Logistics Hall of Fame Magazin 2023 - Lynn C. Fritz Medal Special Edition

LOGISTICS HALL OF FAME
MAGAZIN
www.logisticshalloffame.net November 2023
Special
Edition
9 About The Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
12 Interview with Lynn C. Fritz
26 How to apply What an application has to include
30 ConnectChains The Humanitarian Supply Chain Conference
The
new
Award
of
the
Logistics
Hall
of
Fame

Fritz Institute envisions a world
where every community has the
capacity to respond and recover
from a major disaster, saving
lives and reducing suffering.
Fritz Institute was founded in 2001 by Lynn Fritz and Dr. Anisya
Thomas Fritz with the mission to innovate solutions and facilitate the
adoption of best practices for rapid and effective disaster response
and recovery in communities around the world.
Our work
Leadership &
knowledge
Management
Capacity
building
Research &
assessment
For more information contact: Fritz Institute, San Francisco (CA),
mitsuko.mizushima@fritzinstitute.org
www.fritzinstitute.org

Editorial Rubrik
People make the
difference
Thilo Jörgl Executive Chairperson of the Jury
Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
People who work day and night with high
motivation. The American entrepreneur
Lynn C. Fritz was thrilled when he first
came into contact with the employees
of humanitarian organizations decades
ago. At that time, he was still busy with
his own logistics company, also working
day and night. But he still looked beyond
the end of his nose.
In addition to the enthusiasm about the
motivated people, the US American was
also disappointed. Why don't organizations
work more professionally in logistics
– with modern methods and tools?
He often asks himself this question (p.
12). And when he had successfully sold
his company, he made it his life's work to
improve the logistics of organizations. Together
with his wife, he founded the Fritz
Institute in California for this purpose.
For his pioneering work in the field of
humanitarian logistics, Fritz was inducted
into the Logistics Hall of Fame
in 2021. And on the very day of the induction,
he approached the organization
to present his idea of an award for
excellent humanitarian logistics projects
– including funding from the sponsor
Fritz Institute. It took nearly a year to
draft the bylaws, the committees, and
the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence
in Humanitarian Logistics (p. 9). And
nearly another year passed before the
first winner was announced.
But it was worth the wait. As Executive
Chairman of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal
for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
jury, I would like to thank not only
the Fritz Institute for its support, but
also the excellent work of the Expert
Council in evaluating the application
and creating a shortlist. Great thanks
also go to the jury who worked through
the applications (p. 16).
This work has paid off: In my view, the
first winner of the Medal, International
Medical Corps, more than deserved the
award. With its self-developed software
"Pharmaceutical Information Management
System" (PIMS), the organization
created a revolution in the management
of the last mile in the pharmaceutical
supply chain in a short period of time.
The tool has been a huge success: since
October 2019, more than 1.7 million
prescriptions have been processed in
the software and around three million
items have been distributed to those in
need. Read why the software saves lives
and how much those in need benefit from
using IT starting on p. 19.
To enable representatives of the winner to
share their success factors from the project
in detail, the Logistics Hall of Fame
has launched the "ConnectChains – The
Humanitarian Supply Chain Conference".
The international summit at the Federal
Ministry of Digital and Transport in
Berlin on Nov. 29, 2023, is a platform for
exchange between supply chain experts
from the humanitarian and commercial
sectors (p. 30).
By the way, after the award is before the
award: Applications from humanitarian
organizations for the next round will
begin in March. We have summarized
how to apply (p. 26). I hope you enjoy
reading ∞
Page 3

TOC
Table of
Contents
3 Editorial
5 Impressions of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal of Excellence in Humanitarian Logisics
9 About What‘s the Lynn C. Fritz Medal of Excellence in Humanitarian Logisics
12 Interview with Lynn C. Fritz
14 Who Sponsored by
16 Jury The ones who decide
19 Winner International Medical Corps awarded with the medal in 2023
24 Interview with David Alarcon, Vice President Corporate Finance at
International Medical Corps
26 How to apply What an application has to include
28 FAQs The most frequently asked questions
30 ConnectChains The Humanitarian Supply Chain Conference
Page 4

Impressions
Impressions
Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
Mitsuko Mizushima (left), Lynn C. Fritz (middle) and Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz present the design of the medal
at the Logistics Hall of Fame Gala 2022 in Berlin.
The Lynn C. Fritz medal is awarded anually - for the
first time in 2023.
A variety of associations, companies and media
support the Logistics Hall of Fame.
Page 5

Impressions
Benedict Janich (German Federal Ministry of Digital
and Transport) with Anita Würmser.
Pure suspense: The guests wait for the announcement
of the winners..
The winner is chosen by an international jury and will be
honored at the Logistics Hall of Fame Gala Reception.
USA meets Austria (from l.): Lynn C. Fritz, Heidi Senger-
Weiss, Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz and Paul Senger-Weiss.
The Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics is awarded by the Logistics Hall of Fame, which is under
the patronage of the German Minister of Digital and Transport, Dr Volker Wissing.
Page 6

