10 Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Logistics Outsourcing
When you consider just how popular logistics outsourcing has become over the last few years, you could be forgiven for thinking that success is a foregone conclusion. However, as some companies have found out the hard way, there are certain pitfalls to avoid in...
6 Quick Tips for Successful Logistics Outsourcing
In my last few posts, I’ve focused quite a lot on what can go wrong when outsourcing, the pitfalls to avoid, things that can drive companies to return to in-sourcing, and similar points which, while I don’t consider them negative (they simply reflect the...
Drones in Distribution: Thinking Inside the Box
I’d be a little surprised if you haven’t yet heard about retail giant, Amazon and its plans for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), otherwise known as drones, in distribution. Indeed, progress reports have been cropping up in the media regularly over the...
7 Supply Chain and Logistics Trends to Watch in 2018
Yes... It's that time of year again. The festivities are ramping up and in the blink of an eye we'll be ushering in the 19th year of the 21st century. It's that time when idle chatter at the office Christmas lunch turns to debating what next year will bring,...
How AI Helps Build the Supply Chain that Thinks for Itself
How close are we to supply chains that can run themselves? Are production, warehousing and transport ready to become lights-out operations, where no human being is needed? Artificial intelligence can already automate much of supply chain. It can also make a supply...
A Recommended Approach to Warehouse Layout and Operational Design
Is your warehouse full of pallets sitting on the aisle instead of up in the racks? Do you need a bigger facility to cater for the forecast growth of your business over the medium to long term? Is your warehouse operation inefficient? Does your warehouse storage and...
Don’t Let Your RFT be a 3PL Solution Designer’s Nightmare
At their best, third party logistics (3PL) companies provide new and innovative ways to improve logistics effectiveness. They are also agile and flexible enough to accommodate the current and future business needs...
Is Your Company on top of its Inventory Planning Game?
Good inventory management, like everything else, starts with good planning. But planning isn't just the start; it's the very foundation of effective inventory control. Inventory planning also happens to be an area that many companies fail to prioritise...
Common Supply Chain Mistakes to Avoid
Are You Suffering Too? I see these same mistakes, day in day out, Across all industries, across all countries, and it has been that way for as long as I can remember… So let me share some thoughts that might help you avoid these mistakes and boost your...
Level 1 Supply Chain KPIs
Back in 2014, I remember talking on a webinar about Supply Chain KPIs, and when asked about my thoughts on these, I responded as follows: 1) Make them ‘meaningful’ 2) Keep them simple 3) Don’t have too many The chart below illustrates the Level 1 Supply Chain...