Case Studies
Here is a selection of anonymised case studies that highlight how we have helped many businesses of all sizes with their supply chain and logistics challenges and projects in a variety of sectors.
SECTOR: DIY PRODUCTS
Project
Imports Supply Chain Review
£300m sales; 25,000 TEUs
Prepare a review of systems, processes and costs along the supply chain and identify priority areas for action
Tasks
Develop inventory analysis model to determine target stock requirements at each node along the supply chain
Build a cost-to-serve model for the Import Supply Chain and calculate the cost impact on the Far East and the UK of different supply chain options
Establish a framework for future development priorities and an implementation plan
Results
Identified £4m operating cost savings, £20m working capital reduction
Provided a practical implementation plan
SECTOR: RETAILING – CONVENIENCE STORES
Project
Buying Price Analysis
£750m sales; 800 stores
Develop model of buying prices by key product sector (net buying prices; marketing spend; promotions; palletisation discounts; retro’s etc.) for 3,200 Grocery lines
Tasks
Analyse cost differences between wholesale delivered prices and direct from supplier to central warehouse for compatible products
Establish savings estimates by product category
Audit results on implementation
Results
Savings of £3.6m delivered
SECTOR: RETAILING – FOOD ALL TEMPERATURES
Project
Future Network Strategy
£400m sales; 10,000 SKUs
Analyse current operations, determine strengths, weaknesses and current capacity constraints.
Tasks
Model logistics implications of store growth plans
Develop future design options for location of DCs and transport links
Recommend the optimum solutions for different growth scenarios Design new generation chill and ambient warehouses to maximise productivity in high service level environment
Results
Identified the optimum locations and size of DC for the future network.
New business plan and costings adopted for logistics operations.
New warehouse design will yield a 25% improvement in productivity in a mature logistics operation.
SECTOR: RETAILING – CLOTHING
Project
Design a future warehousing strategy
£350m sales; 70,000 SKUs
Analyse current operations and determine strengths and weaknesses.
Tasks
Re-design layouts to improve capacity and performance
Develop future design options for long term warehousing requirements taking account of development plans and centres of business gravity
Create new warehouse operational designs to maximize productivity
Results
Identified opportunities to improve productivity by 32% and capacity of existing facilities by 18%
New operations reduced manpower requirements by 16%
Strategy implemented
SECTOR: MANUFACTURING – CONSUMER GOODS
Project
Warehouse design and capacity planning
£500m sales; 27,000 pallet spaces
Analyse current DC operational performance and methods
Tasks
Develop capacity planning model for warehousing versus company growth plans
Design new factory warehouse (Narrow-aisle) considering environmental and site constraints
Cost new options and provide a detailed implementation plan and on-going project management advice
Results
New DC built on time on budget
SECTOR: MANUFACTURING – CARPET ACCESSORIES
Project
Logistics strategy
£120m sales; 4 plants; 25,000 delivery locations
Establish target stock levels for production and finished goods inventory
Tasks
Capacity analysis of warehousing and new operational design for a central warehouse operation
Develop new cross-dock model for distribution and reorganise transport planning and operations
Develop implementation plan
Results
£3m cost savings
£2m inventory reduction
SECTOR: MANUFACTURING – BEVERAGES
Project
To review the cost/efficiency of current operations
£12m logistics spend
Create a cost to serve model to quantify existing operations
Tasks
Prepare an Invitation to Tender covering inbound shipping, warehousing and onward distribution
Negotiate with suppliers to change and standardise buying terms
Lead the selection process of shipping & logistics suppliers Assist in implementation and established performance measurement
Results
Significant cost savings, full visibility and transparency of product and information flows.
SECTOR: MANUFACTURING – BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Project
To review the operating efficiency of the outsourced UK transport operations, identify areas for improvement and assist in implementation
One of the UK’s largest manufacturers of concrete slab and cube with 4 plants.
Establish target stock levels for production and finished goods inventory
Tasks
Mapped out all the processes, reviewed operating procedures and communication protocols, analysed the key performance indicators.
Develop implementation plan Key staff were evaluated as were their locations and reporting structures
Results
Assist in implementation including establishing performance measurement & a new pricing structure
Delivery failures dropped by 50%.
Delivery costs reduced while financial returns to the transport operator improved.
SECTOR: MANUFACTURING – CHILLED FOOD
Project
To review the existing supply chain and make recommendations to reduce costs and improve customer service.
One of Europe’s largest suppliers of salad leaf to multiple retailers with a turnover in-excess of £12m
Tasks
Traced the product flows to end customer to identify any areas for concern and opportunities for improvement. Interviewed customers and third-party transport companies.
Benchmarking on transport costs.
Assessed the product lifecycle from field to fork, with particular emphasis on product condition and waste. Investigated all possible packaging options. Assist in ITT preparation.
Results
Moved the transport operation on to a more formal footing and established long term relationships with key suppliers resulting in improved service and cost savings.
