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
