Do you need a Supply Chain Consultant? Until a couple of years ago, many companies would immediately have said no. Then a pandemic put supply chain high on the agenda and showed us how interconnected the world is and how vulnerable a supply chain can be. It is still felt by the automotive industry, as with many others. According to Bloomberg, some global car manufacturers are now experiencing an improvement in their microchip supply. Others are seeing limited deliveries and expect it to influence their quarterly and annual vehicle production numbers negatively.
However with such supply chain volatility there also lies opportunity. Supply chain consultants with broad knowledge, such as Bisham Consulting, can work with a business to assess demand planning and forecasting, with the ultimate goal being optimal supply chain performance. There are no guarantees, as the biggest companies in the world know, but the present and future compel us to look at new ways of doing business.
Supply Chain Consultant Responsibilities and how they can help your business
Do you have the infrastructure to back up your sales? Do you have a representative in Mexico but have no product or people to support them? Sales departments often have a strategy that does not consider the supply chain. How can a supply chain consultant help you close this gap that is a risk to the company?
Collect data. A supply chain consultant is skilled at getting information and doing it quickly, then presenting it as usable data to show areas that can be improved or to highlight problems.
Identify problems. With their understanding of every element of the supply chain, consultants can identify problems that people within the company don’t notice because they are too close to the operations.
Make recommendations. After identifying the problems, a supply chain consultant will evaluate all possible solutions and make recommendations, keeping cost in mind.
Assist with Implementation. Sometimes, especially with complex projects, it is beneficial to retain consultants until implementation is completed. Bisham Consulting will only recommend solutions that they would be happy to implement.
Supply Chain Consultant Personality Skills and Traits
A supply chain consultant must have the personality skills and traits to understand the people, systems, and financial aspects of each business. One of the main requirements of a consultant is that they should have broad experience in supply chain operations. Well-developed listening skills are also key to evaluate the situation. Psychology Today states the goal of active listening is to establish rapport and build trust. A consultant must do this quickly and with credibility.
Other qualities and skills a consultant must have include the ability to manage, negotiate, and communicate. They should also have well-developed analytical skills and the information technology (IT) expertise to assess how technology is used in the supply chain and how to improve it.
Examples of How Supply Chain Consultants Help Businesses
Do you believe your supply chain is aligned with your business objectives? If the answer is yes, how do you measure success? If not, here are some examples of how supply chain consultants can help businesses.
- Develop an effective supply chain strategy.
- Achieve effective outsourcing of an international supply chain.
- Evaluate the performance and robustness of current and future supply chain networks.
- Assess the supply chain risks.
- Suggest improvements in supply chain IT applications.
- Third party logistics (3PL) and Fourth party logistics (4PL) outsourcing.
- Evaluate procurement strategies, processes and models to maximise the contract value.
- Project management and implementation.
- Assess and advise on warehouse automation, operations and design.
- Review and optimisation of transport management and logistics networks.
- Assist with inventory management and demand planning.
Bisham Consulting are logistics and supply chain consultants. All the consultants previously held senior roles in the logistics industry, from large multinationals to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Therefore they have a very broad level of cumulative experience.
If you would like an informal chat to see if a supply chain consultant can help your business – contact Bisham Consulting today on 01628 487000.