Category: News

Militzer & Münch will be present with its own stand at transport logistic 2023 in Munich, the leading trade fair of the logistics industry, from May 9 to 12, 2023.

Benefit from the expertise of our M&M specialists and experts, as well as from numerous representatives of our M&M organizations abroad, who will be happy to address individual challenges as well as your questions regarding transport handling and operations, and to discuss possible solutions with you.

Our Country Days

From Tuesday to Thursday, you have the special opportunity to receive in-depth advice on Southeast Europe, Rail, Turkey, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, North Africa and New Zealand during our Country Days.

Friday is Job & Career Day

With our presentation “Generation Z and the Millennials – Challenges for Employers”, at Campus Plaza booth B2.315/216, we will inform about the latest trends in the world of work for employers, and about career opportunities in the logistics industry.

You will find us in hall A5, booth 227.

We are looking forward to your visit!

St. Gallen, October 27, 2022. On October 11th, 2022, the new country unit Militzer & Münch New Zealand Ltd. started operations. With the first branch office in Auckland City, the Militzer & Münch network grows into the Polynesian region.

Militzer & Münch has recently started to offer its customers in New Zealand high-quality services in the air and sea freight sector. Its focus is on the import and export of various industrial goods and agricultural products. The newly founded company is part of a growth strategy, in the course of which Militzer & Münch is developing promising markets for itself.

New Zealand with its prosperous economy fits perfectly into this strategy: Due to the favourable climate, the agricultural sector thrives all year round, and agricultural products such as dairy products, wool, or meat account for a large share of exports. New Zealand is the world’s largest exporter of dairy products, for example. The island nation is largely dependent on international trade; imports include almost every industrial good.

 

Growing together

Shakir Samsudeen, 38, will head the company based in Auckland City. He is an experienced freight forwarder and knows the industry very well. The new country unit will start with three employees. it is planned to be expanded soon, however.

“The new country unit will serve many different industries, both with import and export”, says Andreas Löwenstein, Regional Managing Director Asia / Far East at Militzer & Münch. “The industrial and logistics sector in New Zealand has grown strongly in recent years and we expect this trend to continue.”

Beijing, October 25, 2022. M&M China now has an official branch office in Wuhan (population 14 million), one of the most important transportation hubs of China in terms of air and rail. It is also a connection point to different cities and seaports through inland waterways and roads.

The Wuhan branch started operating on September 1, 2022, and offers the full range of M&M services. Jacky Zhu has been appointed branch manager. Having worked in sales for M&M China for five years in Wuhan, he has built a stable customer base and is familiar with the local market.

St. Gallen, October 6, 2022. How do shippers cope with the fluctuating freight rates in logistics? The University of St. Gallen tackled this question with a diverse research consortium from the logistics industry. The result is a 132-page study that addresses challenges, practices, and instruments. Militzer & Münch participated in the study.

For several years now, Militzer & Münch has been a member of the Association of the Institute of Supply Chain Management at the University of St.Gallen. The institute regards itself as an international platform for the dialogue between science and practice in the field of Supply Chain Management. Holger Seehusen, Managing Director of M&M air sea cargo GmbH, regularly participates in various activities. For him, involvement in the study was an opportunity to demonstrate what practices shippers, forwarders and brokers can adopt to counteract volatile freight rates in logistics markets.

Volatile freight rates and sustainability

The study, titled “Managing Volatility in Logistics Markets”, examines freight rate volatility across ocean, road, rail, and air transport modes, and highlights management practices from the perspective of shippers and logistics service providers. It also provides a classification and analysis of indices and digital business models in the freight sector, thus making a significant contribution to a better understanding of the tools available on the market and their individual value propositions for shippers, forwarders and carriers.  In addition to fluctuating freight rates, sustainability concerns are also becoming increasingly important. “I am convinced that in the near future, decision-makers or customers, respectively, will not care so much whether it costs x € per kilogram, but how high the carbon footprint is in the goods procurement process,” says Holger Seehusen.

