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Case Study

APU Terminals (A): Putting safety on the map

By Bettina Büchel and Luis Vivanco

6 pages

June 2014

Reference: IMD-7-1520

APM Terminals is the operationally independent subsidiary of AP Maersk, the largest shipping company in the world. The company was created in the late 1990’s and grew, both organically and through acquisitions, from 12 to nearly 60 terminals worldwide. The industry is historically considered as dangerous and fatalities are considered an unavoidable part of “the cost of doing business”. This case looks at the first part of the 21st century and how the rapidly growing APMT attempts to bring some consistency to the safety procedures of terminals under its management in widely different cultural environments, in an attempt to bring down the number of casualties and serious injuries in the workplace. It shows the decisions that prevented the initiative from reaching the level of success that it was set up to accomplish.

Learning Objective

To understand how an industry or company culture can affect operational issues. To recognize the shortcomings of a gradual approach in some cultural situations.

Keywords

Change Management, Leadership, Safety, Port, Operations, Shipping, Corporate Culture

Settings

World/global, Netherlands
APM Terminals, Logistics and Supply Chain, Shipping
2006-2014

Type

Field Research

Available Languages

English

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This case study is part of a series

APU Terminals (A): Putting safety on the map
APU Terminals (B): The safety activist

This case study is part of a series

APU Terminals (A): Putting safety on the map
APU Terminals (B): The safety activist

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