Mattel values long-term shipping partners

   The head of international logistics for toy manufacturing giant Mattel said his company looks for long-term partnerships with ocean carriers and places a premium on efficiency during the Christmas season.
   “We have industry-specific needs,” said Curt White, Mattel’s senior vice president of worldwide logistics and international operations, in the CMA CGM company magazine’s winter issue. “Obviously we need to run our operations as efficiently as possible during periods of peak demand. For a toymaker, the Christmas season is the biggest peak, and it takes a lot of attention and planning. A delay in delivery – even just a few hours – can mean lost sales.”
   White said Mattel seeks out carriers who introduce new ideas that can give the company a competitive edge over its rivals.
   “We look for value, a combination of parameters that include cost, quality, service, technology, and innovation,” White said. “We appreciate being challenged, trying new ideas, and studying innovative ways of doing business.
   “We’re very happy when our partners propose best practices that will make our processes even better and give us a competitive edge. We don’t want partners that just move containers around. We’re looking for long-term relationships, built on trust, that deliver measurable value,” he said.