Brambles’ unmatched visibility of regional supply chain networks led to the development of Brambles’ PNO team. Transport network inefficiencies naturally increase with growth in customers and the consistent requirement to recover our assets for repair and reuse. PNO was an organic innovation evolving from our extensive supply chain experience, knowledge and our unrivalled access to logistics ‘big data’. The PNO process involves a review of asset flows between manufacturers, retailers and our service centres to identify high volume channels. Alternative asset return flow scenarios are then modelled including hypothetical relocations and / or additional service centres. The underlying objective is to reduce both the frequency and distance travelled to recover and reuse our assets. Financial and carbon emission reductions are a key component of PNO modelling, enabling efficiencies to be mapped and savings in the order of US$8‑10 million per year to be realised upon execution.  

Benefits of PNO: 

• Leverages the advantage of Brambles’ extensive networks
• Allows customers a convenient location for platform transfers or returns
• Eliminates the disposal costs and complications from single use, one-way platforms

Embodying a continuous improvement mindset, the PNO team allows the business to quickly adapt to changes in the network and maintain efficiencies while sharing best practice between regions.