Milbon, Rohto Pharmaceutical, and Haleon Japan announced on October 8th that, with the cooperation of Toyo Warehouse, they have begun joint delivery operations since August as part of their efforts to improve logistics efficiency with the aim of building a sustainable supply chain.
<Stacking example: Top row contains Rohto Pharmaceutical products, bottom row contains Milbon products>
<Joint delivery scheme>
The joint delivery scheme addresses various constraints for each company, such as pallet size, transport volume, and product safety issues. This involves selecting products suitable for joint delivery, verifying loading techniques, and conducting quality tests. By connecting manufacturing sites and warehouses in a relay system, the system maximizes loading efficiency and ensures smooth operation even during long-distance transport, including driver switches.
In terms of specific effects (implementing joint deliveries once a week), the loading rate is expected to improve by 13.7% (average 66.5% → 75.6%), the transportation efficiency will be reduced by 102 trucks/year (67.1%), the total transportation distance will be reduced by 15,428 km/year (38.6%), and CO₂ emissions will be reduced by 13.3 t-CO₂/year (32.8%).
Furthermore, the company reports an 18.4% cost reduction and a 19.2% improvement in the cost per trip through improved transportation efficiency. It also states that this will contribute to mutual assistance and an improvement in the employment environment for drivers.
Looking ahead, we plan to increase the frequency of this scheme from once a month to once a week to establish regular and stable operation. At the same time, we aim to expand our bases by increasing the number of partner companies, leveraging the success stories and know-how gained from this initiative.
Furthermore, the company will promote logistics DX, including the automation of time schedules, to optimize loading rates and further reduce manpower. By expanding these efforts to upstream raw material and supply procurement logistics, inbound logistics, and downstream sales logistics, the company aims to contribute to improving the sustainability of the entire supply chain and addressing social and environmental issues.
