DELMIA Quintiq plays a vital role in helping us maximize the efficiency of these resources, optimizing transportation and logistics to keep everything running smoothly. - Brian LeDuc, CIO, Dot Foods
Mastering a complex food supply chain
In Mt. Sterling, Illinois, Dot Foods’ warehouse hums with activity as trucks laden with meat, dairy, snacks and beverages roll in and out, bound for destinations across the US and beyond. The scale of Dot Foods’ food supply chain operation is vast: the company stocks over 120,000 food and non-food product SKUs and transports them hundreds of miles across states to distributors, retailers and restaurants. Inside its two million square-foot warehouse, everything needs to be meticulously planned – from product storage to logistics – to guarantee on-time delivery to its customers.
Tackling this logistical conundrum requires more than human effort. Dot Foods relies on Dassault Systèmes’ advanced planning solution, DELMIA Quintiq, to help coordinate and optimize every part of its supply chain operation, getting food and non-food products where it’s needed, fast and efficiently.
“We deliver over 3.5 billion pounds of food annually, supported by 2,500 trucks and drivers,” said Brian LeDuc, CIO of Dot Foods. “We have around 6,500 employees, most of whom work in warehouses or on the road to distribute food and food-related products to anyone, anywhere, throughout the US. DELMIA Quintiq plays a vital role in helping us maximize the efficiency of these resources, optimizing transportation and logistics to keep everything running smoothly.”
Optimized and sustainable logistics
At Dot Foods, the journey from warehouse to customer hinges on logistical precision. DELMIA Quintiq addresses this by tackling two critical areas: optimizing truck routes to ensure timely arrivals and keep mileage to a minimum; and coordinating the movement of products within the warehouse.
Dot Transportation Incorporated (DTI), the logistics affiliate of Dot Foods, handles the complexities of route planning and load management across the company’s distribution network. It coordinates thousands of deliveries and transports all products to customers via a fleet of 2,500 trucks. To support the logistics, DELMIA Quintiq enables effective route planning, making sure that products reach customers on time, at a competitive price and in the most sustainable manner.
“The scale of our operations, the sheer number of products and trucks, and the numerous variables involved meant we needed the best solution to manage all this complexity,” LeDuc said. “DELMIA Quintiq helps us plan truck routes efficiently, ensuring timely deliveries and keeping mileage down.”
The environmental impact of logistics operations is a growing concern and Dot Foods is committed to reducing its carbon footprint across its supply chain. By optimizing routes and avoiding unnecessary miles, DELMIA Quintiq plays a direct role in lowering emissions from DTI’s fleet.
“Effective route planning not only saves money, but also helps reduce emissions,” LeDuc said. “The more miles we save by planning better routes, the less pollution our trucks emit, which is critical to our sustainability goals.”
Read the full story and watch the video:
https://www.3ds.com/insights/customer-stories/dot-foods
