Services
Our Services
We supply services to our customers by utilizing the efficiencies of Third Party Logistics (3PL) and smaller companies. We have succeeded in establishing service providers that are capable in providing quality, value driven services by creating this vast logistics market. These service providers are established within their core competencies and continuously strive to deliver value added service beyond our customer's expectations.
1. Supply Chain Strategy
Channel Strategy
As Supply Chain management professionals, we must ensure that supply chain initiatives are optimized to meet various channel strategies. The differences between channels of distribution, such as specific customer or product needs, can have a major impact on supply chain solutions.
In developing improved channel strategies, our work may often focus on:
- Articulation of contributions from different customers and customer groups, perhaps through cost to serve analysis.
- Gaining clear direction as to how to achieve optimum profitability from different channels
- Ensuring service alignment to meet profit objectives
- Creating cost alignment to meet profit objectives
Shared Distribution?
A review of distribution channel strategy can often highlight opportunities for shared distribution. Many companies have shied away from this in the past, fearing a loss of cost and service differentiation in the market place, but attitudes are now changing.
Logistics Bureau have undertaken a number of reviews recently that have assessed the potential benefits of competitors sharing distribution facilities and/or delivery transport. This type of work is undertaken within a strict set of agreed boundaries to ensure that each company's information is handled with the appropriate degree of confidentiality.
Supply Chain Strategy Alignment
Our goals in this area of work are often to ensure that supply chains are aligned and connected, improving effectiveness and visibility for all stakeholders.
Typical aspects can include:
- Alignment of internal logistics functions with service targets
- Alignment of internal logistics functions with cost targets
- Alignment of customer needs to supply chain responsiveness
- Alignment of IT infrastructure to support SC activity
- Alignment of customer demand to supply
- Improved Sales and Operations Planning
- Improved collaborative opportunities
2. Supply Chain Tactics
Business Integration
Business integration expertise may be required for a number of reasons and is aimed at bringing one or more businesses together, so that post integration the business is healthier in terms of processes, services and costs.
Our business integration services focus on resolving such issues as:
- Absorbing acquisitions into an existing Supply Chain.
- The streamlining of multiple Supply Chains.
- The implementation of improved systems and/or processes.
Outsource, Insourcing, Supply Chain Logistics, Warehousing, Transport
We assist our customers to determine whether Supply Chain, Logistics, Warehouse or Transport Outsourcing is an appropriate strategy and if required, provide specialist support through to implementation. 4D-Logistics do not have commercial relationships with any service providers and so we provide a totally objective and unbiased approach.
Outsourcing Experience Outsourcing Video
Our experience also relates to offshore sourcing, relating to product sourcing globally and evaluating the down stream Supply Chain benefits.
The 4D-Logistics tendering approach provides our customers with the following benefits:
- An ethical and thorough evaluation process
- Finding the right cultural 'fit'
- Getting the best value for money from the outsourcing contract rather than the lowest price
- Providing professional assistance in the process
- When required, throwing the net wide, including new and developing companies
- Evaluation of varied 'types & styles' of company
Providing all of this, in a structured, objective and unemotional process.
Outsourcing Stages
Here is an example of the typical stages we use in an outsourcing project, whatever the level of focus. Supply Chain, Logistics, Distribution, Warehousing or just Transport.
Asset Deployment
The evaluation and assessment of asset usage in terms of efficiency, utilisation and asset design to match optimal supply chain operations. It is important to match transport assets, warehouse assets and IT assets to meet the optimum solution for any given business profile.
As markets and demand changes so should the assets to match continuously changing business profiles.
Our services include:
- Asset management plans
- Asset type assessment
- Asset ownership assessment
- Asset usage assessment
- Optimisation of Inventory levels
- Optimisation of inventory storage locations
Technology Evaluation
The evaluation and selection of technology solutions can be a daunting task. Our experienced consultants guide our customers through a step by step process that ensures any selected technology not only matches the business needs but provides cost effective benefits to the business.
Logistics Bureau does not have commercial relationships with technology suppliers and so provides totally impartial and unbiased advice.
We provide assistance in the following areas:
- Warehouse management systems
- Warehouse materials handling technologies
- Bar-coding and RFID
- Sales & Operations Planning systems
- Forecasting systems
- Route scheduling systems
- Transport management systems
- Activity based management and cost to serve systems
Customer Service and CPFR
Over the years we have seen many of our customer's Supply Chains that operate with significant issues and under unnecessary constraints, due to poorly defined and managed customer service policies.
Examples of these have included:
a) Customers overly abusing the service policy, with up to 4 small orders per day, which makes it impossible for the supplier to make a profit margin once distribution costs are taken into account.
b) Service level policies that are standard across a business, for all customers, regardless of their service requirements, leading to excessive distribution costs.
c) A total lack of understanding of cost to serve and total cost of ownership, when setting contracts and service agreements in place.
Our aim is to sole these often complex issues, that inevitably lead to reduced costs and improved customer service levels.
