In the interests of improving
service levels, staff based
in the Zambian offices
of Cargo Management &
Logistics (CML) are visiting the
major ports of entry.
“This
gives them
first-hand
experience
of the
conditions in
the ports and
provides the
opportunity
to meet the
shipping line
agents and customs officials,”
says CML’s Rainer Frick.
CML management and staff
travel along the main trade
routes to the ports in order to
experience the whole logistics
value chain.
Staff who have been on these
educational visits are now more
able to understand where and
what causes these delays and
in turn be better informed to
explain these to the customers.
According to Frick, the
team is also able to handle the
growing volumes
being managed
by CML.
“At the
moment copper
is doing well, but
we are seeing
growth across
the market.
Volumes of
agricultural
produce are expanding. Imports
are also doing well and volumes
of construction materials are
also increasing,” he says.
CML routes cargo through all
the main ports serving Zambia
on both the east and west coasts.
With 13 offices in Zambia,
employing more than 50 staff,
the company is also able to cater
for an increased demand for
local cargo movements.
“We are able to help clients
reduce costs on local and
transhipment cargo,” he says.
Strong links and synergies
between CML in Zambia and
the company’s headquarters
in the United Kingdom mean
it can advise importers and
exporters on both continents
of the most cost-effective way
of moving cargo. All offices are
linked, making contact and
the exchange of information
immediate.
Many of the procedures
and systems in place in the
UK, implemented as part of
their ISO 9001 accreditation,
are used in the Zambian
offices and staff from the UK
regularly visit.
INSERT & CAPTION
Educational visits enable
staff to understand where
and what causes delays.
– Rainer Frick
