COMPANY PROFILE
2014
Kintetsu World Express South Africa
company profile
The full package of logistics solutions Editorial: Tim Hands Production: Emily Woodhall Billed as an indispensable link in the supply chain, KWE SA is a leader in the field of integrated logistics services, spanning industries including aerospace, automotive and mining. It has striven continually to meet its customers’ needs to reduce distribution cost, through its comprehensive service offering which is, even now, continuing to develop in its quest to further rationalise these supply chains and streamline operations.
Kintetsu World Express South Africa, more commonly known as KWE SA, was brought into being in 1997 through the acquisition of a locally-owned freight forwarding company. “KWE didn’t have any presence in South Africa at the time,” explains National Sales Manager, Louis Coetzee, “and the KWE model in some instances is to look at joint ventures or take over existing freight companies within various countries across the world. It then changes everything to the KWE way, and the business is grown from there.” Since this time the South African arm of the KWE brand has continued to be recognised for its excellence in the field of integrated logistics services, playing a key role in the global logistics management of aerospace, automotive and high technology vertical
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markets. “We aim to provide a complete logistics solution to our clients, and in South Africa the solution we put together will be packaged to meet the exact requirements of our clients. KWE SA recently became the first freight forwarder in South Africa to be accredited with an RA 3 certification in accordance with new, EU security measures, an important industry-leading step illustrating its commitment to the highest possible standards in managing its customers’ freight. The completeness of its services is a key part of the company being held in such high regard. The solutions KWE SA put together would encompass clearing and forwarding, in and outsourced warehousing and distribution, supply chain management, systems integration and project logistics. Also important in KWE SA’s ability to function so seamlessly across
Kintetsu World Express South Africa
all regions is the way in which all of this is packaged together. “We have various supply chain planning systems that we use with our clients – we basically manage their supply chain for them. We’ll take their sales history from the last two or three years and then produce forecasts for them. Utilising this information then enables us to assist them with managing supplier contracts, and replenishing their warehouses on their behalf. Rationalising their supply chain is one key way in which clients are looking to reduce costs. KWE SA announced at the beginning of April that it has selected the Manhattan SCALE product suite, to further optimise this regional supply chain operation and, as a direct result, support business growth. Manhattan SCALE is a warehouse management system that KWE SA is implementing in their facilities
across the country, and the system will also enable offsite client warehouse management. The system will assist clients to have full visibility of their inventory at all times and be able to see where in the logistics cycle each commodity is. The fully integrated approach is key to KWE’s success. The bulk of everything handled is done so through KWE’s own global offices, rather than via a network of agents. This affords greater control over the total supply chain. Clients can see where anything is at any given time, whereas if someone is using five or six different suppliers, with different modes and methods of transport, it’s very difficult to keep a finger on the pulse.” This personalised package of services covers supplier areas for a vast range of industries – KWE SA has dealings with businesses concerned with automotive,
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company profile
aerospace, mining, machinery, high technology, agriculture and medical, among others. Aerospace in South Africa is the largest industry vertical serviced by KWE SA because of the work that is done with the national carrier. Mining and machinery would then be the next biggest industry vertical KWE SA handle, followed by automotive, engineering and the agriculture industry.” It is the aerospace industry which provides perhaps the best illustration of KWE SA’s provision of their comprehensive logistics services: “For the national carrier, we manage both above and below the wing operations on their behalf.” Our below the wing or technical operation includes managing a 24/7/365 10 000 m2 off site warehouse containing roughly 200 000 SKU’s at the country’s major international airport. KWE handles all the inbound logistics of parts, components and other materials from 1750 suppliers around the world all within stringent customs and excise requirements to meet specific service tiers. We
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also move and control different aircraft engine types and fully assembled landing gears to and from this facility. We assist with aircraft A, C and D maintenance checks, retrofits, cargo conversions as well as other offsite projects. Our operations are audited annually by the CAA, FAA, BV and EASA to name a few, and always pass with flying colours. KWE also handles and manages the total supply chain of a major aircraft tyre manufacturer which supplies the carrier. This operation would include tracking tyres by serial numbers to ascertain their position on various aircraft at time of landing, usage and return for retreading as well as total spares management. Above the wing, we manage a fully integrated seamless cradle to grave supply chain for all inflight passenger comfort and catering services. KWE’s advanced integrated materials management systems provide us with global visibility allowing us to accurately track and forecast demand, and subsequently replenish the airline’s global supply
Kintetsu World Express South Africa chain as and when demand dictates.” The inflight operation is conducted on a global level integrating and utlising KWE’s vast global footprint. KWE SA is now entering its 10th year as a trusted partner of the national carrier, and is expecting to expand our service offerings further taking bold steps and industry firsts in further pioneering new and innovative concepts for the airline. Our above and below wing supply chain concept was pioneered by KWE SA, and is fully customisable to suit any industry’s supply chain needs. Historically, KWE globally has been an air freight business, and that’s where their volumes rank amongst the highest in the world. The everlooming global financial pressures have seen the company’s focus adapt in recent times as there has been a global shift on the part of all companies to move cargo away from air freight and onto ocean and road freight. As a result ocean freight volumes are growing more and more, with air freight volumes growing far less rapidly than two or three years ago. Companies are now managing their supply chains a lot more effectively which will naturally lead to a great reduction in the emergency-type air freight shipments, and a great many more planned ocean freight shipments. These presssures have however not affected KWE SA phenomenal growth path, and in recent years KWE SA have been the number one country within the EMEA region with regards to growth in operating income. KWE SA is able to provide a flexible, state-ofthe-art platform capable of supporting the group’s activities across its range of industry sectors, and in turn drive revenue and margin growth by enabling an improved level of service and a greater operational efficiency. This development is central to improving the quality of the integrated logistics services KWE SA is able to offer to its customers, and will allow the continuation of the company’s rapid growth.
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Tel:Tel: +27 (11) 9078808 8808 (11) 907 I Fax: +27 +27 (11) 907 8969 I email: info@transitco.co.za
Tel: +27 (11) 907 8808
Tel: +27 (11) 907 8808 Fax: +27 (11) 907 Fax: +27 (11) 9078969 8969 ZAMBIA Fax: +27 (11) 907 8969 Cell: 00260 966 860703 I email: karen.russell@realsk.co.zm email: transit@telkomsa.net email: transit@telkomsa.net email: transit@telkomsa.net ZIMBABWE
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www.kwe.co.za +27 11 573 5700
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