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Does your supply chain need to see a doctor? Looking back over the past 12 months, has your supply chain undergone any unexpected behavioural changes, seemed somewhat ‘under the weather’ or burst into periods of heightened activity? Unlike people, 100% of supply chains have caught Covid-19 and, for companies trading in or out of Great…

The way out of Covid-19 Lockdown. The series of lockdowns have caused most companies to rethink their supply chains. Getting businesses up and running once the lockdown is eased will not be straightforward. There are basic questions that need to be asked and additional thinking is needed to ensure supply chains are adapted for the…

When everyone is busy with normal day to day operations it is easy to become too focused on the here and now.  Reacting to current challenges may be comforting in the short-term but ignoring long-term underlying changes in the market will eventually catch up with complacent businesses.  Mindsets locked in ‘legacy’ approaches and systems are…

Is your inventory management run on gut feel and guesswork? Maybe it’s based on an outdated demand-planning package that no-one knows how to reconfigure to meet today’s needs. With Brexit and Covid-19 combining to create a perfect storm in logistics, forecasting and demand planning are both more vital and more difficult than ever. So, let’s…

Soaring e-commerce demand is driving growth in outsourcing to third party logistics companies, commonly known as 3PLs. Many businesses facing the uncertainty thrown up by the pandemic are wondering how to reduce logistics costs, whether to change their supply chain networks to fit an emerging ‘new normal’ and if outsourcing is the right solution. Weighing…

As the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit remains a strong possibility and with a clearly stated intention from the UK government not to ask for a further extension, what will be the immediate impacts on business after 31st December 2020? End of Transition The current transition period with the EU will end on 31 December…

One of the financial management challenges in business is understanding and explaining cost changes in logistics and supply chains.  By the time the cost numbers reach the Board Room, the key performance indicators (KPIs) which should account for them are either left behind or buried in detailed management reports.  It is difficult to respond to…

A supply chain cost reduction does not mean a reduction in quality or service. In fact, quite the opposite. Experienced operators look for customer service improvement opportunities as well as cost savings.  As long as you check the “cost to serve” trade-offs through modelling, you can decide what to save and what to reinvest, for…

With the recent massive growth in e-comm volumes, businesses are struggling to adapt to the short-term challenges and longer-term needs.  How can businesses react to this change in demand pattern effectively without reducing margins or inhibiting their growth?  Rapid action is essential. Since early March, on-line orders in all sectors have increased dramatically due to…

Logistics and supply chains are an important source of cost savings for businesses undertaking internal divisional mergers or rationalising and optimising their transport and warehousing networks. They also help to fund investment decisions in M&A by delivering cost savings through the integration of multiple logistics networks.  Unfortunately, however, many savings plans are too often based…

What the Coronavirus crisis tells us about supply chain risk management. How supply chain mapping and what-if scenario modelling will help you develop risk mitigating strategies for the next supply chain shock. Supply chain risk management has been one of the trending topics over the last 10 years. Concerns have been generally focussed on localised…

Existing supplier versus going to tender. Is the grass always greener on the other side? Changing suppliers is always a balance between benefit and risk. Management time is valuable, so when thinking about the procurement of logistics services, it’s always worth considering what value the process will deliver against the effort involved and the barriers…

Outsourcing logistics services to 3PLs is a risky business. Even the biggest companies can get wrong. Remember KFC and DHL – and this wasn’t even a first time outsourcing. So, take a considered approach to the benefits and disadvantages of outsourcing. Then if it is right for you, take a managed approach, supported by external…

Logistics network reviews are an under-utilised tool for maintaining efficiency in a company’s supply chains and making sure they remain fit for purpose. Indeed, a logistics network review is more relevant today than ever. The current complex business environment of uncertain demand, business change and increasingly demanding customer requirements offer both a threat and an…

Supply Chain Consulting UK Bisham is a leading Supply Chain Consulting company in the UK. We also work across most of Europe. Despite the recent problems caused by Covid we continue to help and support companies around the World. Our services are supported by 30 years of operational experience within the supply chain and logistics…

Bisham Consulting – making a difference. Bisham Consulting has established itself as the leading supply chain consultancy both in the UK and globally. Our consultants have expertise across a huge range of sectors including retail, wholesale, pharmaceutical, FMCG, automotive and Healthcare. Our reputation has been earned and backed up by the superb results we achieve…

Supply Chain Consultants – experts in achieving maximum returns for your company. Our supply chain consultants are dedicated to achieving the best possible results for your company. We look at every single business function within your group in order to improve efficiency. So our objective is always clear; “To achieve the most efficient movement and storage…

Considerations for both automated warehouses and mechanised solutions. In competitive markets, efficiency in distribution is an important factor in minimising costs and creating a competitive advantage.  Logistics automation for processes such as put-away, retrieval, order picking, sortation, palletizing and vehicle loading can be a powerful way to address this. The challenges in the logistics field continue…

“We’ve always done it that way”. Have you ever received that answer when querying the reason for a particular way of doing things? The chances are that you have and in itself, the answer is symptomatic of the need for a review. We live in a time of accelerating change. This is particularly true of…