b'S P E C I A L F O C U S : L O G I S T I C S Two Functions Whether it is transportation/freight rates or movements, we are there. Were like the operations flow of Sumitomo Corporation As General Manager of SCOAs Logistics Group & Head of SCof Americas on one side. Now for the profit center, we operate Americas Logistics Operations, Hiroshi Ocean Takayama de- that side, not only just for Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, lineates the companys logistics organization into two functionsbut for other companies not related to SCOA. We are the go-to from a 10,000-foot perspective: providing corporate organizationdepartment for many of the business units.support, and operating the earning base of a profit center. Our logistics tasks include working with vendors and customers If you are merely thinking about the tasks in Sumitomosin every possible business areawhether that means trans-history, Takayama said as he explained the responsibilities of hisporting Fyffes bananas or OCT ties or liquid natural gas from position and his group, the Logistics Group should be support- the manufacturer to the next inventory point or making sure all ing the organization always, especially our sales organization,the paperwork is in order for special aerospace tech products or in terms of business units. We use our skills to support them inperformance chemicals headed for formulation.their maintenance of business, but also in helping them to createLets take that example: SCOAs Chemical Group. Logistics more business, and therefore more profit for the company. Sosupports the movement of product from overseas, as well as we understand that its not so easy being what we are, to oper- inventory management here in the United States. Additionally, ate with a dual function, but we meet the challenge. there is support for compliance through the various government What is the simplest way to explain what Logistics does?agencies when it enters the United States, such as U.S. Cus-asked Masakazu Kato, Head of Logistics Management in SCtoms, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Americas. Understanding the logistics of the Roman Empire andDrug Administration. Rogawski said that his team supports these how they transported olive oil is a good start. Historically, logis- operations on a monthly basis, but some tasks happen yearly. tics has been around for a long time. We are the glue that holdsWe do fiscal inventory reconciliation for Chemical annually, everything together! Our Logistics Group touches on almostsaid Rogawski, and then in their day-to-day activities, we do every aspect of a transactionbeginning to end. postings into inventory and invoicing. Were totally involved in In one respect, we make things run smoothly by providingtheir business and in their growth, so they will contact us for support for the business units, explained Jerry Rogawski, Viceinventory rates, for any issues that they have. President of Sumisho Global Logistics (USA) Corp, the subsidiary company of SCOA Logistics Group, which is outsourced logistics operation management of SCOA. We support the business units in any way we can. We help them do more business, we help them be compliant, we try to get them better rates, and we alsoBelow, Kazuhide Matsuda andinteract with them on daily operations if they should need some- and SCBR Logistics Team membersthing. We can actually explain Sumitomo enterprise resource planning systems, or actually anything to do with how we inter-act with accounting, we interact with insurancewe interact with so many aspects of Sumitomo Corporation of Americas that were able to support in many different ways. I would describe logistics as the most fundamental infrastructure in the economy. What SCBR Logistics pro-vides is the logistics function for business enhancement of Sumitomo Corporation and SC South America, but we also are hands-on in developing new business. On a day-to-day basis, we troubleshoot logistics operations, keep a close eye on the market, the current trends and the technology, and our intention is always seeking out new business opportunities. -Kazuhide Matsuda,SC Brazil Logistics Director4 visions Summer 2021'