Jo Godsmark

Product:

• Experienced support & guidance in the development, or refinement, of supply chain strategy
• Definition of how the business will benefit from the deployment of the strategy and a supporting set of projects
• Assistance in the implementation of the agreed approach

Approach:

• Early establishment of the overall business objectives and agreement on how the supply chain strategy relates to them
• Steering team of client senior managers that ensures this link with overall business objectives is maintained and provides a forum for decision making on strategic alternatives
• Workshops with operational managers to sense check findings and develop the roadmap for implementation
• Scope would ideally cover the complete supply chain: suppliers and customers and all related functions such as Operations, Planning, Organisation, Systems and Business Processes
• Alternatively analysis of one part of the supply chain could be selected

Output:

• Clarity and agreement on how the supply chain will meet and support overall business strategy
• Identification of required performance improvements and how these should be achieved and measured via a set of key projects and KPIs
• Roadmap of projects required to implement strategy and action plan
• Clear establishment of high level benefits of each recommendation

Benefits:

• Removing areas of potential waste from the supply chain with a clear strategy creates opportunities for cost saving as well as environmental benefits of a reduced carbon footprint
• The client business is able to prioritise and focus on those supply chain requirements which support the overall business objectives
• Our experience in strategy development, analytical skills and status as a “neutral expert” enables us to identify and tackle roadblocks to progress in key areas
• Our participative approach builds awareness and long term support amongst middle management

Product:

• Specialist logistics procurement support for manufacturing or retailing businesses
• Strategic logistics procurement reviews and analysis
• Tender and outsourcing program management including support with specifications if required
• Market reviews and alternatives

Approach:

• Initial focus on understanding the priorities and objectives of the procurement exercise, including soft benefits and potential risks
• Market analysis including a specification review to understand, and perhaps challenge, criteria which restrict or constrain the potential supply base
• Assistance with information gathering plus production of tender and pre-tender documentation
• Practical advice and support during all stages of a procurement exercise
• Provision of vendor assurance services for use with potential suppliers
• Complete confidentiality of all client information

Output:

• An approach that is consistent with the overall objectives of the client’s business
• A practical market evaluation for a particular logistics service including recommended actions
• A well managed tender exercise with good information, communication flows together with appropriate risk management

Benefits:

• Reduced risk and increased savings through the leverage of our extensive practical and commercial experience
• Specialist support to supplement the skills of general buying teams as and when required, either where the client does not have the expertise in-house or when teams are stretched
• Client management allowed to remain focused on their day to day operations

Product:

• Design of effective logistics networks including analysis of supplier, customer and factory locations and distribution profiles to determine optimum storage and dispatch locations
• Further integration of customer segmentation, consolidation opportunities and service objectives
• Redesign of existing networks to enhance performance
• Introduction of potential suppliers that can deliver the chosen solution
• Modelling of operations both at strategic supply chain level and tactical or operational level

Approach:

• Review of networks from first principles
• Balancing the results from this with practical and commercial considerations to produce a realistic network strategy and migration plan
• Priority given to the client’s overall supply chain strategy and service objectives
• Use of technical network design models such as centre of gravity, transport modelling and warehousing design
• An interactive approach with all interested parties to ensure that modelling is appropriate for the project’s requirements and that key parameters or service restrictions are taken into account

Output:

• Realistic models of network opportunities that factor in all significant constraints
• Management analysis and recommendations on network change, based on commercial opportunities as well as the output of the modelling
• Practical assistance in establishing corresponding operating solutions including sizing transport fleets

Benefits:

• Optimised overall logistics costs
• Reduction in a company’s carbon footprint through reduced transport miles and better utilised vehicles
• A coherent network that avoids the cost and service penalties associated with multiple warehouses, stock transfers and buffer storage

Product:

• Supply chain process review to achieve performance or cost improvement
• Particular expertise in processes related to physical logistic flows and communication with 3PLs

Approach:

• Initial focus on understanding the priorities and objectives of the process review, including overall business objectives
• As-Is supply chain process review including process hierarchy, ownership and inter-relation between the different processes
• More detailed As-Is review and To-Be design of specific processes critical for performance improvement
• Implementation recommendations including training and resource considerations
• Workshops to allow staff to input to review and understand outputs and role in future processes

Output:

• Supply chain process hierarchy and individual process diagrams for critical processes
• To Be process designs for specific processes
• Roadmap and action plans with training of key personnel
• Establishment of KPIs and ownership to monitor progress

Benefits:

• Identification of overlap and duplication helps reduce overall costs to the organization
• Identification of process and ownership gaps can avoid mistakes in the future, and lead to the resolution of any conflicts
• Improved understanding of key personnel of the critical processes and their roles within them
• Improved business performance through the adoption of consistent and appropriate supply chain processes

Product:

• Specialist support for improving supply chain performance in the areas of service, responsiveness, time to market, environmental impact and total cost reduction
• Targeted at businesses with specific performance gaps or as part of a general supply chain ‘health check’
• Evaluation of existing performance, and opportunity for improvement, of both current and potential logistics companies and hauliers

Approach:

• Focus on understanding business environment, specification of service and performance concerns
• As-Is review of the existing performance in the target supply chain area
• Involvement of key staff in the process, where appropriate
• More detailed focus on specific highlighted areas as required
• Report on opportunities for improvement together with KPIs for future performance monitoring and a roadmap for change

Output:

• A practical evaluation of the performance of the target supply chain area or 3PL service
• Action plans for performance improvement including network changes or new service provider if necessary
• Recommendations on KPIs and performance monitoring for ongoing control
• Support with communication to internal senior management in appropriate format and level if required

Benefits:

• Simple changes such as the introduction of revised performance targets can lead to significant savings and environmental benefits
• Identification of improvement opportunities can also deliver savings and improve staff morale
• Our practical understanding of both the manufacturer’s world and of running 3PL businesses provides a good basis for agreeing and improving performance
• Flexible approach to fees – willing to consider various structures including partial share of benefits

Product:

• Experienced support for the implementation of changes to logistics networks including new warehousing facilities, an expansion of services or new suppliers
• Complete implementation management service or expert support to client’s project management team
• Risk analysis of project implementation plans based on experience of many different types of change projects
• Vendor assurance of new suppliers and their readiness for implementation

Approach:

• Initial review of risks and opportunities including commercial, commissioning and business process aspects
• Support in goal setting and subsequent progress management & review
• Use of standard project management techniques combined with practical experience of previous implementations, including business process testing
• Absolute confidentiality and professional integrity

Output:

• Clear project definition and objective setting
• Detailed identification of resource requirements and sourcing of specialist input
• Implementation of project control and monitoring ‘tools’ e.g. production of plans using Microsoft Project
• Identification of risks to the project, including financial, and issues arising, plus co-ordination of their resolution
• Application of reporting and change control mechanisms – resulting in better management of project interdependencies
• Internal and external fact-based communications plus facilitation of project review meetings

Benefits:

• Reduction in the risks and costs of change (particularly that of business interruption) through the support of experienced professionals
• Control of project costs by a trusted third party
• Prompt issue resolution
• Improved achievement of project benefits through their identification and control throughout the implementation process