Impressions
The Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics will annually recognize humanitarian organizations and
their partners for outstanding logistics projects.
Also in the in the Logistics Hall of Fame Magazine: A story about the winner of
the Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics.
International dishes will be
provided at the gala reception.
In 2022, the Logistics Hall of Fame gala reception was
held at KaDeWe, Berlin.
The glass dome at KaDeWe provided a spectacular
atmosphere for the induction of the new member.
Page 7

Impressions
Together with the Logistics Hall of Fame organisation, the sponsor Fritz Institute annually awards the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for
Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics.
Imprint
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Edition, Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in
Humanitarian Logistics
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Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Anita Würmser (V.i.S.d.P.)
Editorial
Thilo Jörgl, Dr. Horst Mayer, Stefanie Nonnenmann,
Melanie Wack, Anita Würmser
Layout and design
Design:Management Strohmeyer
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Page 8

Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence Impressions in Humanitarian Logistics
Page 9

Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence Impressions in Humanitarian Logistics
Lynn C. Fritz Medal
for Excellence in
Humanitarian
Logistics
A surprising announcement was made by the Logistics Hall
of Fame at the traditional gala reception in Berlin 2022: The
organization will present a new international award starting
in 2023: the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian
Logistics. The medal will annually recognize humanitarian
organizations and their partners for outstanding logistics
projects.
Initiator and founder of the medal is the Fritz Institute in San
Francisco (USA). The award is named after the founder and
CEO: Lynn C. Fritz. The 80-year-old U.S. businessman initiated
the transition of industrial logistics strategies to humanitarian
organizations in the 1990s. He was inducted into the
Logistics Hall of Fame in 2021 as the “founder of logistics for
humanitarian organizations.”
“The award is intended to motivate humanitarian organizations
to continuously improve their supply chains and to highlight
the key role of professional supply chain management in the
success of aid projects,” the businessman said when announcing
the award.
The intent of the initiative is to highlight the innovative
strength and performance of the logistics sector and exemplify
the social relevance of excellent logistics. Efficient supply
chain management saves lives – and reduces costs. Analyses
by the Fritz Institute have shown that up to 80 percent of the
costs of a disaster relief operation are attributable to logistics.
The selection process is driven by an international jury
made up of representatives from business, science, politics,
Page 10

Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence Impressions in Humanitarian Logistics
1
1 Big network: Lynn C. Fritz together
with Madeleine Albright.
2 Induction of Lynn. C. Fritz to the
Logistics Hall of Fame 2021 (from left).
Dr. Anisya Fritz Thomas, Lynn C. Fritz
und Mitsuko Mizushima.
3 Executive Chairman of the jury of the
Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in
Humanitarian Logistics: Thilo Jörgl.
associations and the media. The jury is chaired by Thilo
Jörgl, Managing Partner of the Logistics Hall of Fame organization.
An expert council of recognized specialists in
the field of humanitarian logistics decides which of the submitted
applications will be presented to the jury members
for selection. The key evaluation criteria include efficiency,
innovation, sustainability and exemplary character for the
field of humanitarian logistics.
The selection process begans in March 2023. Applications
were submitted online at www.logisticshalloffame.net. Any
aid organization can apply directly or be nominated by a
third party. Joint projects involving several organizations
are also eligible. The logistics project must have been completed
within the last three years.
The Logistics Hall of Fame, which is under the patronage
of Dr. Volker Wissing, German Minister of Transport, will
present three awards in Berlin at the end of 2023; in addition
to the traditional induction of the new Logistics Hall
of Fame member, the organization will present the Lynn C.
Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics and
the Logistics Leader of the Year Award donated by STILL to
current pacesetters in logistics. ∞
2 3
Page 11