SECTOR: THIRD PARTY CONTRACTING – PALLET DISTRIBUTION
Project
- Transport strategy
£140m sales; 1,000 vehicles; 90 locations
Optimise location of hubs and determine volume break- point for the development of new regional hubs
Tasks
Analyse regional delivery boundaries and improve efficiency of transport operation through realignment of boundaries and transport consolidation
Develop profitability model to determine business performance by customer and geographical area
Develop internal charging tariff based on weighted cost variables in transport and warehousing
Results
2% margin improvement
Opportunities for a further 8% improvement at individual operating level
SECTOR: WHOLESALE – SPARE PARTS
Project
Develop a Pan-European Logistics Strategy
Develop cost-to-serve model for comparative efficiency analysis between countries
£420m sales; 200 locations; 9 countries; 150,000 SKUs
Tasks
Analyse economics of customer service proposition, stockholding locations and transport efficiencies
Develop profitability model to determine business performance by customer and geographical area
Compare centralised stock versus decentralised stock model and stocked versus bought-in.
Results
Reduction in operating locations by 43%
£5m inventory savings
£2m logistics cost savings
SECTOR: WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION – BUILDING PRODUCTS
Project
Primary Transport Review
£200m sales; 12,000 pallets
Tasks
Analyse current operation and establish benchmarks
Analyse options for an alternative operation to improve service levels and security of deliveries
Develop tender specification; Identify suitable contractors; Evaluate 3PL responses Develop recommendations
Results
On-time delivery services with minimal product losses
16% transport savings
SECTOR: MAIL ORDER AND INTERNET – FASHION ACCESSORIES
Project
Automated Warehousing and Project Management
£900m sales; 120,000 SKUs
Tasks
Develop operating and capital budgets
Liaise with contractors & monitor performance
Project manage the implementation of high bay warehousing operation with a multi-level automated crane system Develop interfaces between automated equipment and manual operations and troubleshoot issues as they arise
Results
Project delivered on time and on budget
SECTOR: RETAIL – SPARE PARTS
Project
Review current automated warehouse and identify strengths and weaknesses
Undertake audit of key operational and systems processes.
Tasks
Assess whether the original design is fit for purpose and what strategic factors need to be considered in the future.
Develop a strategic and tactical development plan to meet current operational weaknesses.
Results
Confirmed general effectiveness of existing design
Identified central weaknesses impacting on current operational performance
Developed a plan for improvement which was implemented.
SECTOR: RETAIL – GROCERY
Project
Design a 10-year Logistics Strategy for a
£3.6bn business with 300 stores
Review current operations (capacity/productivity)
Tasks
Analyse future store growth plans and implications for logistics and model future inventory levels
Analyse transport planning and operations to determine best fit for depot locations
Develop a strategic and tactical development plan to meet future logistics development needs of the business.
Results
Created a new logistics strategy which saved capital and minimised operating costs whilst providing the capacity and flexibility to deal with future growth plans
SECTOR: MANUFACTURING – BUILDING PRODUCTS
Project
Production Planning Strategy and Warehouse Design
For a £75m sales business
Create Production Strategy for a move from ‘Make to Order’ to ‘Make to Stock’
Tasks
Sales analysis to produce Inventory guidelines and methodology for safety stocks
Design a warehouse to hold the needed stock levels
Train staff in methodologies Customer Market Research Survey on changes to product delivery: palletisation and order from stock
Results
Board invested in the necessary marketing, systems and warehousing to meet the new sales and production planning regime
SECTOR: WHOLESALING – INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
Project
Inventory Review for a company with £100m sales and 10000 SKUs
Prepare a review of systems, forecasting and inventory planning processes and costs.
Tasks
Develop forecasting tools and an inventory analysis model to determine target stock requirements at each node along the supply chain.
Test forecasting and inventory model
Establish a framework for forecasting and inventory decisions making and an implementation plan and recommendations
Results
Simple monthly methodology identified 15% saving in working capital and provided a practical implementation plan.
SECTOR: HEALTHCARE – MEDICAL DEVICES
Project
A global supplier of medical devices who acquired a large part of a European competitor business.
The project involved setting up a European 3PL hub in the Netherlands, inbounds from the USA, UK and EU.
The timeframes were short for start-up and involved sensitive transfer of business from competitor.
Tasks
Identify, shortlist and pre audit 3PL suppliers
Prepare and run RFQ process together with final appointment of successful 3PL
Project manage 3PL start-up Project manage inbound flows from USA, UK and EU Post implementation support
Results
Identified creditable 3PL options.
Successful 3PL start-up
Cross functional support for revised inbound product flows
Workshop – Revised process flows
SECTOR: HEALTHCARE – DENTISTRY PRODUCTS
Project
Inventory Review
£80m sales; 7,500 SKUs
Prepare a review of systems, forecasting and inventory planning processes and costs.
Tasks
Develop forecasting tools ands inventory analysis model to determine target stock requirements.
Test forecasting and inventory model particularly for slow moving lumpy sales SKUs
Establish a framework for forecasting and inventory decision making and an implementation plan and recommendations
Results
Simple monthly methodology identified 15% saving in working capital and provided a practical implementation plan
Our Clients
From corporate offices to large-scale events, our clients trust us to deliver reliable and professional security solutions tailored to their needs. Drawing on decades of experience, we benchmark our approach against leading supply chain consulting companies to ensure clients receive measurable, world-class outcomes
