Cat Logistics Opens Manitowoc Distribution Center

The Manitowoc Company and Caterpillar Logistics Services (Cat Logistics), have celebrated the grand opening of a parts distribution facility in southern Indiana. The 141,000-square-foot logistics facility will serve as the master distribution center for the former’s crane parts to dealers primarily in the Americas region but also on a worldwide basis.

As part of the multi-year agreement, the latter provides operations, records accuracy, transportation services and account management. Cat Logistics will employ 45 people at the Indiana operation when the facility is fully operational.

The facility consolidates Manitowoc’s previous US warehouse operations in Manitowoc, WI, and Shady Grove, PA, into a single facility more centrally located for dealers and customers.

“We expect logistics to reach the next level and become best in class thanks to this new distribution center. The goal of this new facility is to improve service to our customers and reduce our costs. We need to do both in order to remain competitive in this challenging market. The proximity of one of the largest air and ground shipping hubs in North America was a contributing factor in the selection of Jeffersonville as a location for the distribution center,” said Eric Etchart, VP, The Manitowoc Company, President, Manitowoc Cranes.

Manitowoc anticipates the benefits of the Cat Logistics operations management to be:

· Improved customer service and consolidated ordering

· Later cut off time for parts orders reducing expedited freight service

· 70 percent of crane customers reached within 2 days versus 50 percent today

· Increased inventory accuracy

· Enabled inbound quality inspection

· Facilitation of common warehouse Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and continuous improvement processes

· One common order process for dealers across multiple Manitowoc brands

Caterpillar Logistics, logistics.cat.com