Logistics disruption could have cost the Allies WWII

I'm a real history buff and a big fan of the History Channel, which recently added some of its programs to iTunes. On my trip from Brno to Vienna yesterday I watched a show about the secret underground logistics network that can be found right underneath Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
During WWII all of the trains on the east coast of the US were powered by diesel generators that were under the Terminal. These trains were crucial for the US as they were used by the military to transport tanks, ammo and soldiers up and down the coast for deployment in Europe via boat and plane. While the exact location of these generators is still a secret to this day, back then Hitler actually discovered that they existed and he sent two of his men to destroy them. A funny side note, they didn't plan to destroy the generators with TNT or even guns, but with sand. They were actually caught by the FBI with bags of sand, which if emptied into the spinning gears would have been devastating. Luckily they didn't succeed or the outcome of the war could have been very different.

So there you have it, logistics is not only critical in business today, but also in the military.

SmartWay Excellence Awards Announced

If you read my blog regularly you know that I am a "tree hugger" i.e., environmentalist. I personally recycle just about everything, which is why I am proud that the company I work for, IBM, is one of the winners of the 2007 SmartWay Excellence Award.

This award is sponsored by the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership, which recognizes partners’ special achievements that significantly reduce the environmental impacts of the freight sector. The SmartWay Excellence Awards honor organizations that integrate innovative strategies and technologies into their business operations, resulting in reduced energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.

The EPA stated the following for awarding IBM "IBM increased their SmartWay carrier participation by 25% this year, and incorporated SmartWay into their contract bidding process for U.S. and global transportation. IBM promoted its participation in SmartWay through a dedicated web page that links directly to SmartWay web site, as well as serving as SmartWay guest speakers at industry events. IBM reports its SmartWay participation in its Environment and Well-Being Progress Report, and Corporate Responsibility Report. IBM is currently reviewing all dock locations globally to ensure consistent truck idling practices, fork-lift power sources, and scheduling practices. In addition, IBM is working with SmartWay in interfacing with environmental agencies in Latin America, particularly Mexico- expanding SmartWay-type programs across North America."

The other winners can be found here. Congratulations to you all.