When TLC invested in ITLX we saw a management team with entrepreneurial spirit, vision and drive. Their first project which involved TLC confirms ITLX’s ability to perform and achieve.

First major ITLX project: A major international automotive aftermarket supplier needed to completely rethink a regional battery distribution network. Changes in production locations, shifting demographics and the evolving face of automotive parts retailing left them with an outmoded distribution system.

A new concept was required. ITLX and TLC, working with the customer, crafted a solution that replaced three separate transportation networks with a single, innovative solution.

Moving batteries is specialized work. This problem however was more complex. Store personnel dealing with heavy items had long been a retailing concern. There was also the costs and risks of removing old batteries. Used, sometimes hazardous cells must be disposed of in a prescribed manner. Lastly, there was a need to serve regional retail distribution centers. The successful solution needed to deliver both increased service levels and lowered costs. ITLX chose owner / operators for this assignment, both for their higher skill levels and their vested financial commitment in this complex implementation.

Located in Winston-Salem NC, this new ITLX operation is near both the production facility and regional retailers. Described as a “high-touch” approach, batteries are delivered directly onto the sales floor with store-ready pallets via specialized trucks and equipment. The same drivers also collect used batteries, performing a reverse logistics function. Elements of this fleet also service regional distribution centers, making the need for separate fleets redundant. The net savings and increased service levels have been substantial. This partnership enables ITLX to access previously unavailable resources and allows TLC to assist in operations that expand our core competencies and add ongoing value to our customers’ supply chains.

For complex, multi-vendor solutions TLC is your Supply Chain One.

For more information on TLC Retail supply chain services, please complete the form below, or contact your TLC representative.