Menlo Worldwide Logistics, the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc. has announced the roll out of Menlo Transportation Services, its next-generation transportation management portfolio.


The introduction of Menlo Transportation Services marks a concerted effort by the company to leverage its experience and expertise into a comprehensive, next-generation service offering for transportation network management, both regionally and globally.

"Transportation networks and the operating costs they generate are one of the largest expenditure areas for any supply chain," Bianco said. "And while we have managed transportation capacity for our customers since Menlo's inception, the difference today is that customers want more specific capabilities and solutions, with rapid deployment and faster cost-saving results."

"They want proven best practices, coupled with experienced people using the latest systems to plan, optimize, execute, measure and improve their transportation processes as a whole, across the full gamut from sourcing to settlement, or at the individual node level," Bianco continued. "And they want it delivered as an outsourced, flexible service that can scale to their needs and flows in the supply chain. That's what Menlo Transportation Services will do."

Within the Menlo Transportation Services portfolio are two primary service offerings: Solution Engineering and Transportation Management. Both offerings leverage seasoned transportation and logistics professionals applying Lean methodologies and best-in-class standardized practices to deliver innovative, cost-efficient services unique to individual customer needs.

As a comprehensive service offering, Menlo Transportation Services provides a powerful combination of skilled people, proven processes and best-in-class technologies, all built on a foundation of Lean principles and practices. This structured approach provides a framework for collaborative engagement, and keeps the focus on driving out wasteful practice and achieving consistent gains in efficiency - a key tenet of Lean, noted Anthony Oliverio, vice president, supply chain services for Menlo.

"We know Lean works in many discrete areas of the supply chain, we've proven it over years of taking customers through Kaizen events and other Lean practices to find new savings," said Oliverio. "We have now focused the power of Lean on the transportation function, creating a next-generation service offering that can achieve significant, transformative savings and value. It's a huge opportunity for our customers."

"Menlo's strategic extension of its Lean expertise into a formalized transportation management offering is a natural evolution for the company, which has long been using Lean practices to drive continuous improvement in warehousing operations and re-engineered supply chains," noted Evan Armstrong, a respected industry analyst and principal with Armstrong & Associates, Inc.

"Menlo has carved out a strong position as one of the leading U.S.-based 3PLs in large part because of its Lean management expertise," said Armstrong. "This approach, already proven in complex supply chain re-engineering projects, has significant promise to bring similar efficiency gains to its customers' transportation management operations."

Armstrong added that Menlo's expanded technology portfolio, which now leverages Oracle's OTM top-tier TM platform, has appreciably increased both its strategic and tactical LLP (lead logistics provider) transportation network management capabilities. "We see the evolution of Menlo's transportation management operations into Menlo Transportation Services as a significant move in recognizing its expanded capabilities and ongoing LLP service line growth," Armstrong concluded.

For more information about Menlo Transportation Services, visit www.con-way.com/menlotrans.