Exel gets contract with Oxford University

Exel, the world leader in supply chain solutions, has been awarded a GBP1.3m a year contract with Oxford University Press (OUP), the world’s largest university press publisher, to provide global freight management services to and from the UK and around the globe.

Exel secured the contract with OUP following a rigorous tender process governed by OUP during the last quarter of 2002. OUP were keen to select a logistics provider that could offer a strong account management programme to oversee its supply chain combined with a mindset to look for opportunities to develop and improve its supply chain efficiency. Exel demonstrated its capabilities to deliver on both these levels and showed drive and enthusiasm to develop a working partnership with OUP.

Exel will control the movement of all inbound and outbound consignments by air and sea from the UK and around the globe to locations worldwide. Shipments will include a diverse range of educational material published by OUP from school and college textbooks through to CDs and tapes. It is estimated that Exel will ship in excess of 100 export and import consignments per month for OUP.

Exel has appointed a global account management team to work with OUP, with a dedicated operations management team based at Exel’s Birmingham office. The team at Birmingham will manage OUP’s supply chain using Exel’s ‘Control Tower’ concept. This technique involves managing complex supply chain activities through one central information and communication hub, linking activities from origin to destination.

Commenting on the appointment of Exel as its supply chain partner, Clare Oliver, Support and Development Manager, OUP says: “Exel showed clear determination and expertise during the tender process, which were key attributes OUP were looking for in a logistics partner. As the global leader in supply chain management we are confident that Exel will work to add value to our supply chain and we are certain that Exel’s global network matched with its local knowledge of market destinations will prove invaluable to OUP.”

Mark Workman, Global Account Manager for freight management at Exel, adds: “We are extremely pleased that OUP has chosen Exel as its supply chain partner and we are strongly committed to looking for innovative solutions that will bring greater efficiencies and benefits to their supply chain.”