CANON BUSINESS PROCESS SERVICES

CEO Views has named Canon Business Process  Services (Canon) as one of the “Top 50 Most Innovative Companies to Watch 2021”. This is the second  year in a row that the publication has recognized  Canon for its innovative and holistic approach—spanning people,process and technology—in delivering business  process outsourcing services.  

For over 30 years Canon has placed a premium on innovation in helping clients enable business agility, digital transformation and lead an increasingly evolving workforce. Canon solves these challenges by leveraging its experienced team  backed by Six Sigma expertise and best-in-class technology.  

Many businesses are looking to fundamentally transform  their operations by automating workflows and leveraging  other technology advancements,” says Joe Marciano,  president and CEO of Canon Business Process Services.  In response to these forces for change, we continue to  apply innovative thinking and our holistic approach to help clients improve their business processes and streamline operational efficiency.

Indeed, Canon’s methodology continues to garner industry  recognition. For example, the International Association of  Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) named Canon to its Global  Outsourcing 100 list for past 15 years in a row. According to  IAOP, the Global Outsourcing 100 is an essential reference  for organizations seeking relationships with the best outsourcing companies. Canon earned additional IAOP  Global Outsourcing 100 recognition last year by receiving top  honors in five special judging categories. One of these, most  notably, was “Programs for Innovation,” which recognizes a  company’s ability to implement solutions that produce new  forms of value for customers.  

One such advanced program is Canon Warehouse and  Distribution Center services. Labor constraints, e-commerce growth, digital transformation, and the need for better perfor mance monitoring have been top-of-mind issues for logistics  and supply chain managers for several years now. When the  global pandemic emerged—bringing with it supply chain disruptions and new requirements such as workplace social distancing—the need to transform existing warehouse opera tions, as well as launch new distribution centers, accelerated  dramatically.  

The foundation of Canon’s offering is  a comprehensive, integrated warehouse and distribution solution that spans distribution and inventory  management, warehousing workforce  management and business support services

In response, warehouses began hiring more people,  addressing customers’ immediate needs, and paying attention to safety stock levels. With an eye on maximizing output  while also adhering to new regulations, more supply chain  and business leaders found themselves needing an experienced managed services partner to identify efficiency gaps  and improve overall operations. 

“With their essential warehouses at maximum output, companies need better operational efficiency and streamlined solutions,” notes Joe Marciano. “At the same time, a lot of  facilities have been ramping up their e-commerce style  networks in order to meet the needs of their customers.”  

The latter is particularly relevant in an environment where  more consumers are buying online and picking up at the  curb—a movement that was already in full swing prior to the  pandemic, but that’s since ramped up significantly. By  combining people, processes, technology and analytics, a  managed services provider such as Canon can help compa nies across the spectrum deal with their individual challenges. 

The foundation of Canon’s offering is a comprehensive,integrated warehouse and distribution solution that spans distribution and inventory management, warehousing work force management and business support services. “Companies that are ready to align with a management services  provider should start by conducting an objective assessment  of their operations to identify the gaps and areas in need of  improvement,” advises Joe Tague, director of business appli cations. “Operational areas where visibility is low and key  performance indicators (KPIs) are difficult to track, for  instance, are probably prime candidates for improvement  supported by a reputable managed services provider.” When  selecting your partner, Tague suggests looking for these key attributes: 

A trained labor pool.

You don’t want a partner that just certifies forklift drivers and then lets them loose on your ware house floor, Tague cautions, noting that Canon provides  intensive training sessions for these and other warehouse  employees. It starts with a general warehousing overview,  and then more industry-specific training, safety training (i.e.,on personal protective equipment usage), and other core  modules. 

Willingness to take on an active management role.

Where  temp agencies send workers to the warehouse to cover open positions on a “temporary basis,” the best managed services providers step into an active management role and cover the complete hiring and training process. “Look for a partner that  will be contractually responsible for the flexing up and down of  your workforce,” says Tague, “so that all you have to worry  about is getting your products made, fulfilled, and shipped on  time.” 

Data and KPIs that feed incremental and overall improvements.

Look for a partner that understands the technology and equipment that’s suited for your operating environment. At  minimum, the company should be able to prove that it has a  host of skill sets and tools that are applicable in your operation.  A retailer whose e-commerce orders fluctuate depending on  seasonality, for example, would benefit from having historical  data on its desired inventory levels for high-demand items. “You want to be prepared for dips in supply or spikes in  production,” says Tague, “and your managed services partner  should be using historical trend data to help deal with those ebbs and flows.”

A commitment to safety.

The potential partners you’re talking  to must incorporate safety as part of their initial employee  onboarding process. If not, it’s time to look for another  managed services provider. “Safety should always be the  number one priority for any warehouse,” says Tague. “There  has to be day-to-day progress on your safety goals; it can’t just  be a weekly or monthly safety meeting.”Canon’s onboarding program,for instance,includes numerous safety courses that incorporate both operational ergonomics and a facility hazard  analysis. 

“Canon warehouse and distribution center services demon strate how we are leveraging innovation to help our clients  address current challenges and better prepare for the future,”  says Joe Marciano. He adds that whatever their business  needs, Canon’s mission is to help ensure that its clients are  ready to succeed in the days ahead.  

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