The United States Cold Storage reputation for service in the PRW Logistics industry has grown from a long held commitment to operational excellence. We are proud of our 100 year history and our reputation for integrity and quality management. Providing "Best in Class" services is an instinct and a culture that reaches throughout the organization. It serves as a guide for all of our activities from proper product handling and storage to our ongoing environmental efforts.
Best in Class Customer Service
The USCS customer service policy is based on five guiding principles:
- Providing excellent customer service is a top priority throughout the organization.
- Senior management will encourage and support initiatives to improve customer service.
- We will continually develop and employ cutting edge IT systems thereby maintaining USCS as the proactive industry leader in anticipating evolving customer needs.
- We will recognize cost containment as crucial as USCS works to provide premium quality services at competitive rates.
- We will maintain focus of the cost competitive nature of the refrigerated logistics industry.
Best in Class Capabilities
As a premium refrigerated services provider, USCS continues to pursue a policy of aggressive investment in the modernization of existing facilities and the construction of new refrigerated centers at carefully selected strategic distribution locations across the nation.
We have maintained our industry leadership position in part, due to a strong commitment to continuous information technology (IT) advancement and heavy investment in the development and integration of refrigerated warehouse, transportation and information management systems. All USCS facilities operate on an integrated nationwide network of IBM AS400 computers with specialized software developed by a combined team of in-house and outsourced IT technicians.
The USCS WMS is enhanced with TASKMASTER, an event driven, computer directed functionality featuring radio frequency (RF) bar code scanning capability. Warehouse activity is monitored and tracked on a step-by-step basis. These records provide information for ongoing productivity analysis.
Our USCS Logistics freight consolidation and transportation management systems incorporates a comprehensive logistics support program, USCS TMS, for carrier relationship management, appointment scheduling, load tendering, efficient load building, analysis and distribution modeling and optimization. This system supports transportation management at each of our regional centers resulting in national distribution coverage.
USCS also offers eUSCOLD Online services, an Internet based information service that provides our customers with 24-hour access to inventory details, PDQ shipment status, order placement and much more. eUSCOLD Online access provides our customers with real-time inventory status and order visibility across the entire USCS Cold Chain.
RFID Services - USCS, working closely on testing and development with its technology partner, Cognizant Technology Solutions, offers USCS RFID Services and Solutions to the frozen and refrigerated food industry. This end to end distribution center service is available upon request.
USCS Best in Class Efficiency and Productivity Efforts
Versatile and flexibility is a fundamental necessity in order to be successful as a 3PL Logistics provider. It is the way of the industry and an inherent quality within our company.
Our IT systems have been designed to meet the specific requirements of the nearly 2,000 customers we serve nationwide, large and small. The system is standardized but flexible and readily modified or enhanced to meet new customer requirements.
Continuous Improvement Programs - The nature of these programs vary from client to client, but the core objective is to identify processes that can be improved or changed to result in significant overall efficiency.
USCS Best in Class Growth Initiatives and Forward Planning -
- Expansion of new facilities to meet customer needs as they grow
- Modification of facility designs from bulk warehousing to order pick/distribution with specialized racking and facility layouts.
- The construction of "Greenfield" facilities in new geographic areas to expand national distribution capabilities on behalf of existing and new customers.
- Complete redevelopment of IT systems to integrate our services.
- Nationwide RF bar code system implementation for WMS.
- Use of voice recognition technology for warehouse operations.
- Adaptation of Internet based customer service applications and full implementation.
- Adaptation toward paperless systems.
- Expansion of services to include cross docking, trans-loading and short hold storage.
- Customized just-in-time programs for raw material and ingredient supply to manufacturers.
- Development of billing systems for variable storage periods and SKU level rating.
- Development and implementation of USCS TMS for cost effective consolidated transportation programs regionally and USCS Logistics for complete refrigerated transportation services nationwide.
- Retrofit of existing facilities and redesign of newly constructed facilities with energy efficient equipment and materials as one thrust of our environmental sustainability programs.
USCS "Best in Class" activities cover a broad spectrum of management activities. All are founded strongly in the company's ongoing training and education programs for all staff.