Interview
Relevance
Interview with Lynn C. Fritz, CEO Fritz Institute
Why did you found the Fritz Institute?
Lynn C. Fritz: I started the Fritz Institute
as a logistics research organization,
doing independent studies, publications,
and funding academic research and curriculum
development. After I sold Fritz
Companies Inc. to UPS in 2001, at the
inspiration of my wife, we restarted the
Institute with the sole focus to develop
logistics and supply chain excellence for
the humanitarian sector. In effect, to bring
as much of the progress we made in commercial
logistics over the previous three
decades, to humanitarian organizations. I
had the financial resources to fund the new
Fritz Institute with my wife, Dr. Anisya
Thomas Fritz, a distinguished business
professor who, with other colleagues,
did all the initial research on the state of
logistics across the entire humanitarian
Sector. It was the first ever such research
and became the foundation of our efforts
to help all humanitarian organizations
improve their logistics operations and
develop excellence.
What are the problems of aid workers?
I have always admired humanitarian
personnel for their dedication to saving
lives and trying to alleviate suffering. I
saw back in the 1990s how some of them
lacked proper resources and tools which
resulted in less than optimum operations.
There were no shared standards for
training and development of people and
few apparent opportunities for collaboration.
Fritz Institute has facilitated the
shared learnings from the commercial
and humanitarian sectors.
What are the goals?
The most important goals are: the establishment
of efficient operational processes,
the development of tools specifically
adapted to humanitarian logistics, the
standardization of logistics personnel
training, the use of objective performance
indicators and institutionalized learning.
Why is it so difficult to implement these
methods in relief operations?
In the logistics chain of disaster relief, a
multitude of actors operate, often with
different objectives. Humanitarian organization
vary in size, are geographically
dispersed and have different mandates.
This network is complex and therefore
requires specialized coordination. Furthermore
because of the nature of the response
required, this can be particularly
challenging. Of course, this is made more
difficult by the fact that the infrastructure
in the countries they are operating in may
be damaged and the logistics requirements
are difficult to predict.
The Fritz Institute is the sponsor of the
Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in
Humanitarian Logistics. What is the goal?
With the award, we want to motivate
organizations to continuously improve
the humanitarian supply chain. Everyone
involved – from donors to humanitarian
workers – should recognize the central
role that excellent logistics plays in the
success of their programs.
Why partner with the Hall of Fame?
The Logistics Hall of Fame documents the
performance and innovative strength of
the industry and publicizes the social relevance
of excellent logistics. In this way,
it contributes to the competitiveness and
image improvement of the entire logistics
industry. The Fritz Institute also pursues
these values and goals with the medal.
How did the idea of the award come
about?
I got to know the organization because
I was inducted into the Logistics Hall of
Fame at a gala reception in Berlin in 2021.
I was impressed not only by the message
of this globally unique organization, but
also by the professional organization of the
election and the gala reception. In 2022,
we developed a concept for the long-term
implementation and presentation of the
award as well as accompanying events in
a joint project team. I am looking forward
to the first award ceremony at the end of
2023 in Berlin. ∞
Page 12

Interview
Page 13

Donated News by
About the Donors
Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz, Lynn C. Fritz and Mitsuko “Mich”
Mizushima are trying to improve the way of Humanitarian Logistics.
Fritz Institute envisions a world where every community has the
capacity to respond and recover from a major disaster, saving
lives and reducing suffering.
The nonprofit organization works in partnership with governments,
corporations, and other nonprofit organizations around
the world to innovate solutions and facilitate the adoption of best
practices for rapid and effective disaster response and recovery.
Fritz Institute was founded in 2001 by Mr. Lynn C. Fritz and
Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz, social entrepreneurs and philanthropists
who recognized that effective front-line humanitarian
operations need to be supported by strong operations
capabilities: effective processes, appropriate use of enabling
technologies, well-trained logistics personnel, objective performance
metrics, and institutionalized learning across the
humanitarian sector.
Mitsuko “Mich” Mizushima is Chief Logistics Officer & Program
Director of the Fritz Institute. ∞
Page 14

Donated News by
“I have always admired
humanitarian personnel
for their dedication
to saving lives”
– LYNN C. FRITZ
Lynn C. Fritz
A visionary in the global logistics industry, Lynn Fritz was the
Chairman and CEO of Fritz Companies until May 2001 when
it was acquired by UPS. During his 30 years of leading Fritz
Companies, Inc, he developed his company from a small customs
brokerage organization to a publicly traded international
logistics services company of over 11,000 employees in 120 countries
around the world achieving Fortune 1000 status in 1997.
With an enduring contribution of redefining a fragmented and
limited services industry through the use of technology, Lynn
C. Fritz formed LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions and the Fritz
Institute in 2001. The Fritz Institute has become recognized as
the leader in developing programs to support operational effectiveness
and logistics capabilities for the humanitarian and
disaster relief sector.
Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz
Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz is a Co-Founder of Fritz Institute and
served as its Managing Director, from its inception in 2001 until
July 2007. During her tenure, Fritz Institute developed the
award-winning Humanitarian Logistics Software (HLS) and
its successor HELIOS; launched the sector-wide certification in
Humanitarian Logistics (CHL); and spearheaded the creation
of the new partnership for African Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (NEPARC). As part of her duties, she led Fritz Institute’s
beneficiary-focused research and initiated collaborations
with leading universities worldwide.
A respected scholar, Dr. Thomas Fritz is the author of numerous
articles on the global system of humanitarian relief, competitive
strategy, and international entrepreneurship.
Mitsuko “Mich” Mizushima
Mitsuko “Mich” Mizushima has led global teams and a multitude
of projects in logistics and supply chain management
for over 20 years. This expertise expands Fritz Institute’s capability
to provide best practices from private sector logistics
to support the operations of its partners in the humanitarian
relief community. She has led the creation of both traditional
and online supply chain organizations, processes, and services.
Mizushima’s primary role has been to create and work with
the Fritz Institute team to enhance the supply chain capability
of humanitarian organizations by first determining the needs
then conceptualizing the outcomes and finally developing and
implementing solutions.
Page 15