 

Workshops and interviews

After the official start of the project in August 2021, workshops were held in the following three months; the final presentation took place in December 2021. Work then started on the study. Besides the University of St. Gallen and Militzer & Münch, other logistics service providers, shippers, IT providers, and a commercial law firm were involved.

In addition to the regular exchange within the consortium, 44 interviews were conducted with logistics experts between early September and the end of November, and used as source material for the compilation of the study.

“We defined relevant criteria to determine a suitable segmentation of logistics markets,” says Prof. Dr. Erik Hofmann from the University of St. Gallen. “Based on these criteria, e.g., geographic reach, mode of transport, and carrier, we examined four relevant logistics scenarios. Our goal was for the study to provide practitioners with a basis for implementing concrete solutions.”

Interested parties can access the study free of charge via the following link:

https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/266520/

 

Supply Chain Innovation Day

Participation in the study is only part of Militzer & Münch’s commitment to the Association of the Institute of Supply Chain Management at the University of St.Gallen. In order to get young people interested in the field of logistics and to draw their attention to Militzer & Münch as an employer, Holger Seehusen was a speaker at the Supply Chain Innovation Day initiated by the University of St. Gallen in Rorschach on Lake Constance last year. Militzer & Münch was also represented there with a small information booth. This year, Eva-Charlotte Dürr, Group Project Manager Pharmaceuticals, M&M Militzer & Münch International Holding AG, Switzerland, and Vignesh Pandi, Trade Lane Manager North America Airfreight, M&M air sea cargo GmbH, Germany, participated in the Supply Chain Innovation Day on September 27.

Group Quality Manager Maximilian Kaiser is responsible for the quality management at Militzer & Münch sites all over the world. In this interview, he talks about current projects, the quality audit process, and what fascinates him about working in logistics.

 

Well, hello Mr. Kaiser, could you briefly describe what your activities for Militzer & Münch look like? What are your tasks?
The purpose of Quality Management is to ensure that consistently products and services are provided that meet customer requirements and comply with applicable laws and regulations. To this end, as Group Quality Manager, I oversee a wide variety of projects and processes. Our team consists of more than 20 Quality Managers, one for each country unit, all of which are coordinated through the holding company here in St. Gallen.
Our goals can be summarized in three key words: effectiveness, conformity and compliance. This means that, with a clear customer focus, we purposefully implement, maintain and continuously improve a quality management system, or introduce one where it does not yet exist. We solve our customers’ logistics problems effectively, comply with international standards, and meet regulatory and legal requirements. The values guiding us here are loyalty, integrity and respect.

 

What are the current projects or developments that keep you busy in Quality Management?

We passed our surveillance audit for 2022 this May. Not a single deviation from the standard was found during the external audits carried out by auditing company LRQA. At the beginning of 2023, we will then already be proceeding to the ISO 9001:2015 recertification, for which the most extensive audits ever will be carried out: our entire process landscape needs to be compliant with the standards.

In addition, we are rolling out our quality management system at other country units. We are currently seeking ISO 9001:2015 certification for our country units in Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Malaysia. A local quality manager is in charge of adapting the standards to the individual requirements of the companies and of ensuring compliance with them.
Closely linked to quality management is risk management, for which we are currently optimizing various processes throughout our country units. In cooperation with our Head of Group Controlling, I am also establishing an Environmental Management System in accordance with the international environmental management standard ISO 14001:2015. This will strengthen our ecological awareness and make it easier for our customers to take environmental factors into account in their transport operations. Our Quality, Risk and Environmental Management together will form an Integrated Management System, which we will launch in March 2023.

 

What is the procedure of a quality audit?

We select internal audits on the basis of what is known as the “risk-based approach”. With this risk-based approach, we decide on specific sites, taking into account time, success and risk factors. When were the sites last audited? How important is the site to the success of the company? By selecting which sites will the risk of quality loss be minimized? The local Quality Manager supports local management in the implementation, administration and improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS). At the same time, the team carries out audits at sites in other countries of the region. For example, a colleague from France goes to Morocco or vice versa – after all, no one should audit themselves.

