{"id":24411,"date":"2026-02-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/?p=24411"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:13:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:13:35","slug":"smarter-routes-bigger-impact-how-a-new-milk-run-slashed-costs-and-co%e2%82%82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/2026\/02\/smarter-routes-bigger-impact-how-a-new-milk-run-slashed-costs-and-co%e2%82%82\/","title":{"rendered":"Smarter Routes, Bigger Impact: How a New Milk Run Slashed Costs and CO\u2082"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-cnvs-paragraph-callout wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>What started as a cross\u2011border logistics challenge quickly became a blueprint for smarter, greener supply chains. By rethinking how goods move between Italy and Germany, a cross-functional team unlocked major savings and cut CO\u2082 emissions by more than 90 percent.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For several months, a cross-functional team spanning five sites in Italy and Germany worked toward a shared goal: optimizing the logistics flow between the two countries. The outcome exceeded expectations on several fronts, demonstrating the power of collaboration across locations and business divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initiative generated major annual savings, outperforming initial projections through smarter transport routes and improved pricing structures. At the same time, the project delivered substantial environmental benefits. By integrating HVO\u2013powered trucks (HVO \/ Hydrotreated vegetable oil) and expanding the use of intermodal rail transport, CO\u2082 emissions dropped by more than 90 percent, equivalent to roughly 26 metric tons per year. The redesign also cut annual travel distances by about 75,000 kilometers, further increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The overarching objective was clear: launch the optimized logistics flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Redesigning a Complex Transport System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To build a more efficient system, the team conducted a thorough analysis of the previous year\u2019s shipping data, evaluating load dimensions, stackability rules, and special transport requirements. Historically, two suppliers handled routes between six locations: Dynamic Sealing PP Powertrain Pinerolo, AC Metals Luserna, LC Metals Weinheim, CC Mixing Weinheim, and distribution centers in both Italy and Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seeking the best combination of service quality and cost performance, the team invited bids from Freudenberg\u2011approved suppliers. Ultimately, transport company IKG was selected for its competitive pricing and sustainability\u2011focused transport solutions, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Intermodal transport, split 50 percent by road and 50 percent by rail<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HVO\u2013powered trucks, reducing carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to diesel vehicles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From Daily Shuttles to a Smarter Milk\u2011Run System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The previous logistics model relied on multiple daily shuttles between Italy and Germany &#8211; an approach that was often underutilized and expensive. The new system introduced two major changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shipment consolidation, reducing the number of weekly shuttles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implementation of a milk\u2011run model, enabling coordinated loading and unloading along a fixed route<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This redesigned approach not only meets the operational needs of the plants but also significantly reduces costs and environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis project shows the power of true cross\u2011functional teamwork,\u201d said Simona Lisdero, Global SCM LC Metals. \u201cBy aligning our Italian and German teams around a shared goal, we were able not only to exceed our cost\u2011saving targets but also to significantly reduce our environmental impact. I\u2019m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together &#8211; it\u2019s a model for how we can innovate our supply chain globally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One year after go\u2011live, the results go without saying: the process is stable, efficient, and delivers clear savings and optimizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>A Team Effort Across Borders<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1160\" height=\"968\" src=\"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-1160x968.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-1160x968.png 1160w, https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-800x667.png 800w, https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-120x100.png 120w, https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-90x75.png 90w, https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-320x267.png 320w, https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814-560x467.png 560w, https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Snimek-obrazovky-2026-02-06-170814.png 1242w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1160px) 100vw, 1160px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project was led by <strong>Simona Lisdero (Global SCM LC Metals)<\/strong> with strong support from colleagues across Italy, including <strong>Deborah Rostaing (Lean Manager, AC Metals)<\/strong>, <strong>Reusa Elia (SCM Specialist)<\/strong>, <strong>Alessandro Rostagno (Shipping Office Manager, DCI)<\/strong>, <strong>Laura Griglio (Head of Warehousing Dynamic Sealing PP Powertrain)<\/strong>, <strong>Diego Rostagno (SCM Dynamic Sealing PP Powertrain)<\/strong>, and <strong>Federico Coucourde (SCM Dynamic Sealing LC HD)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the German side, contributors included Ingo <strong>Prause (Regional SCM)<\/strong>, Stefan <strong>Findeisen (Director Global SCM CC Mixing)<\/strong>, and <strong>Patricia Tecl (Senior Expert SCM)<\/strong>. Later in the process, <strong>Michalec Ondrej (Category Buyer Logistics and Packaging \u2013 Corporate Procurement)<\/strong> played an essential role in supplier negotiations and in coordinating efforts between the Italian and German teams.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pld-like-dislike-wrap pld-template-1\">\r\n    <div class=\"pld-like-wrap  pld-common-wrap\">\r\n    <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"pld-like-trigger pld-like-dislike-trigger  \" title=\"\" data-post-id=\"24411\" data-trigger-type=\"like\" data-restriction=\"ip\" data-already-liked=\"0\">\r\n                        <i class=\"fas fa-thumbs-up\"><\/i>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n    <span class=\"pld-like-count-wrap pld-count-wrap\">    <\/span>\r\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What started as a cross\u2011border logistics challenge quickly became a blueprint for smarter, greener supply chains. By rethinking how goods move between Italy and Germany, a cross-functional team unlocked major&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":24410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1363,1576,274],"tags":[],"powerkit_post_featured":[],"class_list":["post-24411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-operational-excellence-en","category-supply-chain-management","category-sustainability"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24411"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24412,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24411\/revisions\/24412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24411"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sw.fst.com\/magazine\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=24411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}