Jury & Expert Council
Jury & Expert Council
of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for
Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
The Expert Council decides in an online
meeting which projects are submitted for
the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in
Humanitarian Logistics and which will be
presented to the jury. A shortlist from the
applications is finalized for the jury by the
Expert Council. The members of the jury
will decide which project of a humanitarian
organization will be awarded with the
medal, which is sponsored by the Fritz
Institute in San Francisco. A jury member
can also be part of the Expert Council.
Page 16

Jury The Heros & Expert of Logistics Council
Martijn Blansjaar
Jury Member and Member of the
Expert Council
Head of Logistics & Supply, Oxfam
(UK)
Martin Dalton
Jury Member and Member of the
Expert Council
Head of Logistics, Concern Worldwide
(Ireland)
Mahyar Efthekar
Jury Member
Associate Professor of Supply Chain
Management at Arizona State
University (USA)
Benedict Janich
Jury Member
Acting Director of DB AG Transformation
Steering Group, Federal Ministry of
Digital and Transport (Germany)
Paul Jansen
Jury Member
Executive Director, Fleet Forum
(Switzerland)
Thilo Jörgl
Chairman of the Jury for the Lynn C.
Fritz Medal
Managing Partner impact media
projects GmbH (Germany)
Sander de Leeuw
Jury Member and Member of the
Expert Council
Chair of Operations Research and
Logistics, Wageningen University &
Research (Netherlands)
Mitsuko Mizushima
Member of the Experte Council and
Election Cpmmissioner for the Award
Chief Logistics Officer, Fritz Institute
(USA)
Syon Niyogi
Jury Member and Member of the
Expert Council
Corporate Services Director, International
Water Management Institute
(Sri Lanka)
Page 17

Die Jury Helden & Expert der Council Logistik
Sarah Penniman-
Morin
Jury Member and Member of the
Expert Council
CGSCO IRC (USA)
Andreas Reuther
Jury Member
Co-Host logistic4punktnull-Podcast
(Germany)
Megan Richardson
Jury Member
Associate staff member in the
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster
Relief Systems Group at MIT Lincoln
Laboratory (USA)
Benjamin Safari
Jury Member and Member of the
Expert Council
Head of SCM Servces, UN-HCR
(Hungary)
Dorit Schumann
Jury Member
President of Trier University
(Germany)
Anita Würmser
Jury Member
Executive Chairperson of the Logistics
Hall of Fame Jury
(Germany)
Prashant Yadav
Jury Member
Lecturer on Global Health and Social
Medicine, HarvardMedical School (USA)
Yuehwern Yih
Jury Member
Professor of Industrial Engineering at
Purdue University (USA)
Page 18

LOGISTICS HALL OF FAME
MAGAZINE SPECIAL
THE LYNN C. FRITZ MEDAL
FOR EXCELLENCE
IN HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS
www.logisticshalloffame.net November 2023
The
winner
is
International
Medical
Corps

Winner Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
Page 20

Winner Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
Game Changer
Software
International Medical Corps receives the
Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics 2023
for an innovative IT project.
Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings:
Every year, thousands of tourists take a
Nile cruise to visit the famous sights along
the northern part of the world’s longest
river (6,650 kilometers). As a rule, none of
these Africa fans get further than Aswan.
They all stay in Egypt. Further south, there
are no motifs for the photo album. South
Sudan is not a tourist stop. Conflict and
instability do not attract visitors. Rather,
the drought-stricken, poor country is a
destination for humanitarian organizations.
Some 4,9 million people are in
need of humanitarian aid. Food, medicine,
clean water — everything is lacking.
One of the humanitarian organizations
active in this country is International
Medical Corps. Its approximately 8,000
employees have provided disaster relief in
more than 80 countries since its founding
in 1984. South Sudan is currently a priority
country for the organization, which is
based in the USA. And there, where living
conditions are extremely poor and the
infrastructure particularly dilapidated,
International Medical Corps has tested
an internally developed software, the
Pharmaceutical Information Management
System (PIMS), for the last mile of
supply-chain management and attracted
worldwide attention with the results.
The results also attracted the attention of
the 16-member jury of the Lynn C. Fritz
Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian
Logistics. The medal is awarded by the
Logistics Hall of Fame and sponsored by
the San Francisco-based Fritz Institute.
International Medical Corps will be the
first organization in the world to be awarded
this medal, which was established in
2023. That’s because it is using PIMS to
solve a key problem for all humanitarian
organizations: the procurement, tracking
and dispensing of medicines, steps that
until now have been documented and
managed primarily on paper.
Before the tool was developed, the last
mile of the pharmaceutical supply chain
was producing mountains of paper. For
example, consider a pharmacy that serves
500 patients a day. For each prescription,
more than 40 pieces of information must
be recorded. That means that from the
time the medication is received at the
warehouse to the day it is dispensed
to 500 patients, 20,000 pieces of data
would be recorded. The mammoth task
for the pharmacists? All that data must
be digitized and forwarded to a central
location for analysis and replenishment.
“This takes weeks, and it’s impossible to
quickly gain insights from this data to
reduce costs or improve performance,”
reports David Alarcon, Vice President
of Corporate Finance at International
Medical Corps. “Managing supply chains
Page 21