Here at headquarters, we coordinate what is to be audited where and by whom. Depending on what exactly we want to check, the auditor examines various processes. Do they meet customer requirements? Are they compliant with ISO 9001:2015? The results then end up at my desk, and I analyze them in collaboration with the local Quality Manager.

 

Could you please briefly describe your professional background? Which functions did you go through at Militzer & Münch?

I majored in economics and business administration. My first point of contact with Militzer & Münch was my traineeship starting in June 2017. In Frankfurt, I was assigned to the airport, in Stockstadt, I became familiar with our road transport division, and finally, in St. Gallen, I got to know our holding company. From August 2018 to January 2022, I was Executive Assistant to the CEO and Executive Assistant to Group Management, respectively. Then, I was appointed Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors of TransInvest Holding AG. Since October 1, 2021, I have also been Group Quality Manager. In cooperation with the Institute of Supply Chain Management of the University of St. Gallen, Militzer & Münch organizes the Talent Management Program to promote our in-house prospective managers, and I am participating in this program this year. I am certified in the areas of project and environmental management, and I am also currently qualifying as a Chartered Financial Analyst.

 

What fascinates you about the logistics industry?

Our team consists of many generalists, who are also specialized. All forwarders need to be knowledgeable in a wide range of areas: They have to understand the market, know import and export flows, keep an eye on the infrastructure and the political climate of many countries. At the same time, they are specialists in their field – road transport, airfreight, sea freight or project logistics. Every day brings new challenges in an international context. The topics and tasks we deal with are always a new and exciting experience.

Ningbo, August 1, 2022. Ningbo, a major port and industrial hub in east China’s Zhejiang province, is the newest location for Militzer & Münch in China; the Ningbo branch office was opened on August 1. In line with the M&M growth strategy, M&M China is now also present in one of the economic centers southeast of the Yangtze River Delta.

The new location will help to improve the M&M network and presence in the area and aims to enhance local sales and to consistently provide diversified and high standard services to our clients.

Under branch manager Sherry Xie, the new location offers the full range of M&M services. Sherry Xie has 17 years of experience in the freight forwarding industry; she is regarded a specialist for the Middle East route, and will focus on developing the Middle Eastern, European and Southeast Asian market.

… and a new Director South China

Carl Gao, previously Branch Manager of the Shanghai office, has been appointed Regional Director South China to support business development in the region, which comprises the M&M offices in Shanghai, Ningbo, Chongqing and Shenzhen. The new function improves the management structure of the Chinese country unit.

A successor at the helm of the Shanghai branch will be appointed in the near future.

Germany is Poland’s most important trade partner, and for Germany, the partner country also ranks in the top five. Economic analyses predict that this trend will intensify in the future. Since summer 2021, the two Militzer & Münch country units have therefore strategically stepped up their cooperation in the road transport segment.

The focus is on the transport of part loads (LTL) – mainly imports from Germany to Poland. On customer request, Militzer & Münch also transports the goods as groupage. In this case, the logistics provider delivers the consignments to one of three conveniently located transshipment warehouses in Poland, and consolidates the cargo there, if needed.

While the local Militzer & Münch team takes care of coordination, organization, and customer service, partner companies handle the nationwide distribution.

Sales are increasing

“We work with partners which we select for each shipment via a scheduling software. In order to save resources, we pick up additional loads on the way, plan our transports together, and try to concentrate the coordination in the receiving country,” says Thomas Winter, Managing Director of Militzer & Münch Germany. He predicts a positive development: “The teams have always been able to react fast; they always found suitable solutions for our customers – we have received some good new orders. We are already noticing a perceptible increase in sales. I definitely see a positive development here for the future!”

St. Gallen, 13 July 2022. On July 1st, the Militzer & Münch Group took into operation the ninth M&M branch office in China. With the new office in Shenyang, the logistics company now also covers the northeast of the country.

After the opening of a branch in Chongqing at the beginning of the year, the presence in Shenyang is another milestone in Militzer & Münch’s growth strategy. With this move, the company is consolidating its network of local experts: M&M now counts 100 employees in China.

Branch manager Colon Sun will head and develop the new location. A specialist for the market in Northeast China, he has been active in the international freight forwarding industry for eleven years.

