The Edelman Award is considered the highest honour in the field of operations research, the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods, such as modelling, to help make better decisions. TNT Express routinely uses such tools to enhance its transportation networks, resulting in more efficient routes and lower mileage.
"We are delighted to receive this award, which testifies to the sophistication and efficiency of TNT’s operations," said TNT Express Managing Director Global Networks and Operations Chris Goossens (see video). "Using operations research helps TNT save costs, improve service to customers and develop managers’ skills."
The awarded GO program covers multiple aspects of TNT’s operations, including site location planning, optimal truck routing, fleet management and staff scheduling. TNT Express carried out 200 network optimisation projects in 2011. Since 2005, TNT Express has saved 60 million kilometres of mileage and 54 million kg of CO2 emissions by optimising its domestic networks in Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
In order to meet the demand for qualified operation managers, TNT Express has teamed up with the Tilburg University/TiasNimbas Business School (Netherlands) to create the GO Academy, a two-year management development program in transportation network optimization. Since 2008, the training has been delivered to more than 200 managers from TNT.
The five other finalists competing in the 2012 Franz Edelman Award Competition were Carlson Hotels; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Danaos Corporation; Hewlett-Packard and Intel. More information about the award is available at the INFORMS website.
