The courier company TNT Express has received a prestigious award in recognition of the results of its “GO – Global Optimisation” program. This program uses advanced operations research methods (including mathematical modeling) to design and optimize transport systems. The award was presented by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS®) in Huntington Beach (USA).
The Edelman Award is the highest honor in the field of advanced analytical techniques supporting decision-making processes. TNT Express uses such tools to develop its own transport networks while maintaining maximum service efficiency at an optimal cost level.
– The award confirms the highest level and operational efficiency of TNT – said Chris Goossens, Managing Director Global Networks and Operations, TNT Express. – Operations research allows us to reduce costs, improve service quality, and develop managerial skills.
The awarded “Global Optimisation” program covers many aspects of TNT’s operations, including location planning, route optimization, fleet management, and personnel management. In 2011 alone, TNT Express carried out 200 optimization projects. For example, thanks to GO solutions implemented since 2005 in distribution networks in Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, the company reduced vehicle mileage by approximately 60 million km and limited CO2 emissions by 54 million kg.
To meet the demand for qualified transport operations managers, TNT Express, in cooperation with the Dutch university Tilburg University TiasNimbas Business School, created the GO Academy: a two-year management study program in the field of transport network optimization and operational processes. Since 2008, over 200 TNT managers have completed the training.
The other finalists of this year’s Franz Edelman Award were: Carlson Hotels, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Danaos Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, and Intel.