Utilities Service Alliance (USA)

Utilities Service Alliance (USA) is a not-for-profit organization setup to serve the power industry. USA, located in Overland Park, KS, was created to help member companies improve plant safety and performance; to provide economic benefit through large volume purchasing economies and resource sharing; and to provide industry leadership and influence.

The Challenge:

The Federal government deregulated the power industry in the early 1990’s. This change required USA member companies to find ways to operate their plants more efficiently. This put all power companies under intense pressure to reduce costs so they could become the provider of low cost per kilowatt electricity. Competition has force the industry to investigate opportunities for cost reduction in all areas from plant operations to every facet of supply chain management.

The Solution:

USA established a Supply Chain Management initiative to focus on Continuous Improvement Contracts, Economical Resource Sharing; Volume Discounts/Collective Purchasing; & Enhanced Service Levels. As part of this initiative, USA contracted with Logistics Planning Services located in St Paul, MN to provide its Internet based transportation management systems to its members. The inclusive end-to-end nature of LPS KeyFreight/KeyShip systems were the right fit with the right elements desired by USA members.

The Bottom Line:

Steve Willrett - Vice President Supply Chain Management for USA summarizes the bottom line benefits derived from KeyFreight/KeyShip best. He states, “Utilities Service Alliance, Inc. member companies and our suppliers have used the LPS KeyFreight/KeyShip – Transportation Management System to drive down their freight costs an average of 30%. We have seen individual members achieve hard dollar savings ranging from 17% on the low side to as-much-as 60% on the high side on their freight costs using this system. Our members have additionally benefited from many soft dollar savings generated through KeyFreight/KeyShip. The results our members derived from using KeyFreight/KeyShip were so positive, that USA named LPS as ‘Vendor-Partner of the Year’ in 1999."

Client Reference:

Steve Willrett
Vice President Supply Chain Management
Utilities Service Alliance

Tele: 402-533-6662
Email: swillrett@oppd.com