Harkness Wilder

Advancing Your Supply Chain

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Harkness Wilder and Gladson Announce Strategic Alliance
 to Deliver Improved Logistics Strategies

Evanston, Ill. and Lisle Ill., September 15, 2009--- Harkness Wilder, a consulting firm focusing on designing and implementing business process improvements in supply chain management, and Gladson, the leading provider of product images, product information and category management services, have announced a strategic alliance to deliver improved logistics strategies to the consumer packaged goods industry.

Harkness Wilder’s services specifically target improvement opportunities across the supply chain, such as reduced costs, improved service, increased productivity, and more efficient processes and controls.  The company’s practice areas include sourcing, demand planning, inventory management, distribution network design, warehouse operations and transportation management.

Gladson’s Certified Master Data Program provides data on outer dimensions, weights, marking, labeling and bar code information for cases, inner-packs and retail units. This product information helps manufacturers streamline internal operations and support data exchange with trading partners to simultaneously build trust and eliminate the need for costly manual verification.  This data can ensure that Harkness Wilder’s clients are working with the most accurate and complete information in the development of their logistics strategies.

“Our clients see logistics as a competitive weapon,” said Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of Gladson.  “Harkness Wilder’s expertise in transportation planning and warehouse development in conjunction with Gladson’s highly-accurate product master data will create solutions that deliver real value across the supply chain.”

“Harkness Wilder’s consulting services depend on the accuracy of case-level data to ensure the quickest and most efficient evaluations of logistics activities for their clients, and the most accurate results,” Julie Forgash, CEO of Harkness Wilder said. “Gladson is already the leader in data management for space planning and on-line shopping. Their services at the case-level will be a tremendous advantage to our clients as we help them with logistics planning.”

About Harkness Wilder:

Harkness Wilder (www.harknessw.com), headquartered in Evanston, Ill., provides consulting services for business process improvements across the supply chain.  Founded in 1998, the company works to reduce costs, improve service, and increase productivity for clients of all industries seeking to improve the cost- and service-effectiveness of their supply chain. Harkness Wilder has completed engagements for companies in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, printing and publishing, packaging, construction materials, major appliances, telecommunications, furniture, electronics, utilities, energy, transportation, and other industries.

About Gladson:

Gladson (www.gladson.com), headquartered in Lisle, Ill., is a leading provider of category management services to consumer packaged goods manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and brokers. The company’s core focus is on collecting primary information and package images of consumer products for a wide range of uses, including shelf space management, category management, logistics, advertising and e-commerce applications such as online shopping. The company also provides data analysis, consulting, and in-store merchandising solutions that support successful planogram implementation as well as store design services.

 

"We focus on improving and aligning the key elements that comprise effective supply chain strategy and daily activities: costs structures, processes and procedures, organizational model, measurements and information technology."

Julie Forgash, CEO