Atlas Amplifier PDF - Atlas Van Lines

Specialized Transportation GroupBANNER YEARFOR COOPERATIONWhat goes into a banner year?For Atlas STG and Gap Inc., the answer can besummarized in one word: partnership.During 2010, Atlas STG supported Gap’s ambitiousdrive to remodel its Old Navy stores. As the exclusiveprovider of blanket-wrapped logistics services for OldNavy, Atlas ensured just-in-time delivery for over 200store remodels between January and December.Gap and Atlas have worked together successfully forseveral years, but 2010 saw the biggest volume of anyyear to date.“When Gap begins a remodel or a new store, AtlasSTG transports the store fixtures to the local Atlasagent’s warehouse,” says STG National AccountSpecialist Chris Koehl. “When the general contractor forthe project orders materials, the agent provides delivery.”It sounds simple enough. But, it wasn’t always so.During the last part of 2009, the partnership tackled abig push–50 stores. “It was a mighty struggle, with a tonof challenges,” says Chris.Although the project concluded successfully, Chrissays everyone involved knew the process neededimprovement. So, GAP called a conference amongits suppliers. They came together, hashed out theweaknesses, and looked for potential efficiencies.Each came away with a renewed sense of cooperation,and a stronger determination to make effortsmore productive.“For Atlas STG, we found that service requirements forstorage and delivery weren’t always clear to participatingagents,” says Chris. “So we created a detailed servicelevel agreement that explains precisely what the workentails.”Meanwhile, Gap created a database, with photo,part number, description, supplier, and quantity foreach item and every store. Contractors would refer tothe form to place orders; Atlas agents would use it tofill orders. “This one enhancement probably made thesingle biggest difference,” says Chris.Likewise, fixture suppliers standardized the formattingof shipping labels in accord with the database, so allcan identify parts quickly and correctly throughout thepipeline.“Within a span of about eight weeks, we all hadprocess improvements in place,” says Chris.He credits the combined actions with improvingthe overall efficiency of logistics ten-fold. But, he says,it could not have happened without candor andcooperation–a view shared by Ashley Mason, GapSenior Analyst Fixture Transportation.“Atlas and Gap have been partners in developing bestpractices for many years,” says Ashley. “We present whatwe feel might pose an issue. Chris Koehl and the Atlasteam respond with, ‘Here’s what we can do, and howwe can help you with that.’ It is a rare event when theirsuggestions are not actionable and highly valuable.”Working with Other Vendors“Atlas is proactive, always on top of things,” saysNational Accounts Manager Carla Coppess, CarlsonStore Fixtures. “Atlas shares my outlook on customerservice, not only to Gap, but to me as well. I have agreat team at Atlas backing me up. Kendra Boles inparticular has been great at making the seeminglyimpossible happen.”“We take the view that other Gap suppliers are ourcustomers, too,” says Chris. “We are all in the same boattogether, serving the same customer, so we do whateverwe can to help them deliver good service.”Gap understands the importance of good workingrelationships. It invites its vendors and employees toregularly evaluate the service providers via a “scorecard.”The most recent ratings saw Atlas at the top of the list.“We highly value our relationship with Atlas and thework they have done to date,” says Ashley.The feeling is mutual, says Chris. “I can’t overstate theimportance of teamwork to our success. It made 2010a banner year for our partnership and promises moregreat things for 2011.”2010 REMODELS RECORD YEAR FOR BUSINESSOld Navy store fixtures are ready for delivery in an Atlasagency warehouse. A typical Old Navy store remodel requiresabout 5,000 sq. ft. of storage.18 Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2011 Atlas Amplifier • Summer 2011 19