Winner Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
1 2
3
4
with paper and Excel is like driving a car
while looking in the rearview mirror.”
In 2015, International Medical Corps decided
that the time of paper mountains
must end. A team searched for solutions
on the market—in vain. The software
tools it found were either very expensive
or unsuitable for use in disaster relief. So
in 2018, the organization made the decision
to develop a solution internally.
Unlike other organizations or companies
in which a manager delegates a project
from the top down, International Medical
Corps chose a bottom-up approach: in
concrete terms, this means that employees
from the entire organization participate—pharmacists,
logisticians, doctors,
technicians and experts from the finance
and legal departments. The advantage
of this approach is that the combined
knowledge of everyone involved in the
process is used in product development.
“We developed PIMS to meet the diverse
organizational needs that cover
the lifecycle of a product, from planning,
procurement, transportation and
storage, to dispensing to beneficiaries,”
Alarcon explains. From his perspective,
the ability to ensure that the right medicines
were available at health facilities
in the right quantities, properly prescribed
and dispensed, was overdue. All
of these factors can significantly affect
the quality of health services for patients.
Better outcomes strengthen trust in the
health system and ultimately lead to
lower mortality.
International Medical Corps relied on
proven technologies to develop the system.
With the help of scanners, barcodes
on the medicines are captured, and basic
information about the items and the
transactions is transferred into the system.
PIMS uses simple, user-friendly interfaces
so that users can easily enter relevant
supply-chain information and basic patient
data while the system uses preset
algorithms in the background to augment
the collected data. This enables the system
to provide real-time statistical data
and generate alerts so that supply-chain
managers can take timely action and run
their projects more efficiently.
The results are impressive. Compared to
other solutions on the market, PIMS has
many unique features. One of PIMS’ key
differentiators is its ability to manage all
types of goods from the central warehouse
to the end-user, providing full visibility of
all movements of goods within the supply
chain in the last mile. Time-consuming
practices and procedures dominated by
manual spreadsheets are eliminated, resulting
in greater efficiency and accuracy
as well as streamlined operations.
Because PIMS enables accurate and efficient
data collection and timely, flexible
reporting, it increases process transparency
for physicians, supply-chain
managers and other staff, ministries of
health and funders. Importantly, it frees
up healthcare professionals to focus on
patient care. PIMS also helps users with
quantification, pharmacovigilance and
drug-utilization review when dispensing
medications.
Another plus is that the tool, which runs
in the cloud but also locally, can be easily
adapted to any language needed. PIMS
Page 22

