Case Study: Logistics & Supply Chain Management at KANE Is Able

This case study examines KANE Is Able's logistics and supply chain management strategies in supporting Procter & Gamble's manufacturing plant. It highlights the key success factors behind their performance improvement, including a joint plan with P&G, detailed site assessments, and instilling a culture of accountability through the 'KANE Code.' The study identifies challenges related to safety, inventory accuracy, and storeroom operations, and the resolutions implemented, such as safety huddles, inventory reviews, and Six-Sigma methodologies. The case study concludes with recommendations for maintaining the realized results, including continuous use of Six-Sigma, integration of RFID technology, and effective relationship management to improve the company's revenue and reputation.

Logistics and Supply chain management
KANE Is Able

Logistics and supply management 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
The key success factors for the strategies........................................................................................3
Challenges related to the logistics management strategies applied to generate resolutions in this
case..................................................................................................................................................4
 Safety....................................................................................................................................4
 Inventory...............................................................................................................................4
 Storeroom Operations...........................................................................................................4
Strategies that should be implemented to maintain the results that have been realized..................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

Logistics and supply management 2
Introduction
Logistics and supply management is two different words and concept in which logistics refers to
as the activities that enable the flow of goods through the supply chain (Christopher, 2016). The
report is based on the case study of Logistics and supply management of KANE Is Able. The aim
of the report is to reflect the key success factors for strategies, challenges associated with
logistics management and some recommendations.
Kane Is Able (KANE) offers the complete logistics support for a high-volume to P&G (Procter
& Gamble). P&G is a well-known leading American multi-national consumer goods corporation
that came into existence in the year 1837. The company has its headquarters in downtown
Cincinnati, Ohio. P&G has manufacturing plant for Bounty, Charmin, Pampers and many other
brands (P&G, 2018). ‘Kane Is Able’ is a third-party logistics provider that helps the retail
partners and manufacturers with the facility of warehouse and distribution of goods across the
U.S and the company came into existence in the year 1930 (Kane Is Able, 2018).

Logistics and supply management 3
The key success factors for the strategies
Kane is responsible for the manufacturing/-in-plant support, distribution, and warehousing of the
products and yard services. The performance of the company was jumped high after the assumed
facility operations from another 3PL but in 2011 it dropped after that the company planned some
strategies to enhance the performance.
 The key factor behind the success of the strategy was the joint plan of Kane with P&G
along with this the company transformed the site into a high-performance.
 Kane conducted the detailed site assessment with the help of which they were able to
analyze the problems that they are having in their system and processes. They found that
there is need of right personnel at the place. Assessment of the site was one of the biggest
factors due to which they replaced their employees for improving performance.
 The company provided the clear instructions to their employees about the culture of
accountability which was critical for all the team members confessed by Torrey (General
Manager) but this was an effective way to improve the performance.
 The codes of Kane became the key success factors for the strategies that were
implemented in the case study. These codes were: -
1. Keep Safety first
2. Sweat the details
3. Honor your word
4. Avoid Surprises
5. Treat customers like family

Logistics and supply management 4
Challenges related to the logistics management strategies applied to
generate resolutions in this case
In the year 2011, the Kane Company fall because of challenges related to the inventory accuracy
and safety. Considering the challenges the company applied some of the resolutions which are
discussed below: -
 Safety: - P&G and Kane local management partnered to initiate the recordable incident
rate (RIR) for safety incidents from red to green. The company introduces the tactics
related to the safety huddles, safety gratitude and reward package along with this the
company employed safety metrics boards and the wide-ranging communication on the
safety risk triggers. This results in the decrease in the safety incident rate as the RIR went
down from 2.3 in 2011 to 0.0 in 2014.
 Inventory: - P&G conducts surprise inventory reviews throughout the year and this
review procedure is performed by the employees of the company and by the other
faculties. A quality team of Kane and P&G was formed with the motive to identify the
root causes. The result of the sudden audits were 100% which shows an improvement in
the challenge which was faced by the company.
 Storeroom Operations: - This was one of the major operations that were conducted
by the Kane Company. Every item that was used by the P&G was used in the 1.5 million-
square-foot plan from the equipment plants to the small electronics are sourced from the
operated storeroom of Kane. Kane Company decided to implement the Six-Sigma
methodologies to discourse the root causes that were driving down invoice and (IRA)
inventory record accuracy. Six-Sigma is quality and process management tool that is used
by the manufacturing industry to bring the improvement in their operations (Pyzdek and

Logistics and supply management 5
Keller, 2014). After the implementation of Six-Sigma tool the IRA increase from 96% to
99%.
The improvement was possible because of Kane team's strong performance and as a result, the
P&G enlisted the team to assist on the high-profile projects. These projects were the provision of
the P&G export delivery to Japan and Australia and the direct-to-store goods distribution from
various other P&G plants.
Strategies that should be implemented to maintain the results that have
been realized
The company can maintain the results that have been realized by making the continuous use of
the six sigma tool because the tool brings the changes if the company implement it for a long
duration. Kane Company can also combine the RFID technology with the supply chain. The
RFID (Radio-frequency identification) uses an electromagnetic field to mechanically identify
and track the tags that are related to the object (Ahson and Ilyas, 2017). Through this company
will be able to manage the projects smoothly as they will be able to track the goods that help in
merchant in keeping the record and leads to client satisfaction. Kane should also try to manage
the good relationship and partnership with the companies who can give those projects. Effective
relationship helps the company in generating more of revenue and will enhance the image or
reputation in the competitive market.

Logistics and supply management 6
Conclusion
It can be concluded from the report that the Kane Company was aware that they are lacking
somewhere due to which their operations result in the downfall. This is the reason they
immediately took the steps and form strategies which are discussed in the report. Along with this
the report also reflects how the company deals with the challenges faced by them (Mangan,
Lalwani and Lalwani, 2016). At the end, there are some recommendations given to the company
related to the strategies that should be implemented to maintain the results that have been
realized.

Logistics and supply management 7
References
Ahson, S.A. and Ilyas, M., 2017. RFID Handbook: applications, technology, security, and
privacy. New York: CRC press.
Christopher, M., 2016. Logistics & supply chain management. UK: Pearson.
Kane Is Able, 2018. Kane History. [Online] Available at: <https://www.kaneisable.com/history>
[Accessed 15th February 2018].
Mangan, J., Lalwani, C. and Lalwani, C.L., 2016. Global logistics and supply chain
management. 3rd ed. Great Britain: John Wiley & Sons.
P&G, 2018. Who We Are. [Online] Available at: <https://us.pg.com/who-we-are> [Accessed
15th February 2018].
Pyzdek, T. and Keller, P.A., 2014. The six sigma handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.