Packaging, Warehousing & Distribution Blog
1/31/2012
CPS Logistics Strategy: Productivity and Technology
The Distribution Management Association confirmed what members already knew during its January networking event on the state of logistics in 2012. It’s going to be another challenging year.
As CPS Express executives noted, “We miss the good days of 2007. The picture is getting a bit brighter every year, but it is still not close to what it has been.”
Among DMA’s predictions for 2012:
CPS Express understands the only way to deal effectively with these economic hurdles is to confront them with well-developed strategies and plans. We will increase our productivity and continue to invest in technology to stay competitive. CPS Express has a long history of success, and going forward we expect to continue bringing value and superior service to our customers.
As CPS Express executives noted, “We miss the good days of 2007. The picture is getting a bit brighter every year, but it is still not close to what it has been.”
Among DMA’s predictions for 2012:
- The trucking industry will be short 300k drivers - nationwide.
- Companies can expect driver trurnover as high as 125%, due to lower freight costs that will affect driver pay. .
- Fuel in California is continuing to top the national average. Currently it is about 7% higher.
CPS Express understands the only way to deal effectively with these economic hurdles is to confront them with well-developed strategies and plans. We will increase our productivity and continue to invest in technology to stay competitive. CPS Express has a long history of success, and going forward we expect to continue bringing value and superior service to our customers.
11/29/2011
Coast-Maverix Venture Benefits Chemical Users
Coast Packaging Co. and Maverix Solutions Inc., a food grade chemical manufacturer, are collaborating to provide Coast customers with custom-tailored chemical supply solutions.
Long-time friends Maverix CEO Mark Danzo, and Haddy Companies CEO Kurt Allen decided to work together to create a new opportunity and customer benefit.
Most customers don’t buy full truck loads of chemicals, or don’t like to store large quantities in their facilities for safety reasons. Low inventory levels require frequent and expensive deliveries for their chemicals.
Coast will now offer packaging services with chemical deliveries to help customers manage inventories and lower overall delivery costs. Maverix Solutions will provide chemicals specifically for the industries Coast Packaging serves. Coast in turn will stock those chemicals for immediate delivery and availability.
Coast will carry the following well-known Maverix Solutions chemicals:
Maverix Solutions is also known for its superior mold release products, as well as other ingredient and coating products such as industrial waxes and food grade oils.
Long-time friends Maverix CEO Mark Danzo, and Haddy Companies CEO Kurt Allen decided to work together to create a new opportunity and customer benefit.
Most customers don’t buy full truck loads of chemicals, or don’t like to store large quantities in their facilities for safety reasons. Low inventory levels require frequent and expensive deliveries for their chemicals.
Coast will now offer packaging services with chemical deliveries to help customers manage inventories and lower overall delivery costs. Maverix Solutions will provide chemicals specifically for the industries Coast Packaging serves. Coast in turn will stock those chemicals for immediate delivery and availability.
Coast will carry the following well-known Maverix Solutions chemicals:
- Defoamers
- Chlorinated and non-chlorinated washing compounds
- Clean In Place, CIP cleaners as well as Alkaline cleaners
- Equipment cleaners
- Floor cleaners, low foaming
- Foaming AP Degreasers
Maverix Solutions is also known for its superior mold release products, as well as other ingredient and coating products such as industrial waxes and food grade oils.
11/8/2011
Coast Reviews Best Disaster Practices in 2011 Great Shake Out
On October 20th at 10:20 a.m., Coast Warehouse conducted a mock earthquake scenario and drill in support of the Great California Shake Out preparedness event. More than 8.6 million Californians participated this year, up more than 1 million from last year.
The focus of Coast’s Safety Department is to create a safe environment for all employees at all times. They are well aware that a few minutes spent reviewing Drop, Cover and Hold procedures and exit strategies can save lives in the event of an actual earthquake. For the Skake Out event, the safety team worked with staff in the office, warehouse and adjoining buildings to practice procedures for securing those buildings and accounting for all employees.