Winner Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
5
1. On a trip to Geneva: (Left) Dr. Mohammed Zurga,
a non-IMC expert, (center right) David Alarcon and
(right) Dr. Yazeed Ayasra.
2. Scan it: At the medicine counter.
3. Dr. Yazeed Ayasra (second from left) in the field with a
pharmacy team that is using PIMS.
4. At the computer: Working with PIMS.
5. Easy going: Dispensing medicines using the PIMS
software.
6. The Lynn C. Fritz Medal is donated by the Fritz Institute.
6
currently runs in Arabic, English, French
and Somali. It is compatible with other
supply-chain systems and can be connected
to complementary software via
an integrated application programming
interface (API). The software also can
be easily adapted to any context and is
adaptable to existing processes in the
humanitarian and development sectors.
When International Medical Corps presents
its new system to experts from the
humanitarian sector, the reactions are
“overwhelmingly positive,” according to
Alarcon. He recalls a pharmacist saying after
the software presentation, “For us, using
PIMS would be like going from a cave to
a spaceship.” The Directorate-General for
European Civil Protection and Humanitarian
Aid Operations of the European
Commission (DG ECHO) in Brussels has
also commended PIMS, including the software
in its thematic strategy paper as an
“example of the best use of digital solutions
in the use of track and trace technology.”
There is praise and recognition from
many sides. The highlight in 2023: the
“Using PIMS is like
going from a cave to
a spaceship“
awarding of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal
for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics.
The 16-member jury, which is providing
an award to an organization for
an excellent project for the first time in
2023, decided in favor of International
Medical Corps’ solution, which was developed
“by the sector for the sector and
by practitioners for practitioners,” as the
jury says in the citation. The panel is particularly
impressed by the “bottom-up
approach and the interdisciplinary teams
that have created a cost-effective system
that establishes maximum transparency
and efficiency in the pharmaceutical
supply chain.”
The international judges were also impressed
by the rapid spread of the system.
By mid-2023, PIMS is in use at 165 sites
in 16 countries. More than 1.7 million
prescriptions have now been processed in
the software and around 3 million items
have been distributed to those in need.
Also contributing to the judges’ vote are
the results evaluated in Jordan, South
Sudan and Yemen:
– PIMS reduces out-of-stocks and overstocks
to less than three percent.
– Inventory accuracy increases to 99.8
percent in the first month of use.
– Prescription time drops from an average
of four to five minutes to 41
seconds.
– Waiting time for those in need is reduced
from an average of 85 minutes
to 16 minutes.
– Dynamic, proactive alert system results
in 100 percent elimination of
drug interactions and incorrect dosing.
Recognition, pats on the back, a medal:
International Medical Corps is not
keeping its success to itself. The system
is being offered to other organizations.
Alarcon says: “We firmly believe that
PIMS is revolutionizing the way the last
mile is managed.” ∞
Page 23

Interview
New global changes
David Alarcon, Vice President Corporate Finance at International Medical Corps
What do you see as the biggest challenges
facing humanitarian organizations?
David Alarcon: The biggest issues for
humanitarian organizations include
new global challenges such as the food
crisis, economic instability, extreme
poverty, urbanization, water scarcity
and energy security. In addition, there
is population growth and the impact
of climate change. Another challenge
is the potential for highly contagious
local public hazards and epidemics to
develop into pandemics.
What role does politics play in the projects?
Humanitarian work has become more
dangerous. And more people are suffering
because aid is not reaching them. There
are other barriers to access, including
sanctions-driven export regulations that
also contribute to limiting or delaying access
to vulnerable populations. Another
challenge is bridging the gap between
emergency aid and development assistance.
The latter is about longer-term
support that strengthens the self-reliance
of those in need.
What role does Climate change play?
It is literally bringing entire new regions
to the brink. Extreme weather events can
also lead to mass displacement, as people
migrate in search of new sources of food
and water, or safer living conditions.
Many humanitarian organizations are
setting up refugee camps. How good is
this aid?
The conditions in the refugee camps are
not always good. This growing need is
forcing humanitarian organizations to
stretch their already scarce resources even
further or make the difficult decision to
cut some programs to better help others.
This leaves vulnerable people without basic
lifesaving services. Because the challenges
humanitarian organizations face every day
are complex and interrelated, efficiency
and effectiveness are paramount. This is
where a system like PIMS can make all
the difference.
What needs to change?
Although many organizations have established
sound processes for procuring and
managing material resources, accurately
assessing needs and avoiding losses in the
last mile of the supply chain remains a major
challenge in an uncertain and changing
environment. A few improvements that
would advance humanitarian logistics
might include: a more adaptable supply
chain, better preparedness and stronger
partnerships with local organizations,
community support systems and other
actors in humanitarian crisis response.
What risks cannot be influenced by
stronger partnerships?
External supply-chain risks include
damaged transport routes, disrupted
markets, lack of warehouses, and a lot
more. With so many factors beyond the
control of organizations, it is critical to
build an adaptable supply chain that is
less vulnerable to unforeseen challenges.
Is good preparation crucial for the success
of projects?
Yes, preparation time is another area
that can be improved. In the run-up
to disaster operations, it is essential to
invest more time in building key partnerships
at the national and local levels.
Finally, building the capacity of national
and local organizations, and of local
communities, for effective supply-chain
management will help international
aid organizations rely on local staff in
countries of operation.
Why can’t SCM methods and solutions
from the commercial sector be transferred
to the humanitarian sector?
Best business practices from the commercial
sector cannot always be transferred to
humanitarian logistics because humanitarian
logistics often needs to make last-mile
deliveries in locations where commercial
structures are either non-existent or very
limited. Many supply-chain management
technology solutions depend on internet
availability. Not so PIMS: it eliminates
dependency on internet connectivity and
continuous power supply. ∞
Seite 24

