When businesses are merged or acquired by another organization, changes often take place immediately. Resources of the organizations must be integrated seamlessly, limiting disruption in the flow of the supply chain.

In the case of Unilever Bestfoods (UBF), DSC Logistics helped to streamline the new supply chain in only a few months with major changes in three key locations:

• Consolidating Bestfoods and Unilever (Lipton) operations from two locations into one. DSC managed the risk of the move from one of our Logistics Centers in Illinois to another, transporting and handling over 15,000 pallets. We also provided seamless service to UBF’s customers by expediting shipments of product between the two locations.

• Taking over operations in California from another provider. DSC was already managing the Lipton business in northern California, while another 3PL handled Bestfoods and a third DC handled specialty markets. Under DSC’s leadership all of these operations were rolled into one DSC Logistics Center.

• Starting up a second California location. Lipton was not a presence in southern California and Bestfoods was operating out of their manufacturing facility. The solution was to close the company DC and start up a new DSC Logistics Center.

Prepared to deploy resources wherever they’re needed, we approached this start-up like we always do, with a series of teams recruited for their expertise and their ability to provide speed, continuity and stability. In the case of Bestfoods and Lipton, when the operation was ready to roll, we sent in the SCOUTs, (Supply Chain On-site Unification Teams), to make sure the operation ran smoothly—right from the start. The SCOUTs, DSC employees at all levels from hourly to manager, are always on call and prepared for a situation like this. Our consistent processes allow us to have this flexibility.

DSC also provided leadership of the supply chain transformation in systems integration. We handled the administration of the entire transportation system. And, we managed the conversion—in just one weekend—from the two different systems used by Lipton and Bestfoods to one: one order, one shipment, one invoice.

We were able to meet every one of their time commitments and Unilever, Bestfoods and Lipton were able to reach their goal: a successfully streamlined supply chain.