HAVI Logistics was proud to be chosen by World Wide Olympic sponsor McDonald's and official Olympic caterer Aramark as their logistics provider for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Although the Games ran for just 17 days, HAVI Logistics preparation began over a year before hand. Leading up to the Games, HAVI Logistics passed countless audits and reviews required by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, the Food Safety Bureau and the Police Department.
Security Check at HAVI Logistics DC
Security was the number one priority for both HAVI and the Chinese government. The HAVI Logistics facilities were classified as an official non-sporting Olympic venue and were protected by numerous security measures. These included a 24 hour police force, metal detectors, CCTV cameras, ground mounted cameras for monitoring the underside of vehicles, 2.5 meter high security walls, and laser perimeter monitoring.
Product Receiving and Rotation at HAVI Logistics DC
To handle the large volume during the Olympic Games, HAVI Logistics expanded its Beijing distribution center by 2,300 square meters. It designed and custom built a cross-docking area to meet the demands of peak receiving and loading volumes.
The cross-docking area included space for the checking of products arriving at the DC. Quality assurance staff checked the temperature and quality of arrivals to make sure that all Olympic bound food products met the strictest standards.
Order Selection at HAVI Logistics DC
HAVI received orders on a daily basis, requiring picking products as large as pallets and as small as individual items from one case. This required precise inventory control and close working relationships with our customers and suppliers.
Security Checks Before Loading Trucks
Throughout the Games, HAVI Logistics used up to 5 x-ray machines to ensure that all products leaving for the Olympic venues were free of any dangerous items. The large size of these machines allowed whole pallets to be scanned, thereby enabling deliveries to remain on their tight schedules.
Loading Trucks and Sealing of Trucks Before Despatch
The x-rayed pallets were immediately loaded onto trucks and electronically sealed.
These seals recorded the delivery details such as the driver, delivery destination and contents. They also recorded if the doors were opened at any time on route. Each truck was also monitored in real time by GPS and fitted with a specially developed “black box,” that continuously recorded information such as speed, time and temperature. Further, a security guard rode along side the driver on every trip.
Truck Drive to Olympic Venues
All trucks used for the Olympics met the strict environment and safety standards set forth by BOCOG and HAVI Logistics. In order to prevent contamination or tampering, the trucks were not permitted to be used for any non-Olympic deliveries. When not in use, the trucks were securely parked in a 24-hour guarded compound.
Unloading at Olympic Venues
HAVI Logistics trucks delivered to 4 McDonald’s locations and 5 Aramark catered venues. On peak days over 180 tons of products were delivered to these Olympic venues within very tight regulated delivery windows.
Enjoying Food at Olympic Venues
During the Games, McDonald’s restaurants served at times over 30 thousand customers per day. That’s over 560 thousand people in a little over a month!
At the Olympic Village over 30 million beverages, 330 tons of fruit and more than 3.5 million meals were served to athletes, coaches, media staff and officials.
Conclusion
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games provided the largest and most complex challenge a logistics company could take on. HAVI Logistics Services is proud to have delivered the promise of a safe and successful logistics solution for the Olympics and beyond.