Interview
Seite 25

Application News and Benefits
How to apply
When it comes to improving the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts, everyone
wins. Lighthouse projects, however, inspire others to even greater achievements,
Do you believe that an initiative deserves special awareness?
Submit a proposal for the Lynn C. Fritz Medal in Humanitarian Logistics!
WHERE
TO
START
Each organization can apply
with its own projects. An application
can also be submitted
jointly by several parties (joint
projects). The projects must be
supply chain or logistics projects
that have been implemented
and proven in practice.
Theoretical papers or
declarations of intent are not
sufficient. Applications must
be submitted in writing via the
Internet form at www.logisticshalloffame.net.
The results of a
project may not be older than
three years.
An application must include
the following: Applicant contact,
detailed description of
the logistics project and its
practicality, relevant key
Applications and proposals can
be submitted free of charge and
via online form. The decisive factor
is that the performance is solidly
justified and can be proven.
Further information is available on
the website.
Submit your proposal at
www.logisticshalloffame.net
The proposal phase starts
on 14. Februar 2024
figures, links, images or videos.
required are a summary
(1.000 characters), reasons for
the proposal or application
(5.000 characters) and a
profile. It will take about four
hours.
After applying via internet
applicants will receive a confirmation
of receipt. The Expert
Council evaluates each
submission and determines
the projects to be submitted
to the jury for a decision from
all the proposals received
each year. Non-winning projects
may be submitted multiple
times. Lynn C. Fritz, CEO of
the Fritz Institute, will present
the medal to the winner at
the gala reception.
Page 26

Application and Benefits
Why apply?
The winner of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
benefits from the worldwide media presence of the Logistics Hall of Fame,
the top networking opportunities at the gala reception in Berlin and the
opportunity to present their initative at the international
ConnectChains Conference.
Worldwide attention
Networking opportunities
Presentation opportunities
ȣ The press release about the winner is
sent to several thousand journalists and
organizations in the humanitarian
sector, worldwide
ȣ The intent of the award is also to start a
historical collection with key
contributions of logistics and supply
chain management to the global
humanitarian effort
ȣ Attention from funders and potential
partners.
ȣ Contact with 200 C-level managers
from industry, logistics service providers
as well as academics and journalists at
the gala reception in Berlin
ȣ Get together before the gala reception
ȣ VIP seating during the gala reception
ȣ Meeting with funders and potential
partners.
ȣ Opportunity to present the project at
the international ConnectChains
Conference prior to the awards
ceremony in Berlin. The attendees
include managers, representatives
from other humanitarian organizations
and journalists.
ȣ Interview in the Logistics Hall of Fame
Magazine and appearance in the after
movie.
ȣ Costs for flights (economy) for three
people and two nights in a hotel in
Berlin will be covered.
Profile in the Logistics Hall of Fame Magazine
The Logistics Hall of Fame magazine appears annually and focuses
not only on people in logistics on around 90 pages but also on
your projects in humanitarian logistics. Readers will find:
ȣ A time trip through the history of logistics
ȣ Portraits of the members
ȣ Comments, interviews and analyses from the network
ȣ Pictures of the gala reception
ȣ A feature story about the winning project of the Lynn C. Fritz
Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics
The publication of your project promotes the efforts of the global
humanitarian community. The distribution of the magazine also
serves to draw the attention of the business and the political
communities as well as journalists worldwide to the importance of
logistics in humanitarian aid.
Print circulation: 3,000 copies (German language with English
reports)
E-paper: approx. 10,000 downloads
Published: annually in November/December
Page 27

FAQ
Who is
awarded?
The medal recognizes humanitarian
and development organizations
and their partners for
outstanding logistics projects
implemented in the field. Several
organizations and partners can
also be honored for a joint
project.
Who presents
the award?
The international award is
presented by the Logistics Hall of
Fame. The winners are documented
in the Logistics Hall of
Fame and are freely accessible
at any time at www.logisticshalloffame.org
Who is the
sponsor of the
award?
The initiator and sponsor of the
Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence
in Humanitarian Logistics is the
Fritz Institute, based in California,
USA. The medal is named after
its chairman and CEO Lynn C.
Fritz.
The most frequently asked
What is the
aim of the
award?
The award aims to motivate
humanitarian and development
organizations to continuously
improve the humanitarian supply
chain as well as recognize its
strategic value as a key competency
for humanitarian action.
The Logistics Hall of Fame and
the sponsor want to use the
medal to publicize the industry‘s
performance and innovative
strength as well as the social
relevance of excellent logistics,
and to contribute to the competitiveness
and image improvement
of the entire logistics
industry.
What is the
application
process?
After applying via internet form
and uploading the required
documents applicants will receive
a confirmation of receipt. The
Expert Council evaluates each
submission and determines the
projects to be submitted to the jury
for a decision from all the proposals
received each year. Non-winning
projects may be submitted
multiple times. The decision on
who wins is made by the international
jury in an online voting.
Afterwards, the winner will be
informed in writing.
What are the
benefits of the
award?
Internal and external attention for
the topic of supply chain management
in the humanitarian
context. The winner will also get
attention from funders and
potential partners. Furthermore
the winner can get in contact
with 200 managers from industry,
logistics service providers as well
as academics and journalists at
the gala reception. Furthermore,
there is an opportunity to present
the project at a conference prior
to the reception in Berlin.
Seite Page 28

