To this end LPC was retained to carry out a number of simulation exercises to determine the resource and financial impact that various scenarios would have on the distribution operation.

The simulation exercises were undertaken using Dips which is a purpose developed computer model which is very widely used for Facilities Location modelling and Transport Planning. It uses actual road networks, and can “self-optimise” location solutions as well as being used for the development and evaluation of optional scenarios. When being used for Location Modelling Dips can work either with individual collection and delivery points or with “clusters” of collection and delivery points.

LPC was retained by Nuffield Hospitals to develop a Dips model which is a purpose-developed computer model which is very widely used for Facilities Location modelling and Transport Planning. It uses actual road networks, and can “self-optimise” location solutions as well as being used for the development and evaluation of optional scenarios. When being used for Location Modelling Dips can work either with individual collection and delivery points or with “clusters” of collection and delivery points. 

A large proportion of sales are made via van sales operations which, due to the short-life mature of many of the products, necessitates that customers get daily deliveries.

To expedite the van sales the company uses three fleets of vehicles (dairy, meat and water), with each van carrying stock of up to 300 SKU’s.

Initially, LPC International was retained by Newey and Eyre to review its supply chain activities to their circa 200 wholesale branches. Each branch operated effectively as a “stand-alone” business, being responsible for its own buying, stockholding, sales and local delivery operations. The UK was split into regions with each region providing, via a regional hub or “superbranch” some level of stock-cover over and above that carried by each branch. In turn the network was supported by a 90,000 sq.ft NDC at Warrington. 

LPC was retained by Denny to:

• To identify a range of options for distributing finished products in Northern Ireland.
• To identify the costs and key attributes of each option.

To evaluate each option in terms of:

1. Cost minimisation
2. Product date maximisation
3. Business simplification
4. The ability to meet future business needs
5. Flexibility and reliability