Overseeing the safety of a warehouse, a fleet and all personnel involved poses some unique challenges. Is product in the warehouse secured? Are the forklift operators aware of the warning alarms (due to the noise around them)? And, because of the constant flow of drivers and others picking up and dropping off product, accurate sign in and headcount procedures are imperative. Safe exiting procedures also become critical in a warehouse environment with its electrical wires overhead and large exposed beams.
But, Coast’s safety department doesn’t stop with on-the-job safety messages. They send out tips and information that employees and their families can use at home and in public places. The info packet includes modifications specifically designed for people with disabilities.
The focus of Coast’s Safety Department is to create a safe environment for all employees at all times. They are well aware that a few minutes spent reviewing Drop, Cover and Hold procedures and exit strategies can save lives in the event of an actual earthquake. For the Skake Out event, the safety team worked with staff in the office, warehouse and adjoining buildings to practice procedures for securing those buildings and accounting for all employees.
Overseeing the safety of a warehouse, a fleet and all personnel involved poses some unique challenges. Is product in the warehouse secured? Are the forklift operators aware of the warning alarms (due to the noise around them)? And, because of the constant flow of drivers and others picking up and dropping off product, accurate sign in and headcount procedures are imperative. Safe exiting procedures also become critical in a warehouse environment with its electrical wires overhead and large exposed beams.
But, Coast’s safety department doesn’t stop with on-the-job safety messages. They send out tips and information that employees and their families can use at home and in public places. The info packet includes modifications specifically designed for people with disabilities.
For more information about the Great California Shake Out and and additional preparedness and safety resources, go to www.shakeout.org.
10/18/2011
Customers Big and Small Find a Home at Coast
You need a new warehouse partner and begin the process of interviewing candidates. You make your selection and move your product in.
Less than a month after you settle into your new warehouse home, the company abruptly tells you to get out. Perhaps they say their own internal needs have grown. Maybe they suddenly think you are too small or need too much attention. Or, there may be no clear reason given at all.
In any case, you have just incurred a large moving cost and your business is disrupted while you once again search for a logistics service provider.
Sounds like a script for a bad movie, but Coast Warehouse has seen this scenario play out more than once. Just recently this happened to a sister company that was seeking warehouse space in an area where Coast does not maintain a facility,
And, two years ago, Coast Warehouse picked up a new customer when a warehouse facility suddenly dropped them after a month. This customer is great to work with and we’re of course delighted to have been there to fill the need. It may be true as one customer told us that “you are treated like a number” by the “big box” guys in our industry. But that will never be the case at Coast Warehouse. Our pledge to every customer is to deliver superior customer service and consistently excellent response times regardless of the amount of warehouse space you need or the level of service you require.
9/20/2011
Coast Warehouse Selected by Goodyear
Coast Warehouse Company is the new West Coast warehouse and distribution solution for the Goodyear cleaning supply product line, handling warehousing, distribution and shipping to national retailers and retail distributors that carry the brand.
Goodyear Car Care Products chose Coast Warehouse Company and sister company CPS Express Inc. because of a long-standing culture of superior customer service, full-service capabilities and competitive pricing.
The scope of the assignment encompasses warehousing, storage, handling, order fulfillment, special product repack projects, value added and customer-required repackaging products, and devaning ocean-going containers. Coast will manage over 350 different SKUs, organize product, rotate stock and store in bulk and warehouse racking. Trained labor will be provided for special rework projects, including labeling, repacking, sorting and inspecting.
Goodyear Car Care Products chose Coast Warehouse Company and sister company CPS Express Inc. because of a long-standing culture of superior customer service, full-service capabilities and competitive pricing.
The scope of the assignment encompasses warehousing, storage, handling, order fulfillment, special product repack projects, value added and customer-required repackaging products, and devaning ocean-going containers. Coast will manage over 350 different SKUs, organize product, rotate stock and store in bulk and warehouse racking. Trained labor will be provided for special rework projects, including labeling, repacking, sorting and inspecting.
9/6/2011
The Coast Culture: Finding Ways to Say Yes
Late one afternoon, the phone rang at Coast Warehouse.
The caller was from a longtime Coast customer, a company that provides solar energy services to commercial and public sector customers across the United States. The customer needed a quick accommodation. Could they come by with a pallet of extra product that was left over from a San Diego job site?
