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Colored Green
A 2-part idea reduces waste and money
As AIT Worldwide Logistics continues to saturate its eco-friendly message into the transportation marketplace, employees are continually encouraged to provide feedback and offer suggestions supporting a greener supply chain.
In January of 2009, AIT began its mission to reduce the amount of paper used in the 5-part house air waybills (HAWB), which contain all details and information (consignee, commodities, etc.) for each individual shipment. Employees in AIT's imaging and scanning department identified that 60% of the HAWB had no use to AIT and was thrown aside for recycling, an internal program AIT began over a year ago.
AIT was sending along one HAWB copy to the consignee with the shipment, while sending the shipper's copy of the HAWB to the imaging department.
Although the number of copies per HAWB could be reduced down to a 2-part form, there was still a need for all 5 parts for preprints and the stations.
To avoid transforming the process across the entire AIT network or eliminating the 5-part HAWB for preprint purposes, necessary data was gathered, costs were examined and key employees teamed together from various departments who work directly with the 5-part paperwork.
Collectively, the team supported AIT's reasons to modify the current process, on the condition that their individual departments could function once 3 sheets of the 5-part HAWB were removed.
Drawing on these resources, AIT decided to implement the 2-part HAWB as a pilot program for the company's corporate headquarters location just outside of Chicago.
As a result, the AIT-ORD station is fully operating with a 2-part HAWB. The paperwork submitted to the imaging department is printed by a laser printer. The transmission has been seamless with these added benefits:
- Decrease in cost by purchasing reams of paper instead of 5-part invoice cases;
- Increased HAWB visibility and clarity when reviewed with Onbase, AIT's scanning software;
- Minimized labor-intensive tasks: writing the shipment number, stapling and teaming to separate the HAWB copies;
- Reduced paperwork cleaning, an essential component for scanning.
With the program currently operating in its infancy stages, AIT is optimistic that other employees will continue reviewing their department's SOP's and looking for ways to reduce spend, improve efficiencies and eliminate waste for AIT.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Going Green eNewsletter,
please contact the AIT Marketing Department. |
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