CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2025 - Flipbook - Page 70
PANEL 2
STREAMLINING CRITICAL CHALLENGES OF THE CHEMICAL
DISTRIBUTION AND WAREHOUSING NETWORKS
“The fundamental aspects
required for a warehouse in
today’s environment are vast
and diverse. These include
safety-related issues, compliance requirements, material
segregation and storage
updates, safety protocols, sta昀昀
training and certifications,
environmental control and
monitoring, transportation
and handling, documentation and compliance, as well as the use of
technology, such as Enterprise Inventory Management (EIML) and data
science. Chemicals, for instance, are used in a wide range of industries,
from very clean environments to highly hazardous ones. Industries like
food, pharmaceuticals, medical, o昀昀shore re昀椀neries, and utility services
all depend on chemicals for their operations. It is important to categorise
these considerations based on the speci昀椀c industry in focus. Whether
working with food, chemicals, biochemicals, or selling goods to end-users,
understanding the speci昀椀c needs of each industry will ensure e昀昀ective
warehouse management and compliance.”
“Regulatory Compliance and
Safety are crucial aspects
of chemical distribution.
Regulations, like REACH in
Europe and TSCA in the US,
are constantly changing. To
stay compliant, companies
need to adopt a Regulatory
Management System (RMS)
that helps keep up with these
evolving standards and ensures
safety across operations. Next, Supply Chain Visibility is essential. Using
technologies like IoT and track-and-trace systems can help monitor
the movement of hazardous materials and ensure they remain under
the right conditions. When it comes to Transportation and Warehouse
Storage of dangerous goods, it’s vital to use specialised equipment and
skilled personnel. Working with logistics partners who have the necessary
expertise and certifications ensures the safe handling of hazardous
materials. Finally, Talent Development is key. Organisations need to
invest in training, create a culture of continuous learning, and provide a
safe working environment to ensure compliance with safety standards.”
URVESH VALA, Head– Material Engineering and Technology,
L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Engineering (MODERATOR)
ANKIT MONGA, Director– Supply Chain and Logistics, BU AMEA,
Heubach Group
“The ability to manage warehouses e昀케ciently in India and
in other countries is becoming
increasingly challenging, especially when factoring in pricing from both the destination
country and the dispatching
country. The challenge intensi昀椀es in international business.
While India ranks 6th in global
chemical manufacturing, we
still lag behind China, who o昀昀ers preferential treatment to its domestic
distributors, a昀昀ecting pricing and logistical support. This treatment is
not extended to international distributors, making it harder for us to
compete. This discrepancy in preferential treatment, banking systems,
and Special Economic Measures (SEM) treatment is a major challenge
for the chemical distribution sector in India. Currently, about 30% of
our products come from China. However, the preferential treatment and
pricing I receive from Chinese suppliers is not replicated in India, which
makes it di昀케cult to compete. Addressing these issues—especially in terms
of banking and SEM—is crucial to level the playing 昀椀eld.”
“We're in an environment
where change is imminent,
but its full implementation is
still a work in progress. This
is particularly relevant when it
comes to transporting dangerous goods. Similarly, utilising
technology in warehousing is
just as critical. With the right
radar, camera, and infrared
systems, you could centralise
operations, allowing one person to monitor the entire warehouse. What's
crucial to understand is that while we currently have cameras and
systems in place, the real transformation in transportation will come
from how we utilise these technologies. For instance, when transporting
hazardous materials, regulations from authorities like Petroleum and
Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) require the vehicle to be escorted
and accompanied by 昀椀re safety personnel. But, as we adapt to more
advanced innovations that haven't yet been fully explored, these will
signi昀椀cantly change the way we handle hazardous transportation. This
is where we see the dynamics of the entire industry evolving.”
ANITA RAJPUT, Head– Procurement and Global Sourcing,
Somochem India
70 | CARGOCONNECT APRIL 2025
HITESH GAGLANI, Vice President– Global Supply Chain,
Piramal Critical Care