Whilst our approach to each customer assignment will vary based on their specific needs, an example of an approach might be:
Review of existing service policies and contracts.
Review of current service performance.
Review of service delivery processes.
Identifying major constraints, issues and opportunities.
Surveying and interviewing selected customers.
Quantifying the potential benefits of policy or process change.
Implementation.
Very often, this approach requires getting inside the customer's own Supply Chain to understand what service is really required, what aspects of their Supply Chain and the service offer are able to be altered, and hence how service policies can be adapted to mutual benefit. Adopting a CPFR or Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment approach may then be an outcome.
International Supply Chain Services
With the unprecedented increase in global sourcing and the outsourcing of production to lower-cost countries overseas, there is an increasing dependency of supply chains on the reliability of transportation networks as more companies adopt just-in-time techniques.
When global sourcing and outsourcing are combined with just-in-time supply chain practices, the increase in smaller, more frequent consignments also result in an increase in transactions. Adding to the complexity are longer lead times, the involvement of multiple parties, added duties, taxes, longer delays, disruptions, security regulations, and the like.
Our International Supply Chain services provide advice on:
- Demand Planning to minimise forecasting errors and avoid stock obsolescence risk.
- Planning for 'postponement' and 'merge-in-transit' strategies.
- Minimising transportation risks and delays.
- Controlling inland transportation moves and managing interfaces with domestic operations.
- Bypassing distribution centres and shipping 'direct to store'.
- Supplier negotiations and service agreements.
Transport and Freight Consultancy
How we can help you reduce costs and improve service
Are you trying to satisfy your cost / service mix by looking at only 30% of the freight service provider market? Nearly 80% of the companies we talk with do and nearly all are paying too much for freight.
4D-Logistics comprehensive knowledge of freight service providers, their operations, standards and cost drivers has been built over more than 100 freight-related projects. Our staff have many years of experience in driving cost reduction and service improvement across all transport modes and freight types.
4D-Logistics will size your savings opportunity and scope a project at no cost. We have identified a freight savings opportunity of between 8% and 15% for 72% of companies that we assess. We are not freight brokers. Our focus is to assist you as follows:
- Establishing your freight needs
- Determining the type of services best suited to your needs
- Assisting in sourcing suitable freight companies
- Supporting your negotiation of appropriate rate structures
Let us help you find the right freight company, that will provide the right service at the right cost.
Supply Chain Operations
Sales and Operations Planning (S& OP)
Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a powerful decision making tool for business executives as well as line managers.
Positive results that companies have gained from S&OP include hard benefits:
- such as improved customer service and
- lower inventory and soft benefits, such as
- improved teamwork and
- better decision making.
The value to any company of balancing supply and demand has long been understood. When we add volume and mix to this equation, we get the four fundamentals needed for effective business balance.
For those companies grappling with these 4 fundamentals, S&OP can provide excellent benefits. S&OP's role is to balance supply and demand at the volume level. Companies who do a good job at this level find much less problem at balancing the supply and demand at mix level, thereby reducing inventory, improving customer service and improving manufacturing efficiencies.
Our teams have first hand experience in demystifying S&OP and making it happen within your business. Whether you are working to the Oliver Wight model, the Buker model, the Tom Wallace model or any other model, we can provide assistance in areas such as S&OP implementations, S&OP improvements and S&OP education.
Our specialist consultants work alongside our customers to target significant benefits such as:
- Reduced inventory investment.
- Improved customer service levels.
- Reduced inventory obsolescence.
- Increased inventory/asset turns.
- Increased supply chain flexibility.
- Improved forecasting accuracy.
- Improved inventory deployment.
Warehouse and Distribution Centre Layout and Design
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Then warehouse specialists can help with these issues and more. We can provide you with:
- Lower warehousing and handling costs
- Help with warehouse analysis
- Detailed Warehouse and Materials Handling Design Layouts on CAD Drawings
- Expert Equipment Selection advice
- Assistance in Supplier Negotiations to ensure the costs are minimised
- System Integration and Project Management
- Process Design and Staff Training
Transport, Fleet Management, Design and Utilization
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Getting it right is vitally important.
4D-Logistics Consulting services in this area include:
Transport Fleet Size and Mix Design
Working from the bottom up, our transport consultants can determine the optimum transport fleet requirements, whether for an in house or outsourced fleet. Our transport experience has covered high street deliveries to bulk coal transport fleets.
Key aspects of this work can include:
- Quantifying the transport task.
- Understanding the range of equipment that could be applied to the task.
- Building capacity and utilisation models.
- Developing detailed cost models including, equipment costs, overhead costs, labour costs, fuel costs, maintenance costs etc.
- Providing options with cost / benefit and risk analysis.
- Developing ownership options.
Transport Route Planning - Routing
The accurate planning of delivery transport routes is essential if service targets are to be maintained and costs controlled. This is even more important for multi drop operations.
