Here at RBW, we believe that teamwork is a huge part of the winning formula needed to produce an efficient warehouse. It takes many roles working in unison toward the common goal - logistical heaven. Great teamwork takes a great leader to cast out a vision. This vision motivates each team member to put forth their best effort. Due to the many diverse roles within the RBW machine, each team member has a unique perspective on what logistics means to them. It's interesting to see how the perspective changes based on the person and/or position. Different perspectives and different roles all working toward a common goal. That common goal is excellence and efficiency.
Here are 4 quotes by some of our all-stars at RBW about what logistics means to them:
"Logistics is… the ability to anticipate the unexpected."
-- John Albright (Senior Ops Manager at RBW Logistics)
Based on John's role directing daily operations at RBW, his perspective makes sense. This includes six facilities, four operation managers, and a small fleet of drayage truck drivers. He makes both proactive and reactive decisions on a daily basis. Situations develop quickly in the logistics industry, and often, things don't go quite as planned. You need to think on your feet, keeping a cool and level head. It requires making decisions and adjustments dependent on the situation at hand, so important to have the right mindset. You have to "expect the unexpected" in this industry.
"Logistics is…puzzle pieces of creativity, flexibility and innovation."
-- Aaron Ferguson (Director Of Business Development at RBW Logistics)
Aaron's role is to find the best possible solution to address the logistical needs of our clients and prospective clients. This requires both a creative and analytical mind. He's constantly crunching the numbers to figure out how much space a client will require, and what the appropriate rate should be for a service or space. We believe in customizing our services based on the needs of our clients. Every client offers an opportunity to arrange the puzzle pieces together to create a logistical masterpiece.
Logistics is a fun, fast-paced, and rewarding industry. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, but it's also why the industry can be so challenging at times. Things tend to happen fast since everything is on a large scale.
This requires logistics professionals to think outside of the box (no pun intended). This is an industry where unorthodox thinking is encouraged because it tends to produce strategies that can help address unique challenges.
The tools that you need to be a great logistics professional are creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to innovate and improve.
"Logistics is having the right thing, at the right place, at the right time."
-- Pete Murphy (Account Admin at RBW Logistics)
Pete has gotten right to the core of logistics with this statement. The science of logistics has been around since ancient times, and first applied to the military. Even in ancient times, there were logistical specialists whose main objective was to devise a plan and strategy to get the right supplies and the right people to the right location, ensuring a military victory. As the times have changed, this scientific approach has been applied to commerce, communication, and manufacturing. The implementation of technology has improved the process by improving visibility.
"It is not what you expect, it is what you inspect."
-- John Albright (Senior Ops Manager at RBW Logistics)
Logistics is a very detailed-oriented industry. There is a sea of data to be cleaned, processed, and analyzed. This quote hits on the principle. Have you ever heard the saying, "There is a difference between knowledge and intelligence?"
Knowledge is the collection of data and information, while intelligence is the application of knowledge. This is a key principle in logistics. It's not what you expect, it's what you inspect that makes the difference. You have to have the insight to know what needs to be monitored and how to find a conclusion based upon what is observed in the data. This insight allows you to see trends and correct issues before they become big problems. Often times, this is critical insight into occurrences you may not see coming because you are too involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.
Here at RBW, we love to solve logistical challenges. We enjoy using our creativity, flexibility, and innovative thought processes to come up with solutions unique to our clients' logistical needs.