The immediate response from the Coast service team was “of course.” Someone at the warehouse would be waiting for the site manager to arrive with the pallet.
The reply from the customer: “You rock…as usual.”
Total customer satisfaction is not just a phrase to the people of Coast Warehouse or its sister companies Coast Packaging and CPS Express. It truly is an integral part of the culture. As one customer service rep notes “We pride ourselves on never saying no.”
The caller was from a longtime Coast customer, a company that provides solar energy services to commercial and public sector customers across the United States. The customer needed a quick accommodation. Could they come by with a pallet of extra product that was left over from a San Diego job site?
The immediate response from the Coast service team was “of course.” Someone at the warehouse would be waiting for the site manager to arrive with the pallet.
The reply from the customer: “You rock…as usual.”
Total customer satisfaction is not just a phrase to the people of Coast Warehouse or its sister companies Coast Packaging and CPS Express. It truly is an integral part of the culture. As one customer service rep notes “We pride ourselves on never saying no.”
8/2/2011
Spic and Span Comes to Coast
Coast Warehouse Company is the new West Coast warehouse and distributor solution for the Spic and Span product line!!!
Coast embraced the opportunity to handle the warehousing, distribution and shipping the Spic & Span line of wipes and cleaning supply products to all national retailers and retail distributors carrying the brand.
The scope of the assignment encompasses warehousing, storage, handling, order fulfillment, special product enhancement projects and devaning ocean-going containers. Coast will manage over 350 different SKUs, organize product, rotate stock and store in bulk and warehouse racking. The company also will provide trained labor for special rework projects such as labeling, repacking, sorting and inspecting.
Kleen Maid Inc. selected the Haddy company’s Coast Warehouse Company and CPS Express Inc. for Spic and Span products because of its long-standing culture of superior customer service and its competitive pricing.
From the beginning, Haddy has proven it can provide service that exceeds customer expectations in spite of the fact that the Coast Warehouse facility is located further from the company than its previous supplier. Coast moved nearly 100 full truck loads of product from the former provider in less than 30 days, keeping customer shipments on time and accurate.
Coast embraced the opportunity to handle the warehousing, distribution and shipping the Spic & Span line of wipes and cleaning supply products to all national retailers and retail distributors carrying the brand.
The scope of the assignment encompasses warehousing, storage, handling, order fulfillment, special product enhancement projects and devaning ocean-going containers. Coast will manage over 350 different SKUs, organize product, rotate stock and store in bulk and warehouse racking. The company also will provide trained labor for special rework projects such as labeling, repacking, sorting and inspecting.
Kleen Maid Inc. selected the Haddy company’s Coast Warehouse Company and CPS Express Inc. for Spic and Span products because of its long-standing culture of superior customer service and its competitive pricing.
From the beginning, Haddy has proven it can provide service that exceeds customer expectations in spite of the fact that the Coast Warehouse facility is located further from the company than its previous supplier. Coast moved nearly 100 full truck loads of product from the former provider in less than 30 days, keeping customer shipments on time and accurate.
6/10/2011
Road to Success May Mean Going in Reverse
Reverse logistics has become an increasingly important part of the supply chain, and according to industry forecasters, that role is only going to increase.
In recent years, we’ve seen a number of factors come together to make reverse logistics a necessary strategy, not just an afterthought activity.
Internet shopping has helped fuel an increase in product returns as Internet retail returns run around three times those of traditional stores. There is increasing interest in and push for sustainability initiatives, and recalls, both voluntary and involuntary, are on the rise. At the same time, increasing transportation costs make it imperative to look at regional vs. national processing/distribution capabilities.
It appears the route to effectively managing an ever-growing numbers of returns, rejects and recalls will lie in such strategies as reclamation, liquidation and recycling
Industry observers point out that reclamation will become a key part of the reverse logistics equation because of the dwindling supply of rare earth minerals including silver and platinum. There will be more emphasis on reclaiming raw materials – minerals and metals used in products, as well as parts.
The challenge for 3Pls serving the manufacturers will be to provide comprehensive, integrated and cost-effective reverse logistics solutions. In fact, industry prognosticators foresee reverse logistics centers inside distribution centers that can provide product disposition management from parts and raw material harvesting, to cleaning/ refurbishing, product liquidation, recycling and even remanufacture.
