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| Hazchem |
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DELTION
DELIVERS FOR UK’S FIRST DEDICATED HAZARDOUS GOODS
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
A major investment in state of the art web-based collaborative technology is
bringing significant operational and commercial benefits to the UK’s first
dedicated network for the transport of hazardous goods.
 The Hazchem Network, which
operates from a hub in Rugby and is rapidly moving towards its target of 40
members, has committed to an enhanced version of the
acclaimed Deltion CarrierNet system for the management
of its ADR deliveries across the UK.
Hazchem was launched in October in response
to increasingly stringent regulations on the movement of hazardous goods
and to rising fuel costs, traffic congestion and the
impact of the working time directive. It offers customers all the benefits of
using a pallet distribution network in terms of fast, efficient nationwide deliveries.
Ali Karim, a chartered chemist with more than 20 years’
experience in chemicals transit, recognised that the
success of the operation was dependent on information.
Ali Karim explained:
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Unlike
a pallet distribution network, where all the hub
and licensees generally need to know is the number
of pallets and the destination of a consignment,
we have for legislative and safety reasons to be
able to access far more detailed data about each
pallet to ensure that it is correctly handled”. |
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We had
already identified that the hub would be divided
into sectors based on Toxic, Flammable, Corrosive
and Oxidising agents so for each incoming load the
system needed to tell us which section it should
go to”. |
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We also
need to know the exact chemical composition of each
load. Given that there are in the region of 180,000
permutations of packaged chemicals and gases sequenced
by UN number. We purchased and modified a licensed
version of the list from the National Chemical Emergency
Centre (NCEC) at Culham, and the system we used needed
to be able to have this overlaid onto it”. |
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Another
issue was that of paperwork. In most pallet networks,
the paperwork and the consignments flow through two
different channels which was not an option for us
as with ADR freight, the paperwork must exactly reflect
the load on the vehicle. This is crucial in case
of a leak or if the vehicle is involved in an accident
so that the details can be passed to the emergency
services who immediately know what they are dealing
with and what counter measures to take”. |
"As a result the IT system needed to accommodate
a final checking mechanism to ensure the paperwork accurately
reflects the contents of each vehicle."
As Ali Karim explained, Deltion solved all three issues
at the first attempt.
“The consignor is responsible for ensuring each
consignment is correctly labelled with its UN number.
The system generates a different label for each type
of product depending on the nature of the hazard and
points out which section in the hub it needs to go to.
The label also includes the UN number and Emergency Action
Codes for the contents.
As the incoming trunk vehicle enters the hub, it first
enters the miscellaneous non-ADR area where the relevant
items are removed. It then processes through the Flammable,
Corrosives, Miscellaneous ADR, Toxic and Oxidising Agent
sections before leaving the hub empty.
In the meantime the Deltion system will have provided
the planner with a list of all the consignments which
need to be loaded onto the vehicle and the planner will
have devised the safest possible transit layout for them
using a ‘virtual’ floor plan of the vehicle.
This
sheet is given to the driver as he re-enters the hub
and he hands it to the forklift driver in each section
who is responsible for locating and loading the relevant
pallets. When the driver leaves the final section, the
pallet barcodes are scanned to ensure they correspond
to the ‘final trunk manifest’ sheet generated
by the Deltion system and that the pallets are in the
correct planned configuration before that vehicle is
allowed to leave the hub. Any discrepancies are immediately
referred back to the original load list generated by
the night office.
“This final check is absolutely crucial and ensures
an exact tally between paperwork and vehicle contents.”
According to Ali Karim, there are two other significant
ways in which the Deltion CarrierNet system is adding
value to the Hazchem organisation.
“As with any delivery operation, the scanning
of the PoD is crucial so the customer and inputting depot
know that the pallet has been delivered. Unlike some
pallet networks we work solely with the customers’ own
paperwork systems. In order to ensure prompt availability
of the PoD on-line via the system, the Deltion system
prints a label which contains the consignment number
against which the PoD is reconciled when it is scanned
and uploaded onto the system by the delivering depot.
It is then easy for us to ensure that the scanned PoD
is made available via the Deltion system to the relevant
inputting depot and customer.
“The second key advantage is automated central
billing. Cheque swap is really an outdated means of payment
between licensees - the Deltion system removes
these worries and allows fast transfer of funds between
the licensees each week.”
The CarrierNet system is hosted by Deltion meaning that
Hazchem has not has to make a substantial upfront investment
in IT equipment and can access support round the clock
if required.
Ali Karim was also enthusiastic about the
speed and efficiency with which the Deltion staff got
the system up and running:
“Overall I have never seen an implementation as
smooth and straightforward – we were massively
impressed. All the issues which we presented to them
at the start were addressed immediately meaning the system
was ready for operation as soon as we were.
“Indeed the system has run so smoothly that our
internal IT manager has to date not been required to
visit any of our licensees to resolve an issue! All of
the members have found it simple to use and it also dovetails
well with their own existing in-house systems.
“Overall, the system has offered excellent value
for money and without it we would not have either the
visibility or control over the operations which is so
crucial to what we do. On-line, real time systems like
Deltion have to be the way forward for the logistics
and transport industry and the hazardous goods sector
in particular.
“It has played an especially important role in
our timed deliveries. Many users of chemicals do not
want the expense and inconvenience of storing hazardous
chemicals on-site so we need to deliver on a ‘just
in time’ basis. The Deltion system helps us and
our licensees to plan and ensure that the consignments
are where they need to be, when they need to be there,
and not before.”
The next stage for Hazchem will be customer implants
of the Deltion system to enable regular users of the
Network to book jobs online and allow them to view in
real time the progress of their consignments through
the system.
Piyush Shah, Chief Executive of Deltion Ltd, added:
“This has been a prestigious project for us and
one which has already demonstrated clearly the adaptability
of the system and its ability to provide an even greater
depth of information.
“Major clients such as Hazchem are gaining a key
competitive edge in their marketplaces as they are able
to provide greater levels of control and real time information
to customers on the status of their deliveries.” |
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This service enables us to compete with
information technology equal - and in most
cases better - to our biggest competitors.Mike
Denison, Operations Director, TH Brown Caretakers
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