“In Colon Sun, we have won an experienced expert for our new branch office,” says Andreas Löwenstein, Militzer & Münch Regional Managing Director Asia / Far East. “We are convinced that he and his will be able to further expand our local business. With our presence in the northeast of the country, we can now also offer our customers diversified, high-quality services in that area.”

 

Shenyang – center of heavy industry

Nine million people live in the metropolis of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province and one of China’s most important heavy industry centers. With its proximity to the modern port city of Dalian, its links to the country’s three northeastern provinces and to the neighboring economic zones to the south and east, Shenyang is a major transportation hub.

By plane from Belgium to China: M&M air sea cargo GmbH ensured an urgent transport of large ship parts with an unusual loading strategy.

A Bremen-based company, an existing Militzer & Münch customer, had manufactured two hull elements, weighing about ten tons in total, exclusively for a shipyard in Shanghai. The shipyard needed the structural elements on a certain day in order to be able to flood the dock after their assembly and to start the final shipbuilding work on time. For the tightly scheduled delivery, air freight was the only option.

“Safety first” applies in the air

In order to ensure safe transport, the team from M&M air sea cargo GmbH had the two five-meter-long, three-meter-wide and over two-meter-high components picked up by low-loader in northern Germany and transported to a company specializing in packaging.

With the components secured with lashing straps on custom-made wooden flooring, the cargo was then trucked to Liège, Belgium. From there, onward transportation was by air. The ship elements thus reached their destination (a distance of 8,963 kilometers) in just over eleven hours instead of the 35 days minimum by the significantly longer sea route. For the Militzer & Münch team, the order ended at Shanghai airport – import customs clearance and delivery to the shipyard were handled by the consignee’s freight forwarder.

“For us, this was a rather unusual shipment. Nevertheless, everything went smoothly and we were able to meet all deadlines,” says Santino-Emanuel Hormuth, Branch Manager M&M air sea cargo GmbH Frankfurt. “The team did a great job.”

Katja Jooß betreut das Controlling sowie die SAP-Entwicklung in der MMcom-Niederlassung im bayerischen Hof. 2021 feierte sie ihr 25-jähriges Dienstjubiläum. Im Interview berichtet sie, wie sich die Arbeit im vergangenen Vierteljahrhundert verändert hat, und was ihr an Militzer & Münch sowie der Logistikbranche gefällt.

Frau Jooß, bitte beschreiben Sie kurz Ihren beruflichen Werdegang. Welche Funktionen haben Sie bei Militzer & Münch durchlaufen?

Ich habe zunächst eine Ausbildung zur Speditionskauffrau gemacht. Anschließend bin ich in der Verwaltung geblieben und war dann einige Zeit im Controlling tätig. Ich übernahm dann nach und nach die Verantwortung für die Entwicklung und Pflege unseres SAP-Systems. Dazu gehören die Benutzer- und Berechtigungspflege, der Anwendersupport in Deutschland und Dubai sowie Supportaufgaben im Controlling. Das ist seit über 20 Jahren ein ständiger Lern- und Entwicklungsprozess, da sich im SAP-Bereich immer wieder neue Projekte, gesetzliche Vorgaben und Herausforderungen ergeben.

Wie hat sich Militzer & Münch in den vergangenen 25 Jahren verändert?

Als ich 1996 anfing, waren Computer noch eine Seltenheit. Im ersten Ausbildungsjahr hatte ich wenig Kontakt mit einem PC. Damals wurde eher mit Akten gearbeitet. Ich war zum Beispiel dafür zuständig, die abweichenden Zeiten der Mitarbeiter, die sich mit Lochkarten im Zeiterfassungsgerät „einstempelten“, nachzupflegen. Das war ein großer Kasten mit einem Ziffernblock zur Eingabe und einem kleinen Bildschirm – heute ist das fast nicht mehr vorstellbar. Alles ist digitalisiert, und die Militzer & Münch-Landesgesellschaften und Büros sind weltweit eng vernetzt. Kunden können ihre Transporte in Echtzeit nachverfolgen. Militzer & Münch ist zu einem modernen Unternehmen gewachsen, aber trotzdem bodenständig geblieben.

