Customer-oriented and cost-conscious—these terms can apply to the same company. Just ask Solo, a leading manufacturer of disposable tableware and packaging, shipping thousands of ocean containers and air shipments to all different parts of the world.

Solo’s usual practice had been to allow their customer to make all decisions regarding freight forwarder choice. But, they also wanted on-time shipping, more shipping options, and reduced cost and transit time. So, for the first time, they utilized a logistics partner, DSC Logistics. DSC’s industry knowledge and innovative thinking helped them achieve those goals.

Just prior to DSC’s becoming their international transportation partner, Solo purchased two organizations outside the U.S., one in Japan and one in England. Collaboratively, Solo Cup USA, Solo Cup Asia, DSC and DSC’s international freight forwarder partner developed standardized workflows from origin to final destination, allowing for all parties to enjoy greater efficiency.

DSC also developed tools for greater visibility of order flows and forecasts for Solo’s newly-acquired Japan location. This allowed Solo greater tracking capabilities for items en-route and afforded the Japanese purchasing and inventory agents greater understanding of their ordering trends. The same tool was utilized by Solo production scheduling and customer service and was modified for use for the Solo Cup Australian sales agent who could then perform the task of updating his customers on all of the shipment specifics.

When Solo Cup Europe (U.K.) needed a second weekly alternative for shipping their containers to Europe out of Havre De Grace, MD, and contracted with a second steamship line, DSC acted swiftly to develop container pools and schedules for the two separate steamship lines to ensure that the goods were transported to their correct ports in a timely fashion. Designed to minimize additional charges incurred if the drayage company had to travel without a container at any given time, this activity saved approximately $55,000 a year from Havre De Grace and allowed for enough equipment to be on hand at all times. At the Havre De Grace Logistics Center, only one sailing cutoff and delivery was missed in an entire two-year period, despite having to go through a start-up scenario.

In many ways, DSC’s global knowledge impacted—indeed, changed—the way Solo did business. The information and education we provided Solo proved important to them—as it does to all our customers.