Industry Served | Building Materials
Strategic Sourcing Fuels Decades-Long Partnership of Growth, Innovation and Reliability
3,000,000
Pallets Delivered Annually,
99.9% On-Time
100%
Quality Satisfaction
Since the 1980's
1
Optimized Spec Standardized
from 14 Original Specs
SNAPSHOT
Industry: Building Materials Products
Services Provided: Stringer Pallets, Millwood Lab, Custom Wooden Crates, Stretch Film, Shrink Film, Lumber, Shrink Wrap Systems, Vendor Managed Inventory
Challenge
14 different pallet specs led to costly product damage and inefficiencies across the customer’s supply chain.
Solution
1 Optimized, standardized spec, rigorously tested in Millwood’s Packaging Science Lab before large-scale rollout.
Results
Over 3 million to-spec pallets delivered annually with 99.9% on-time performance, cutting waste and empowering growth.
Fragmented Procurement, Rising Supply Chain Costs
A global manufacturing giant faced increasing inefficiencies and costs due to a fragmented supplier base. Their facilities were sourcing packaging and pallets from different vendors, resulting in inconsistent specifications, variable quality and limited transparency.
This lack of standardization meant higher product damage rates in transit, difficulty scaling processes across locations and unnecessary administrative overhead.
As the company grew, C-suite leadership recognized that managing dozens of supplier relationships was unsustainable. They needed a growth partner capable of providing not just pallets, but a wide range of packaging and logistics solutions through a strategic sourcing model.
A Vendor Consolidation Strategy Backed by Innovation
The company turned to Millwood, a trustworthy supplier since the 1980s, for a solution that would align with their long-term vision. Instead of continuing to juggle multiple vendors, they chose to consolidate with us in a strategic sourcing partnership.
The first step in our expanded partnership was a careful analysis of their supply chain needs. At the center of this process was the Millwood Lab, an ISTA-certified packaging science facility.
The Lab tested their products under real-world conditions — vibration, compression, and impact — to pinpoint the causes of transit damage. Equipped with these insights, Millwood designed a uniform pallet spec optimized for the company’s products and distribution requirements.
Over the years, our partnership has grown beyond pallets, taking the form of a complete packaging and logistics solution, incorporating everything from custom crates and lumber to load securement solutions and end-of-line packaging systems.
With a continental footprint of 40+ facilities, 250+ partner locations and over 2,000 team members, Millwood was uniquely positioned to scale these solutions quickly and consistently across the company’s entire network, leading them to recognize us as their 2025 Supplier of the Year.
Cost Savings, Efficiency and a Path to Growth
By shifting to a vendor consolidation approach with Millwood, the customer achieved measurable results across multiple areas:
- Cost Reduction – Eliminated redundant supplier contracts and achieved significant savings through standardized specs and volume-based pricing.
- Consistency & Quality Control – Reliable pallet and packaging performance across all facilities, thanks to science-backed testing and innovation at the Millwood Lab.
- Operational Efficiency – Fewer invoices, simplified procurement and smoother logistics processes across their national network.
- Scalability – Rapid implementation of solutions across locations, supporting the company’s accelerating growth trajectory.
- Innovation Partner – Ongoing collaboration with Millwood ensures that packaging challenges are proactively solved, not just temporarily patched.
A True Strategic Growth Partnership
For this Fortune 500 industry leader, moving to a strategic sourcing model was more than a procurement decision — it was a growth strategy. With Millwood as their solution provider, they gained a long-term partner capable of listening, innovating and scaling solutions wherever, whenever and however needed.
The combination of Millwood’s expansive capabilities and the science-driven innovation of the Millwood Lab turned their procurement from a point of frustration into a foundation for efficiency, resilience and long-term success, even factoring into major acquisition decisions.
With Millwood in their corner, this company has been actively empowered to multiply their operations – a testament to the transformative power of vendor consolidation.
Connect With an Expert Today
We understand that time is one of your most valuable assets; that’s why we work hard to provide every one of our clients with a systems-based approach to improving quality and reducing costs while increasing efficiency. Whether you are looking for a single product or need a more comprehensive solution, our business is to support and serve the needs of your business.
We work with each of our clients to:
- Listen to their current and upcoming needs.
- Determine which of our products and services fit their application best.
- Develop an integrated plan to help them succeed.
We look forward to talking with you to learn how our team can serve your business.
Read More Case Studies
When a fast-food giant faced a packaging error that threatened its automated distribution center, Millwood’s Packaging Science Lab stepped in to redesign, test and validate new pallet configurations- saving 136,000 boxes of product and ensuring an on-time launch.
Millwood established a dedicated repair-and-return facility near a national manufacturing site, repurposing 96,000 pallets annually, keeping 4,800 cubic yards of wood out of landfills, and delivering $2 million in annual savings.
Millwood engineered a new crate for an industrial equipment manufacturer, addressing safety, durability, and visibility issues. With targeted design improvements like thicker panels, protective collars, integrated skids, and stenciled branding, the solution improved employee safety, protected components in transit, and streamlined assembly workflows.
Get Clarity. Cut Costs.
Strengthen Your Supply Chain.
Download 5 Ways Strategic Sourcing Impacts Your Bottom Line to discover proven steps for reducing risk, eliminating hidden waste, and building long-term confidence in your pallet and packaging program.
