Why a 100-Year-Old Manufacturing and Wholesale Company Elevated Logistics to a Core Management Issue

STUDIO ZERO, an internal venture organization of Plaid Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenta Kurahashi), has published a dialogue with three leaders from the Corporate Planning and Purchasing/Logistics departments of Kawamoto Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Osaka; President: Makoto Fukui): Mr. Yasuaki Yoshida, Mr. Hiroaki Hirata, and Mr. Takahiro Kawai.

Kawamoto Sangyo, a manufacturer and wholesaler of medical and hygiene products with over 100 years of history, has built trust by sincerely responding to customer needs for many years. However, facing external environmental changes such as the '2024 problem' in the logistics industry and rising costs, the company has now embarked on a structural 'logistics reform.'

Moving from the traditional 'just transport it' logistics to 'designed logistics' based on data.

STUDIO ZERO of Plaid Inc. is providing hands-on support as a partner in this transformation.

Why did a historic company decide on structural logistics reform now? And what is the full scope of the project that combines data analysis with deep on-site involvement? They discussed their thoughts on logistics reform and future prospects.

[Key Personnel] - Yasuaki Yoshida: Managing Director, Corporate Planning & Management, Kawamoto Sangyo - Hiroaki Hirata: Executive Officer, General Manager of Purchasing & Logistics, Kawamoto Sangyo - Takahiro Kawai: General Manager, Purchasing & Logistics, Kawamoto Sangyo - Atsushi Ueda: Senior Business Architect, .Logi Business Manager, Plaid/STUDIO ZERO - Shintaro Ueda: Associate Business Architect, .Logi, Plaid/STUDIO ZERO

[Table of Contents] 1. Management issues highlighted by rising logistics costs 2. From 'outsourced' logistics to 'designed' logistics 3. Why we chose 'hands-on support' to accelerate reform 4. To continue meeting customer needs

Other case studies of '.Logi,' a hands-on logistics value creation service provided by Plaid's STUDIO ZERO, are available on our website. '.Logi' provides hands-on consulting that optimizes the entire logistics process with a focus on the consumer perspective. Our members, who have over 20 years of experience in building logistics for over 1,000 companies, propose efficient and sustainable GX logistics strategies to accelerate your company's competitiveness through logistics.