The companies of JG Haddy have been in the forefront of reuse and recycling efforts, even before “green” became popular. We advise clients to use and distribute products made from recycled materials whenever possible.
Coast Packaging recycled products include recycled paper corrugated boxes, molded fiber egg cartons (from recycled newspapers and other paper), and egg cartons made from recycled plastic water bottles.
Coast Warehouse operates a return facility for a large Chinese appliance manufacturer. The most logical, sustainable solutions for returned item(s) are determined once the unit(s) are inspected. Many other Coast customers use our facility as an RMA (Return Authorization Material) facility
In addition, Coast Warehouse helps clients reduce costs, landfill transportation and fees by recycling all customers’ plastics, paper and corrugated items (as well as our own.)
CPS Express and Coast Warehouse were strategic partners with Walgreen’s and Excel Transportation in a project that enabled Walgreen’s to set up remodeled freezer sections in stores. See the Case Study under Coast Packaging on this site.
In recent years, we’ve seen a number of factors come together to make reverse logistics a necessary strategy, not just an afterthought activity.
Internet shopping has helped fuel an increase in product returns as Internet retail returns run around three times those of traditional stores. There is increasing interest in and push for sustainability initiatives, and recalls, both voluntary and involuntary, are on the rise. At the same time, increasing transportation costs make it imperative to look at regional vs. national processing/distribution capabilities.
It appears the route to effectively managing an ever-growing numbers of returns, rejects and recalls will lie in such strategies as reclamation, liquidation and recycling
Industry observers point out that reclamation will become a key part of the reverse logistics equation because of the dwindling supply of rare earth minerals including silver and platinum. There will be more emphasis on reclaiming raw materials – minerals and metals used in products, as well as parts.
The challenge for 3Pls serving the manufacturers will be to provide comprehensive, integrated and cost-effective reverse logistics solutions. In fact, industry prognosticators foresee reverse logistics centers inside distribution centers that can provide product disposition management from parts and raw material harvesting, to cleaning/ refurbishing, product liquidation, recycling and even remanufacture.
The companies of JG Haddy have been in the forefront of reuse and recycling efforts, even before “green” became popular. We advise clients to use and distribute products made from recycled materials whenever possible.
Coast Packaging recycled products include recycled paper corrugated boxes, molded fiber egg cartons (from recycled newspapers and other paper), and egg cartons made from recycled plastic water bottles.
Coast Warehouse operates a return facility for a large Chinese appliance manufacturer. The most logical, sustainable solutions for returned item(s) are determined once the unit(s) are inspected. Many other Coast customers use our facility as an RMA (Return Authorization Material) facility
In addition, Coast Warehouse helps clients reduce costs, landfill transportation and fees by recycling all customers’ plastics, paper and corrugated items (as well as our own.)
CPS Express and Coast Warehouse were strategic partners with Walgreen’s and Excel Transportation in a project that enabled Walgreen’s to set up remodeled freezer sections in stores. See the Case Study under Coast Packaging on this site.
5/1/2011
AIB Superior score - 2011
Coast Warehouse Company, one of the leaders in the California warehouse and 3PL industry, achieved a "Superior" rating on their most recent AIB (American Institute of Baking) audit dated April 22, 2011 for their food grade warehouse operations in Mira Loma, California. The Superior rating is AIB's highest score! And only given to warehouse facilities that go beyond the call to make their customers products safe, clean and well protected. Coast achieved a 940 point score out of a total of 1000 points and demonstrates Coast Warehouse Company's commitment to their customer's products and food grade warehouse requirements. Even if you don't need food grade warehousing, this rating is important because it assures all customers of a clean, sanitary, rodent free and well run warehousing operation. AIB also assures that Coast Warehouse is register with the FDA, Federal, California state and local authorities assuring operating authority for their California warehouse and 3PL operation which includes their sister companies, CPS Express Inc. and Coast Packaging Co. If you would like to view our certificate, please click on the attached PDF. Please contact us with your California warehousing, 3PL, packaging or trucking challenge (951) 685-4100.