BDP Malaysia is marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of a professional development program to promote knowledge-based management, chemical logistics expertise and operational excellence.

The program embraces the vision conveyed by the country's Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the 9th Malaysia Plan in Parliament, "The second thrust of the National Mission is to raise the country's capacity for knowledge, creativity and innovation and nurture 'first-class mentality.' Malaysia's future success depends on the quality of its human capital, not only in terms of intellect but also character."

BDP Malaysia recently received a certificate of appreciation from the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade & Industries for being selected as one of 10 service-sector finalists for the country's Industry Excellence Award.

Peter Huels, BDP managing director - Asia Pacific and Middle East, said, "What makes countries successful in a global economy are the same attributes that make companies successful. As a non-asset-based logistics firm, our most important resource is our employees. So it is absolutely critical that we provide them every opportunity for both professional and personal growth."

BDP Malaysia has created a networking portal enabling its six offices to share knowledge via common folders, including training, process re-engineering, customized accounts, sales, national procurement, human resources and other vital information. The program also involves a Responsible Care(R) safety and security initiative that includes both in-house and external vendor training, as well as a dedicated information-sharing area in its Kuala Lumpur corporate office.

In addition, the company is undertaking a process re-engineering path to Six Sigma certification. Specific initiatives include implementation of BDP's comprehensive Web-based business process and IT platform that enables a collaborative flow of decision-support communications among all parties to the logistics process, process automation and continuous process improvement. BDP Malaysia recently formed a global data loading center to support its global rate inquiry (RIQ), report generation and track and trace capabilities. And a dedicated forwarding unit, BDP Forwarding Sdn Bhd, has been established to handle all customs-brokerage related transactions.

BDP Malaysia was established in 1996 with just two employees and one client, BP Chemicals Malaysia. Today, the company has six offices, 75 employees and processes nearly 20,000 shipments a year for clients such a Cryovac/Sealed Air Corp., Air Products, Nalco, BP Chemicals, Eastman Chemicals and Optimal Chemicals. In addition to Kuala Lumpur, the company has offices in Port Kelang, just opened last year, Kuantan, Kerteh, Penang and Johor Bahru/Pasir Gudang/Tanjung Pelepas.