Logistics in times of crisis

The Corona pandemic has completely disrupted our usual lives and we are all facing unimagined challenges. Massive restrictions can also be observed in the movement of goods and logistics: according to the BVL, an increasing shortage of drivers can be expected and Amazon is already starting to free up its storage capacities for products that are needed now:

No one can predict exactly how the situation will develop, some basic things can help simplify the situation for logisticians and producers now.

1. be prepared for longer delivery times

We at RAJA can currently still guarantee our delivery times of 24/48 h, but no one can predict how the situation will develop. Tighter border controls have come into force worldwide. Controls have also been reintroduced at inner-European borders to curb the unchecked spread of COVID-19. Although goods traffic is supposed to continue, considerable waiting times due to kilometre-long traffic jams at the borders must be expected, which in turn can lead to deliveries being delayed. The software provider Sixfold has published a map with live data that truck drivers can use to track current waiting times: https://covid-19.sixfold.com/

2. use storage capacities

Storage capacities that are still available should be used now and goods that may have been stored with external suppliers should be called up now. In this way, replenishments can be triggered in time and a buffer can be built up for the next few months. Packaging material can also be kept in stock for a longer period of time, as these are products that hardly meet critical shelf life limits. Even adhesive tape can be stored for 6 months without loss of quality (printed adhesive tape for 3 months), paper adhesive tape even for several years.

3 Planning ahead

The Corona crisis revealed the weaknesses of just-in-time delivery: the interconnected world market enabled many to reduce their own stock levels. However, precise planning is currently difficult. If special solutions are needed, they should be ordered early now, if possible, to avoid possible bottlenecks.

4 Act with caution

Special times call for special measures, but the following applies to everything: keep calm and act prudently. What is particularly needed is understanding and consideration and respectful cooperation in all areas. Many companies have reduced, suspended or shifted their work activities to the home office, so there may be bottlenecks or problems of accessibility. No one is exempt from this, because everyone is affected by the current developments and only together will we be able to master these comprehensive challenges.

5 Employee protection and human resource planning

The two basic protective measures also and especially apply in the workplace: distance – where possible – and hygiene. Mobile working or working from home is a very important step in order to remain able to act. But even then, now is an appropriate time to update emergency or substitution plans. Who will stand in for whom in case of illness? Are there (written) handovers in case substitutions are needed? In professions where mobile working is not feasible, the BGHW (Berufsgenossenschaft Handel und Warenlogistik), for example, points out important aspects:

Does handling cash pose a risk of infection?
What should be observed at cashier workplaces and service counters?
Transparent partitions as protection for cashier staff?
Should gloves be worn during sales?
Should respiratory protection be purchased for employees?
What should be observed during field service appointments or other activities with business and private customers?
What should be considered in retail and constant customer contact?

Health is above all else and maintaining it for as many as possible is now our common task.