Logistics

T&L takes a practical approach to designing and optimising warehouse and distribution operations. We apply insights from the aviation and integrator sectors, alongside our logistics expertise and core industrial engineering and operational research capabilities. Clients value our cost reduction solutions, focus on efficiency, alternative perspectives and practices, and learning from related industries.

The transportation and logistics industry sectors are undergoing a period of change as organisations take action to adapt to the realities of the current economic climate. Realities that include lower volumes, falling profit margins and the consequent need to downsize.

At the same time, logistics operators are faced with increasing demands for value, efficiency, flexibility and reliability, as their customers look to make further cost savings within their own supply chain. T&L takes practical measures to overcome these challenges. In tough times, we help logistics clients to reduce costs, for example, by fulfilling order demand and distribution tasks with less facilities, equipment or people; without jeopardising customer service. In good economic times, clients benefit from our ability to make best use of existing warehouse and distribution capacity or deliver efficient, additional capacity.

Below is an overview of how we apply our core service offering and experience in the aviation and distribution sectors to benefit logistics operators.

Warehouse and Distribution Operations Performance Improvement

Operations analysis, for example, by product line, customer, pick order, distribution route, volume / weight and frequency to identify and quantify cost saving and performance improvement opportunities
Order fulfilment and distribution operations optimisation and implementation of solutions
Strategies to improve storage capacity and inventory control, and reduce time in storage
Resourcing efficiencies, applying relevant techniques to better match resource supply to demand

Facility and Operations Design

Distribution centre and warehouse facilities sizing
Conceptual & detailed facility operations and layout design
Supply chain process design

Operations Planning

Distribution centre and warehouse capacity and operations planning
Distribution operations planning: route and fleet planning
Operations modelling
Workload planning and scheduling; workload-driven resource and equipment planning
Introduction of tangible business process measures

Programme Management

Supply chain or individual warehouse and distribution operations improvement programmes
New facility operations readiness and testing
New facility commissioning and business migration
Industry process change and global implementation

Delivering Results: Logistics Operations

Thomson Technicolor

Implementation of Pan-European Distribution Operation
A T&L consultant performed the role of Programme Director for the design, development and implementation of a network of Technicolor distribution centres across ten European countries. This was a three year programme; programme team of 100+; five stakeholder companies located in ten European countries, manufacturing and distribution of in excess of 50 million units per annum.

Sherwood Group

Supply Chain Process Improvement
T&L delivered supply chain process reengineering expertise to the Sherwood Group. The organisation’s manufacturing orders had long lead times, resulting in difficulties in responding swiftly to consumer demands. The consequences: potentially high levels of redundant stock and mark down on stock.

T&L redesigned end-to-end supply chain processes, from garment design through to order fulfilment. We also developed and established methods to improve demand forecasting, sales tracking, order management and stock control. The improved supply chain reduced lead times and minimum order quantities and enabled orders to be placed as sales were placed.

SPAR

Supply Chain Model Development
SPAR UK wished to assess the impact of changes to supplier distribution patterns on its costs and service level.

T&L developed a bespoke supply chain model to enable a comparison of performance in the current UK network with that of alternative delivery patterns, in which the delivery distances of suppliers are minimised. It enables SPAR to assess the inefficiencies and costs embedded in its current supply chain and contrast the results with the potential financial, operational and environmental benefits of revised delivery practices.

Inspiring Logistics Operators: Expertise and Insights

Delivering results worldwide:
An overview of our international logistics and distribution consulting projects More >
Logistics and distribution consulting:
Download our Flyer ‘Services to the Logistics Sector’.