October 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOGISTICS:

THE DDL EQUIPMENT MATERIALS HANDLING UMBRELLA EVENT

The materials handling, logistics and supply sectors were well represented at a moonlight garden party that brought together representatives from all quarters of the materials handling industry, hosted by Warehouse docking and sealing specialists DDL Equipment.

DDL’s Andrew Stewart says this annual event was created to provide a forum for airing views and sharing information across the industry with the objective of meeting and maintaining international standards across the spectrum of materials handling disciplines. 

Danielle & Trevor Holcroft (SARDA), with Jack & Carol Webster (IRTE)

Logistics was one of the four new disciplines - including packaging, SAPICS and supply chain - to be included in this year’s event, in addition to representation by the food, refrigeration, freight and transport sectors.

Mike Johnston (CLM), Dianne Holton (Logistics News), Charles Dey (SAAFF) and Jan de Ruyter (SAPICS

"Functions just like this are held in many countries around the world with excellent results," he says. "In any country, the various disciplines have to pull together to become more efficient and productive, to adhere to international standards and to be competitive in the global marketplace.

"The Proudly South African initiative has set the standard for local operations to become global players. 

"There are so many factors serving as obstacles to achieving this ¾ high costs, road congestion, a breakdown in road and rail infrastructure, bribery and corruption and so on.

There is a real need for  channels of communication and co-operation to open up between materials handling sectors."

Stewart paid special tribute to the role of women in shaping the materials handling industry of today.

"It was a woman who compiled the first book on Time and Motion, Organisation and Methods in the 1900s," he said. "This book described the approach of the so-called ‘clipboard brigade’ who carried clipboards, stop watches, measuring tapes and so on. Two other industry standard-setting books, still with us today, were also compiled by a woman some years ago.

" Today the clipboard brigade of old has been taken over by electronic fast-tracking of information, with computers being harnessed to streamline materials handling statistics - and this is now called the logistics supply chain.

"To quote the new ‘buzz phrase’ in our industry - materials handling and transport is the hardware that drives the logistics and supply chain software."

With more than 37 years experience in the materials handling industry, DDL Equipment specialises in marketing, consulting, assembly, installation and servicing of docking equipment. For more information, contact Andrew Stewart on (011) 443-4233 or (083) 653-3872

ENDS

SARDA = South African Refrigerated Distribution Association

IRTE = Institute of Road Transport Engineers

CLM = Council of Logistics Management

SAAFF = The South African Association of Freight Forwarders

SAPICS = South African Production Inventory Control Society

Andrew TC Stewart Tel: +27 11 443-4233

DDL Equipment Fax: +27 11 882-4569

South Africa

October 2002

Marilyn Boyd Communications

PO Box 14409

Witfield 1467

Tel: +27 11 823-2206

Fax: +27 11 823-3448

Cell: 082 452 1495

E-mail: mboyd@medibath.com