Hygiene product manufacturer Kimberly Clark (KC) has announced a shake up to its supply chain, allowing it to become both more environmentally, and customer friendly.
In response to soaring oil prices that are now putting many supply chains at the top of a business' priority list, KC has been investigating ways to cut down lengthy dispatches of its goods, in order to reduce oil consumption.
The company first saw distribution as a factor that needed eradicating, or at least lessening, and so has opened eight new regional distribution sites across North America in replace of the "dozens" that were being used in the past.
In a statement made to the press, KC announced that it will also be "sending more product shipments via fuel efficient and environmentally friendly rail transportation".
"KC is increasing its use of intermodal truck-rail transport with transportation module containers, which can be lifted from truck to train and back," the statement went on to read.
It is hoped that by using a mixture of rail and truck transportation the company will save on 130 gallons of fuel per 1,000 miles travelled.
KC has so far reported that with some of these changes in place, the number of miles spent driving from distribution centres to retailers has dropped 2.8 million miles, saving an approximated 470,000 gallons of fuel.
Reducing Costs:
Do you need to cut your costs? Start here - now!