Detailed analysis can be carried out to ensure that transport fleet assets are used effectively, by testing a range of route planning and drop allocation scenarios. Our consultants have routing experience ranging from bread and milk deliveries to ready mix concrete! |
This route analysis approach can be used to test elements such as:
- The impact of customer geography and order profile on cost and service.
- The impact of varying delivery time windows.
- The impact of changing vehicle types and sizes on utilisation and cost.
- The impact of changing driver shift patterns.
Transport Asset Ownership Options.
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Technology Implementation
We have a vast range of experience in implementing Supply Chain technologies. Representing the customer, they work with the customer's staff and the technology vendors, ensuring that implementation is conducted on time and on budget, delivering the expected outcomes.
We have experience in implementing technologies such as:
- Warehouse management systems
- Warehouse materials handling technologies
- Bar-coding and RFID
- Sales & Operations Planning systems
- Forecasting systems
- Route scheduling systems
- Transport management systems
- Activity based management and cost to serve systems
Supply Chain Optimization
Time To Serve
Time to Serve a customer is of critical importance in today's business environment.
Customers are demanding increasing levels of service, and the ability to meet and/or exceed these expectations can deliver competitive advantage. Achieving the right balance of time and cost in the supply chain is crucial to the success of a company.
The time component of the supply chain is made up of a number of elements. Depending on the particular industry it may include:
- Time to Product Development
- Time to Source
- Time to Deliver
- Time to React
In response to client needs, 4D- Logistics have developed a methodology to analyze the current time components of the supply chain, and to identify and prioritize areas in which improvements can be made.
The questions answered in these projects include:
- What is the current Time to Serve?
- What are customers expectations?
- Does the Time to Serve need to be reduced?
- How can Time to Serve savings be made?
- What impact will reductions on Time to Serve have on costs, revenues and profits?
- What are the barriers to reducing Time to Serve?
Supply Chain, Logistics and Distribution Networking Modeling
Why do you need to model your Supply Chain or Distribution Network?
The business requirements of a network will change over time. This can be due to mergers and acquisitions, entering new markets, expanding product ranges or indeed changes to the regulatory environment.
Network Modeling Approach
Our consultants can determine the optimal Supply Chain or Distribution network to satisfy customer demand at specified service levels and at the lowest cost. Specialist Supply Chain network modeling software is used to allow cost and service optimization of the network to be established. Networks can be modeled from factory to the consumer, taking into account all the key cost and service drivers such as:
- Customer location
- Order size and frequency
- Transport costs
- Transport vehicle types
- Transport modes
- Warehouse (Distribution Centre) size, location, resources, costs...
- Service level requirements
- Factory and supplier locations
- Ports of entry for imported products
- and many more key variables
Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Services
4D- Logistics provide a wide range of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement consulting services, as illustrated below:
- Implementation management
- Change management
- Monitoring benefits
- Assessment of current spend
- Risk assessment
- Assessment of the supply market
- Structure, process and technology evaluation
- Performance measurement
- Determining supplier qualifications
- Designing, communicating and analysing RFPs and RFQs
- Facilitating supplier negotiations
- Selecting and confirmation of suppliers
- Total cost, not just purchase price
- Consolidating purchasing power
- Tighter supplier relationships
- Improved teamwork and purchasing skills
- Realigned business processes, work and information flow
Benchmarking Supply Chain and Logistics
All your Benchmarking and Supply Chain Improvement needs are right here.
Through our Benchmarking Division, Benchmarking Success, we are able to provide a full range of Benchmarking and performance improvement services. Let our range of proven Benchmarking and Business Improvement techniques drive improved performance and bottom line impact in your business!
Do you really know your Business Performance and Potential?
The Benefits of Supply Chain Benchmarking
There is a saying that "what you cannot measure you cannot manage and cannot improve". This is true of all aspects of business, but probably none more so that the Supply Chain. Consider these questions:
- Do you know how your end to end Supply Chain performs against major competitors?
- Do you know how key 'components' of your Supply Chain perform against competitors?
- Do you know what Supply Chain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) you should be using to drive improved performance?
- For your Supply Chain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), do you know what the realistic and stretch targets should be?
- Have you ever spent quality time with senior Executives with similar Supply Chain challenges, learning how they have improved their businesses?
If you answer No to any of these questions, you are missing out on real business improvement opportunities.
Our Broad Range of Benchmarking Services includes:
- Supply Chain Performance Audits
- KPI Development
- Benchmarking Peer Groups
- Online Benchmarking
- Online KPIs
SUMMARY BENEFITS OF USING OUR SERVICES
- Specialist Logistics organization
- Many years experience, setting up and running Logistics operations
- Solutions tailored to suit your needs
- Integration with your business systems
- Full project management services provided
- Performance based contracts
- You deal with the Principals of our business
Improvement to
- Services
- Productivity
- Return on investment
- Employee relations
Reduction in
- Operating cost
- Investment
