Any consultant is expected to supply specific expertise and deliverables as per his or her terms of reference, and that is their responsibility during a consultation assignment.

The transport element of an end to end supply chain impacts on so many other aspects of the overall operation that it can rightly be classed as a critical function. Nevertheless, controlling its costs and efficiencies requires a careful balancing act to maintain customer satisfaction levels, contractual obligations and the needs of the operation. It needs constant monitoring because the parameters like demand, market conditions, loading and route optimisation are always changing.

To the uninitiated, it may seem that warehouse design is not exactly rocket science. However, the devil is in the detail and a recurring excessive cost can easily be caused by a flaw that is experienced perhaps hundreds of times a day when operational, each one costing a minute or two. Poor design may be difficult to detect because the operation runs smoothly, possibly better than previously, and the weak points about the design are simply not immediately obvious. Detailed planning is the key to success.

lementing a Warehouse Management System that does what you need can greatly enhance productivity and throughout as well as reducing wastefulness that costs money. It enhances customer satisfaction and employee morale and provides a management window into the state of health of one of the more impenetrable and expensive cost centres of a manufacturing or distribution operation.

Reducing costs while improving reliability and customer satisfaction is how one can sum up the ideals of a Supply Chain Consultant. It’s what they do. How that is achieved is a mixture of strategy and tactical steps that come together in recommendations and a blueprint for moving forward. The potential to enhance the bottom line in a sustainable manner, while driving out greater efficiencies, is one of the main justifications why organisations engage experienced consultants. These are usually the more forward looking enterprises who understand that getting ahead of the competition and staying there often requires innovative thinking combined with a truly deep understanding of the supply chain and procurement processes.

Logistics consultants are usually engaged to deliver a specific outcome and should utilise innovation as well as relevant experience and a track record in solving issues like yours. Consultants will tackle the assignment according to their own personal style, knowing what works best.

An additional significant advantage of engaging a consulting firm is that they will have a team of specialists to draw upon as the need arises, which effectively means more resources. A good consultant will not be afraid to challenge a client's preconceived notions or planned actions that need to be reassessed - all in a thoroughly professional and non-confrontational manner.

A warehouse is a very large cost item, in terms of balance sheet, facility running costs, and equipment and staffing. Day to day utilisation costs can be minimised through efficiency of design that makes all operations as fast and effortless as possible with minimal materials handling. That implies that investing time and care at the design stage reaps rewards for the next 10 or 15 years. The converse also applies and unavoidable excessive overheads may be incurred on a daily basis through badly laid out and inadequate design, or through adopting a facility just because it exists and appears to provide a fast and convenient solution.

Transport is both a critical element of the end to end supply chain as well as a major overhead. Any flaws or inefficiencies result in a range of negative outcomes from loss of competitiveness to a drain on finances that can pose a significant risk to the business if not remedied. Constant measuring and optimisation is the surest defence. On the positive side, optimisation is also an attack tool, increasing efficiency, competitiveness and service levels while contributing directly to the bottom line through reduced operational overhead. What’s not to like about that?

In a nutshell, a Logistics Consultant will identify, where they exist, ways for you to improve the efficiency of your existing distribution network and operation, boost productivity and help save on staffing and resource costs.

Every business is different and has unique requirements, constraints and operating conditions. However, any SME E-commerce enterprise undertaking their own fulfilment will have a storage and picking and packing facility and a distribution network – a warehouse and a fleet of trucks (or a 3PL).