Memphis Cook Convention CenterMemphis, Tennessee
Tours & Dinner
Known as "America's Distribution Center" for the past three decades, Memphis has redefined global logistics. In the very heart of North America, Memphis provides easy access for moving people and product around the world. It makes a fabulous backdrop for our conference, and provides great tours to choose from.
Tour Schedules*
Medtronic
May 1 – Bus departs Memphis Marriott for Memphis facility location at 9:30 AM. Tour is from 10 -11 AM. Bus returns to Memphis Marriott at 11:30 AM.
$20 Transportation fee
Visitors will be taken through Medtronic’s highly automated, 250,000+ square foot distribution center while learning about direct shipping of medical devices to sales rep, surgeons, and hospitals. They will learn about the day-to-day receiving, quality inspection, auditing, and shipping of 800-1,000 (daily) spine loaner sets. They will also see the finished goods receiving and order processing activities that support the loaner operation.
FedEx SmartPost®
May 1 – Bus departs Memphis Marriot for FedEx Hub in Southaven, MS at 1:30 PM. Tour is from 2-3 PM. Bus returns to Memphis Marriott at 3:30 PM.
The purpose of the FedEx SmartPost is to reduce transit time, minimize handling and maximize cost savings. And now you can get up close and personal to see how it all gets done. Visitors will be able to witness thousands of packages come through the facility and get sorted before they off to the United States Post Office. Along the way, you will learn about the advanced and intricate technology used by FedEx, the difference between automated and manual hubs, and just how FedEx is working with the United States Post Office to ensure your packages get there on time.
FedEx Express®
May 1 – Bus departs Memphis Marriot for FedEx Hub in Memphis at 10:45 PM. Tour is from 11 PM – 1 AM. Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 1:30 AM.
Visitors will watch as a massive fleet of planes arrive from all over the country and unload their boxes. Then, you’ll see the massive sortation process in preparation for the loading of sorted parcels unto the planes so that they can get to their destination.
FedEx Ground® Hub
May 2 –Bus departs Memphis Marriot for FedEx Hub in Olive Branch, MS at 6 PM. Tour is from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 8:00 PM.
The Ground Facility will be experiencing the twilight sort of packages of unload and re-loading going to their destinations via conveyors. Customers will be given a hand out at the beginning of the tour with information about the Hub.
Ingram Micro Advanced Logistics Center
May 2 – Bus departs Memphis Marriot at 5:45 PM for Millington, TN facility. Tour is from 6:30 PM – 8 PM. Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 8:30 PM
$20 Transportation Fee
There’s a reason why Ingram Micro Logistics is the global leader in end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions – and it’s not just our trademark flexibility and scale. With seven North American Advanced Logistics centers comprising more than 4.4 million square feet of space, our distribution centers are the heart of our business and bring more to our customers than just pick, pack, and ship.
From green ISO 14001 certification and 5S methodologies to the most efficient information systems and fulfillment processes, our ALCs are designed to deliver value to customers all over the country, over 80,000 times a day. Join us for an exclusive visit our Millington, TN Advanced Logistics Center to find out what 30+ years in order management and multi-channel fulfillment expertise looks like. You may just find out that “thinking inside the box” isn’t so boring after all.
FedEx Express®
May 2 – Bus departs Memphis Marriot for FedEx Hub in Memphis at 10:45 PM. Tour is from 11 PM – 1 AM.
Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 1:30 AM.
Visitors will watch as a massive fleet of planes arrive from all over the country and unload their boxes. Then, you’ll see the massive sortation process in preparation for the loading of sorted parcels unto the planes so that they can get to their destination.
Mallory Group
May 3 – Bus departs Memphis Marriot at 3:30 PM for Memphis facility location. Tour is from 4 PM – 5 PM.
Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 5:30 PM
$20 Transportation Fee
The main emphasize of this tour will be Mallory Group’s flower kitting operation. Visitors will get to experience firsthand how they cut and hydrate the flowers, and they will see the shipping the receiving department.
FedEx Ground® Hub
May 3 –Bus departs Memphis Marriot for FedEx Hub in Olive Branch, MS at 6 PM. Tour is from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 8:00 PM.
The Ground Facility will be experiencing the twilight sort of packages of unload and re-loading going to their destinations via conveyors. Customers will be given a hand out at the beginning of the tour with information about the Hub.
FedEx Express®
May 3 – Bus departs Memphis Marriot for FedEx Hub in Memphis at 10:45 PM. Tour is from 11 PM – 1 AM.
Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 1:30 AM.
Visitors will watch as a massive fleet of planes arrive from all over the country and unload their boxes. Then, you’ll see the massive sortation process in preparation for the loading of sorted parcels unto the planes so that they can get to their destination.
Benchmark Brands/FootSmart
May 4 – Bus departs Memphis Marriott for Benchmark Brands at 8:15 AM. Tour is from 9 AM – 9:45 AM.
Bus returns to Memphis Marriot at 10:15 AM.
$20 Transportation Fee
Benchmark Brands is an integrated direct-to-consumer retailer and product development company dedicated to serving the lifestyle and healthcare needs of baby boomers and seniors. Since 1989, the Company has been focused on providing smarter, better products that keep our customers moving in comfort.
With our FootSmart brand, we offer an extensive selection of stylish, comfortable footwear from over 100 leading brands as well as the most extensive collection of foot and lower body healthcare products online, supported by lifestyle and health content that reinforces our position as the foot comfort expert. Benchmark Brands has served over 4,000,000 consumers to date and is developing other brand concepts that leverage our relationship with our customer base.
Facility:
- 150,000 sq ft
- Direct to Consumer
- Outbound, Receiving, Returns, Light assembly
- Recently invested heavily in integrating an auto-bagging system in our outbound area and a new conveyor system
- Recently invested in auto-matting certain areas of our returns process and a new conveyor system
*Tour space is limited and other limitations may apply. After you register for the Main Conference, you will be contacted and be able to choose your Tour preference. Tour choices will be offered in the order that Main Conference registrations are received. One Tour per registration.
Dinner Group
The Operations Summit has prearranged an optional Dinner Group so that you can network while experiencing a Memphis hot spot.
Wednesday, May 2, 7 to 9 p.m.: Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous, 52 South Second Street
Don’t miss the birthplace of the American dry rib. In 1948, Charlie Vergos cleaned out a basement below his diner, discovered a coal chute, and started a legend. The coal chute gave him a vent for his considerable talent over a grill, and allowed him to expand from ham-and-cheese sandwiches to ribs. Today, several thousand people on an average Saturday night pour into a basement and sink their teeth into a slab of what makes Memphis, well, Memphis. Presidents and potentates, the King and the Rolling Stones, and everybody who’s anybody have all been down for a bite.
$45.00/person includes transportation, dinner and tea or soft drinks.
- A shuttle will depart the Marriot Memphis Downtown hotel at 6:45 p.m. Please exit the hotel lobby through the West Foyer, at the corner of Main and Exchange streets, near the water fountain.
- Appetizer selection of cheese, sausage, pickles and peppers. The dinner menu, which is a barbeque buffet, will include ribs, shoulder, chicken breasts, beans, slaw, bread, and unlimited soft drinks and teas.
Special thanks to the Memphis Chamber of Commerce for playing a key role in making the tours possible.
