The European Good Distribution Practice code, along with a string of government regulations, is placing tough new demands on transportation services. Scott Cannon, CEO of MNX, discusses the need for stronger packaging auditing processes, and the benefits of fourth-party logistics.
Can you briefly introduce yourself as a company?
Scott Cannon: MNX is a premier global provider of customised, specialised and expedited transportation and logistics services. Our clients include multinational leaders in the biopharmaceutical, life sciences and medical device industries.
For the past 30 years, MNX has delivered an unmatched level of customer service, superior handling, on-time delivery and value for customers around the world. Today, we handle several hundred thousand next-flight and time-critical air shipments a year.
What key trends are currently impacting upon the logistics sector?
The new European Good Distribution Practice code is making operations a lot more challenging. Although it's aimed specifically at product distribution, it also affects the implementation of clinical trials.
As well as this, government regulations surrounding security and accountability are being driven up the supply chain and becoming more significant.
How are these regulations affecting firms, particularly given the rising number of biologics? What steps have you taken to handle these challenges?
All logistics players that want to be taken seriously now require a robust range of packaging options across multiple temperature ranges, but they also need a strong, auditable process for selecting the packaging they offer. That will be examined as closely as the packaging itself in this newly regulated environment.
With regard to the growing number of biologics, MNX focuses on training staff to assure the smooth handling of shipments with specific needs; time and temperature controls are one of our specialities. We have also partnered with a component manufacturer to enclose a GPS/temperature-recording device in our shipments, supporting the customer's requirements and enhancing the quality of our First Flight Out solutions.
MNX is at the forefront of regulation-related discussions and the implementation of new security regimes in the many countries it services. MNX sits on the board of several national and regional associations, and has direct access to decision-makers. We often volunteer for pilot programmes in the Americas and EMEA, and influence new and final rules for cargo handling.
How else do your services suit today's market needs?
Whether they are scheduled or an immediate response, shipments are placed on the commercial airline or private air network flight that best suits the needs of the customer, and are transported to and from any one of 190 territories and countries we serve around the globe.
MNX also offers specialised expedited ground services that can be tailored to any mission using specialist equipment, such as cars, vans, trucks, bob tails, lift gates and so forth. On top of this, we provide a dedicated hand-carry service that gives the utmost security and accountability.
Our transport management system supports full tracing and accountability, offering a GPS parcel-tracking solution for even greater control.
What are the key benefits of your fourth-party logistics service?
MNX's Supply Chain Services (SCS) is an independent, full-service fourth-party logistics service. MNX-SCS works with large consolidators, freight forwarders, and land and sea freight companies to provide our customers with the most comprehensive suite of end-to-end logistics services, which meet any and all of their transportation needs.
By leveraging a competitive bidding process, MNX-SCS ensures that our customers receive the best price for all their shipping requirements. It also offers real-time information management of their entire transportation and logistics footprint, which affords them improved decision-making capabilities, and allows them to maintain consistency and follow strict policies.
Do you have any interesting new products in the pipeline?
MNX recently launched a state-of-the-art warehouse management system: a fully customisable and integrated platform for managing inventory. Custom reports can be run, automatic reorder points set, and the simple and intuitive interface allows any user to search, pull and ship any item. It is also possible to run consolidated shipping reports.
