Logistics Consultants – 101
14/08/2011
What is Logistics?
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods and services between the point of origin and the point of use in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and often security.
As logistics is an ever changing environment it needs regular attention to ensure it is optimised correctly. Thankfully advances in technology today allow the complexity of production logistics can be modelled, analysed, visualised and optimised by plant simulation software so that changes as well as future planning models can be regularly reviewed.
Logistics is also one of the main functions within a company. The main targets of logistics can be divided into performance related and cost related. They are high due date reliability, short delivery times, low inventory level and high capacity utilization. But when decisions need to be made, there is always a trade off between these targets. This is what makes being a logistician challenging and interesting.
Logistics Consultants
A Logistics Consultant helps companies improve customer service operations and develop cost-effective solutions for supply chain, warehouse, material handling and distribution issues.
Logistics Consultants analyze information to identify and solve any logistics and supply chain operation problems for their clients. Through strategic planning, information technology advances and re-engineering processes, Logistics Consultants improve the company's supply chain performance. They give advice on productivity, materials management, transportation of goods, packaging, order processing, manufacturing procedures and quality control.
Why use a Logistics Consultant
All organisations will reach a point at which they are aware that their logistics and supply chain management could be improved. It might be one or many areas of the operations that are not achieving their goal or not functioning as efficiently as they might.
The most reasons for using logistics consultants sometimes focus around:
- Complexity
- Timescales
- Expertise
- Resources
Working with a logistics consultant who incorporates a broad knowledge base and experience operating through similar problems to those you are experiencing brings a range of benefits to your organisation.
A good logistics consultant not only will have the experience and expertise you need but also be able to view your logistics impartially. They can therefore make suggestions and improvements that otherwise might never have been considered.
How Can I Find the Right Logistics Consultancy?
You need to do your homework look at a number of supply chain and logistics consultants and find out about them. Look at examples of what they have done for other clients in your sector or with similar issues to your organisation. Don’t be afraid to get in touch and start talking your requirements through. Only by being thorough can you be sure to find the right logistics consultants.
Total Logistics
Total Logistics are experienced supply chain and logistics consultancy providing global strategic supply chain and logistics advice in Europe and the UK. Their services include strategy development, supply chain management and logistics planning, project management, warehouse design, S&OP and distribution strategy.
