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Kimberly-Clark Case Study · LevelLoad

LevelLoad by ProvisionAi

How EARL eliminated order bunching and saved millions annually across Kimberly-Clark's North American network.

"It's not the future. It's today."
Scott DeGroot, VP Global Logistics, Kimberly-Clark
Scott DeGroot · VP Global Logistics, Kimberly-Clark · Supply Chain Management Review, April 2023
60% Daily variability reduction
80% Shipments covered
$M+ Saved annually
Kimberly-Clark North American distribution, LevelLoad transportation planning
60% less variability North American ops
10-month deployment Full NA network
The challenge

Order bunching was making the network unmanageable.

Manufacturing plants releasing shipments unpredictably, creating spikes in carrier demand planners couldn't get ahead of.
Securing trucks last-minute at premium spot rates had become the norm, not the exception.
Consumer demand had, in fact, normalized. This was a planning and execution problem costing millions.
Scott DeGroot saw it as a reset moment, an opportunity to rethink how the network deployed inventory.

Unpredictable shipment spikes

Manufacturing plants releasing orders in bursts rather than a steady flow.

Last-minute carrier procurement

Trucks secured at premium rates because capacity wasn't reserved in advance.

Premium freight costs

Reactive planning meant consistently paying above-market rates across the network.

No network-wide visibility

Planning, TMS, WMS, and carrier systems operating independently with no unified view.

The solution

EARL gave the network a plan it could actually execute.

Runs daily and analyzes shipment volume against committed lane capacity across every site and lane.
Planners see spikes 30 days out, with carrier slots reserved in advance, not last-minute.
As a result, the team shifted from managing every shipment to resolving only the exceptions EARL flags.
Planning TMS WMS ERP
01 · Daily data pull

EARL pulls shipment volume and committed lane capacity daily

From Planning, TMS, and WMS, building a real-time picture of what the network needs and what it can absorb across every lane and site.

Planning systemTMSWMS
02 · 30-day deployment plan

LevelLoad calculates optimal trucks per lane per day

Specifically, LevelLoad smooths spikes by pulling forward urgent shipments and redistributing others across a flexible planning window, 30 days ahead, every day.

30-day horizonVolume smoothing
03 · Placeholder STO

Shell Stock Transfer Order submitted to ERP

A shell STO is submitted to the ERP with a dummy code, locking in carrier capacity days in advance without committing to specific product yet.

ERP integrationCapacity reservation
04 · Early tender to carrier

TMS receives tender automatically

TMS receives the tender automatically, securing preferred core carriers before other shippers, at committed rates rather than spot market premiums.

Core carriersCommitted ratesNo spot market
Recognition

CSCMP Supply Chain Innovator of the Year: Finalist.

As a result, EARL earned Kimberly-Clark a finalist nomination for the 2022 CSCMP Supply Chain Innovator of the Year Award, the most recognized supply chain innovation award in North America.

2022 CSCMP Supply Chain Innovator of the Year: Finalist. Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

The results

Millions saved: this Kimberly-Clark case study's network, transformed.

This Kimberly-Clark case study closes with the numbers that matter most: measured, not modeled, across a full North American deployment.

60% Variability reduction All North American ops
80% Shipments covered Full NA network
10 mo To full deployment Design to live
$M+ Saved annually Replenishment freight
Scott DeGroot, VP Global Logistics, Kimberly-Clark

Scott DeGroot

VP Global Logistics · Kimberly-Clark

"Kimberly-Clark fully deployed the platform across all North American operations. As a result of both the process improvements and new technology, it reduced variability daily by 60% — particularly in locations where production plants are shipping to distribution centers."

Could your network run this smoothly?

If it worked for Kimberly-Clark,
it can work for you.

This Kimberly-Clark case study is proof. Most clients see ROI within 4 months. Our team will show you exactly where your network is losing money, with specific numbers from your operation.