Was schätzen Sie an Militzer & Münch?

Das Umfeld, die Arbeitsbedingungen, die Kollegen und die Chefs stimmen einfach. Es gibt neben den gleichbleibenden Aufgaben auch immer wieder neue Herausforderungen und Projekte. Ich kann selbstständig arbeiten, habe aber trotzdem immer die nötige Unterstützung. Militzer & Münch ist ein bodenständiges Traditionsunternehmen. Das passt zu mir.
Wir haben hier in Hof schon seit 25 Jahren Gleitzeit. Hinzu kommt die Möglichkeit, im Homeoffice zu arbeiten, für die ich sehr dankbar bin. Dadurch sind Arbeit und Familie auch während der Zeit im Lockdown gut vereinbar gewesen.

Was fasziniert Sie an der Logistik-Branche?

Ohne Logistik bewegt sich nichts auf der Welt. Es beeindruckt mich, wenn ich im Intranet unsere Sondertransporte verfolge. Wie zum Beispiel große Maschinenteile oder sogar ganze Anlagen von einem an das andere Ende der Welt bewegt werden und wie die einzelnen Militzer & Münch Gesellschaften dabei Hand in Hand arbeiten, finde ich faszinierend.

Was machen Sie in Ihrer Freizeit?

Ich bin verheiratet und habe zwei Kinder. Mein Mann und ich gehen gerne in die Natur, wandern und unternehmen viel mit den Kindern. Auch Reisen und Skifahren stehen ganz oben auf unserer Liste. Hier in Hof ist es sehr schön, wir können im Sommer im Mittelgebirge wandern und im Winter Ski fahren. Alles ist in kurzer Zeit erreichbar, es gibt einen schönen See und auch kulturell hat die Region viel zu bieten. Darüber hinaus bin ich seit vielen Jahren ehrenamtlich in der Leichtathletik tätig – früher aktiv und heute als Abteilungsleiterin, Trainerin und im Vorstand.

How to stand out from the huge number of companies in order to attract highly qualified young people and keep them in the company for the long term? A challenge that the TransInvest Group, parent company of Militzer & Münch, meets with its Talent Management Programme.

 

The TransInvest Group has provided for the future: eleven years ago, in 2011, it launched the group-wide Talent Management Programme (TMP) to promote its own young talents. This year, 21 promising young talents are taking part in the exclusive junior staff development program, which TransInvest organizes in cooperation with the University of St. Gallen Institute of Supply Chain Management.

“We are proud to offer this training opportunity to our young talents and thus to be able to fill vacant top positions with junior managers from our own ranks”, says Alexei Kovalenko, Chief Financial Officer, TransInvest and Militzer & Münch, and speaker of the Militzer & Münch Group Management.

The majority of the participants, 13 of the hopefuls, come from different Militzer & Münch country units. In late April, during the first part of the in-service module series, they were able to get to know the Swiss headquarters in St. Gallen in addition to the campus. Alexei Kovalenko and Ralph Stadler, Head HR TransInvest Holding AG, welcomed the participants and presented the course of events. During the three-day module, the participants focused on Controlling, Supply Chain Resilience and Process Management. Christoph Hollenstein, Head of Group Controlling Militzer & Münch, gave exemplary insights into controlling at TransInvest. Guest lecturers from renowned companies and university chairs provided the corresponding scientific background and addressed current challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and delays in global supply chains.

“The discourse that emerges from the input of our junior staff and the multifaceted experience of external managers is a very effective way of meeting today’s shift in values with the right answers, and maintaining innovative strength and competitiveness,” says Alexei Kovalenko.

In addition to interactive group tasks, the shared evening activities promoted cohesion, and encouraged not only strategic and business-related discussions but also personal exchanges.

The participants will complete two further modules over the course of the year, partly online and partly on site in Istanbul, and conclude their training with a group presentation. After that, the young talents will support management in various country organizations in identifying interesting opportunities and expanding business locally.