FAQ
What are the
criteria of the
award?
The Expert Council determined
the evaluation criteria. Economy,
efficiency, innovation, sustainability,
exemplary character for the
humanitarian logistics sector and
other industries are basically
central criteria.
What documents
are
required?
An application must include the
following: Applicant contact
information, detailed description of
the logistics project and its practicality,
relevant key figures, links,
PDFs, statements, images or
videos. You have to write a
summary (1.000 characters),
reasons for the proposal or application
(5.000 characters) and a
profile. It will take about four hours.
The Lynn
C. Fritz
Medal
QUESTIONS
for
Who decides
on the award?
An international jury selects the
winning project from the group of
finalists. The selection is database-supported
and secret on
the closed jury portal of the
Logistics Hall of Fame on the
Internet. The Expert Council
determines which of the submitted
applications will be presented
to the jury for selection. The
members of this operational
body are recognized specialists
in the field of humanitarian
logistics. A member of the Expert
Council can also be a member
of the jury.
How can an
organization
apply?
Organizations are eligible to
apply from the field of logistics.
Each organization can apply with
its own projects. An application
can also be submitted jointly by
several parties (joint projects). The
projects must be supply chain or
logistics projects that have been
implemented and proven in
practice. Theoretical papers or
declarations of intent are not
sufficient. Applications must be
submitted in writing via Internet
form at www.logisticshalloffame.
net. The results of a project must
not be older than three years.
Excellence
in
Humanitarian
Logistics
Seite Page 29

Logistics ConnectChains Tomorrow
New event
of the
Logistics Hall of Fame
With the ConnectChains Conference, the Logistics Hall of Fame is launching
a new event for humanitarian logistics.
The Logistics Hall of Fame has launched
a new international conference: ConnectChains
will celebrate its premiere
on November 29, 2023 in Berlin. Partner
is the Fritz Institute based in the USA.
The event aims to ensure that knowledge
transfer in the field of humanitarian
supply chain management takes place
among humanitarian organizations,
commercial enterprises, government
representatives and other stakeholders,
and that the players network even
more closely. In addition, humanitarian
organizations and logistics companies
should be better prepared to manage
crisis situations in the future. As the
Federal Minister of Digital and Transport
is the patron of the Logistics Hall
of Fame, the conference will be held on
the premises of the Federal Ministry of
Digital and Transport.
“The leverage of networking is enormous
– there is still great potential for collaboration,
especially in topics such as sustainability
or cooperation among various
players. Supply chain costs account for
between 60 and 80 percent of the total
cost of a project, and humanitarian organizations
have recognized that optimizations
in supply chain management,
especially in logistics and purchasing,
hold the keys to success.
With the ConnectChains Conference,
we are helping companies, governments
and humanitarian organizations worldwide
to better understand the different
challenges faced by all parties involved
and to jointly leverage this potential,”
emphasizes Thilo Jörgl, Executive Jury
Chairman of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for
Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics.
The summit is intended for logistics and
supply chain experts in humanitarian
and development organizations as well
as logistics companies. Also invited are
representatives from foundations, academia
as well as international funders.
The panel discussion will be followed by a
presentation by the winner of the Lynn C.
Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian
Logistics. The team from the selected
organization will be given an opportunity
to showcase their initative. ∞
Page 30

Interview Program
The Logistics Hall of Fame has launched a new international conference: The
ConnectChains – Humanitarian Supply Chain Conference will celebrate its
premiere on November 29 at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
(BMDV) in Berlin. Partner is Fritz Institute based in the USA.
The focus of the one-day conference is on knowledge transfer and networking
among all stakeholders in humanitarian and commercial supply chain
management with the aim of being able to be better prepared to manage
crisis situations.
09:30 Registration and coffee
10:00 Welcome
10:10 Talk: What is the aim of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal and Fritz Institute?
10:30 Keynote: The most important challenges in humanitarian supply chain management
11:00 Presentation: Winning project of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian
Logistics
11:20 Q&A: Winners of the Lynn C. Fritz Medal will answer questions
11:30 Coffee break
12:00 Impulse: Political risk indicators - How to predict crises using data analytics
12:15 Panel discussion: Supply chain management – opportunities and challenges
13:15 Summary and outlook: Application for Lynn C. Fritz Medal 2024
13:20 Light lunch, networking opportunities
14:30 End

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