAS technology and Stream Solutions’ management is leading edge.”
“Moreover it demonstrates how technology can be successfully used as a key driver to win 3PL contracts and achieve rapid and profitable growth, which is the central goal of any 3PL business.”
“A mid-sized Australian software solutions provider can easily get lost in the forest of advertisements by larger international players,” Kery adds.
“This award will give us greater exposure and demonstrate to both prospects and existing customers how a local solutions provider can adapt and move with client needs for an outstanding outcome.”
“It also validates the great work done by our staff who are very proud of their solutions.”
“We were extremely exited to have won this award!” says Paccon director Peter de Brock.
“The award gives recognition to the unique technology that we have developed and it gives recognition to all parties in developing a solution for our client.”
“Our philosophy
of working with our clients to develop a competitive advantage for them and our willingness to think outside the square,” de Brock says.
“This achievement will give external recognition to our team and publicly promote our ability to be leading edge solutions providers.”
Finalists in the category were: Village Roadshow and Orica Consumer Products.
Australian Export:
WA based manufacturer Ayres Composite panels was the winner in the Australian Export Category which recognises excellence and innovation in the development and efficiency of an export supply chain.
“As a small manufacturer, winning this award is very important to us,” says operations manager Ross Goodwin, who accepted the award.
“We export 90 per cent of our product all over the world including fitting out some of the largest marine vessels in the world.”
“We’re totally committed to what we do and we recognise that to compete in the world forum, we need to respond in a timely manner to our clients’ needs.”
“We’re prepared to fly product around the world, or send it by any shipping methods appropriate.”
“This award will provide us with an increased company profile and gives everyone working for the company a renewed vigour and a sense of pride.”
“It’s also an achievement which serves to help us show prospective customers that we perform and consistently do what we say we can do.”
Finalists in the category were OBE Beef and CustomVis
Young Professional of the Year sponsored by ProActive Recruitment
The Young Professional of the year award, which provides the opportunity for a young recruit to demonstrate excellence in the provision of logistics services or supply chain management, was won by Angela Thompson from Maersk Logistics.
“I feel absolutely flattered to have won this award,” she says.
“It’s something that I never expected having only worked in this industry for two years especially as the other finalists would have been so deserving.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunities I have been given by Maersk Logistics and to the many people who have assisted me along the way, including ProActive Recruitment for their sponsorship of this award.”
“It is encouraging to be recognised within the industry for the work you have done and I’m excited about the career I can have,” Thompson enthuses.
“While we’re in the business of providing the services our client’s want, as the client coordinator for our largest account ADRT, it was very validating to hear that they are appreciative of the work we have done within our partnership to improve their supply chain.”
“This award has been a great assurance that the work I’ve been doing is appreciated and that I’m doing well.”
“For the results to be recognised not only within my own company, but also within the broader industry through this award and Logistics Magazine is very energising and I’m looking forward to future opportunities. Plus it would look nice on the CV!”
Finalists were Andrew Sturgeon from Toyota Material Handling and Brent Connors fro Schenker Australia.
Best of the Best sponsored by Dematic
The winner of the Best of the Best category has been selected by the independent panel of Mercury Awards judges from the entire list of finalists as a candidate that stands in a league of its own in terms of supply chain innovation, best practice and achievement.
This year’s winner was Woolworths, for its significant achievements through Project Refresh and the Mercury Program.
Once again, many thanks to our judges: Steven Pereira, GS1 Australia’s chief information officer, Rob O’Byrne, managing director of the Logistics Bureau and Phil Lumsden, NSW state manager DHL Global Forwarding.
Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors: Toyota Material Handling, CHEP Asia Pacific, ProActive Recruitment, TIG International, SmartTrans and Dematic.
The 2008 Mercury Awards program will be open for entries and nominations from 1st February 2008.
For more information: Anna Game-Lopata – 02 9422 2645 or anna.game-lopata@reedbusiness.com.au