Quality management in logistics: How Emons simplifies and standardizes audits with cluetec

“The satisfied customer of today secures the turnover of tomorrow” – Willi and Peter Emons gave their forwarding company this entrepreneurial maxim almost 100 years ago. It still shapes the actions of the Cologne-based logistics and transport company today: “Delivering quality is in Emons’ DNA,” says Gunnar Stellmacher, who is responsible for quality management and sustainability at the logistics professional. “We also wanted to have this certified.” This is why Emons began to develop its quality and environmental management system in accordance with the ISO framework 20 years ago. While ISO 9001 helps to systematically improve quality processes, ISO 14001 aims to reduce environmental impact. Today, ten Emons locations are ISO-certified. More are in the pipeline.

“For the first audits, we were out and about with a clipboard, paper and pen and then transferred the results to Excel by hand,” recalls Gunnar Stellmacher. The team used an MEL template – a template for “Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning”, i.e. for the structured recording of observations and evaluation of audit results. Emons documented actions in Excel spreadsheets. The logistics company organized deadlines and responsibilities via Outlook. A Polaroid camera provided faithful service for photo documentation. “The classic example of media breaks,” states Gunnar Stellmacher.

Tracking defined actions was also time-consuming. “When we were still logging our inspections as continuous text, the text also contained tasks and deadlines,” reports Gunnar Stellmacher. A deviation resulted in several work steps, which the team tried to handle using Word and Excel. However, it was not until the switch from Microsoft Office to cluetec Audit (formerly mQuest) that the desired efficiency was achieved. Today, Emons has reduced its audit workload by 30 percent.

“There are two things we particularly appreciate about working with cluetec Audit: the reduction of media breaks and the ability to work collaboratively,” says Gunnar Stellmacher. Emons now takes photos directly via cluetec Audit: For example, if the team checks whether traffic routes are free of tripping hazards, they can immediately mark the affected area in the image. This makes it clear to everyone what the note refers to. Employees also record notes and assessments directly in the system – without the need for pen and paper or tedious transferring.

Emons also benefits from the collaborative functions of the audit platform: everyone involved has access to the same level of information

regardless of location. Actions can be assigned centrally, assigned deadlines and tracked automatically. “This ensures that no task is lost and that everyone knows exactly who is doing what and by when,” explains Gunnar Stellmacher.

In addition to system audits in accordance with ISO 9001 and 14001, Emons also uses cluetec Audit for inspections in the area of occupational safety. The basis for this is a comprehensive inspection catalog with over 100 points – from the number of first aiders and the provision of first aid kits to the question of whether safety signs meet the requirements of the Workplace Ordinance. Structural aspects are also included in the audit: for example, whether the surface condition of parking areas for semi-trailers and swap bodies is correct. Or whether operating instructions are available for third-party machines.

Regardless of whether the audit takes place in Bavaria or Brandenburg – all results are centralized in the platform. “In cluetec Audit, I can filter by location or subject area and display the degree of compliance for each individual point in the audit catalog

let. We usually achieve over 95 percent,” says Gunnar Stellmacher. The fact that Emons audits reliably today, operates uniformly across all locations and remains flexible at the same time is no coincidence – but the result of digital quality management in logistics that grows with the company.

Emons Spedition has its headquarters in Cologne. It is an internationally active logistics and transport company with over 120 locations and 3,750 employees worldwide. Since its foundation in 1928, Emons has stood for reliable transport, logistics and supply chain solutions – both nationally and internationally. The company manages more than five million shipments per year. The range of services includes general cargo and freight transportation, contract logistics, customs clearance as well as rail and air freight solutions. As a family-run company, Emons attaches particular importance to quality, sustainability and continuous development.

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