Thursday, December 8, 2011

Collaboration Allows A Clear Logistic Vision


Business is all about things working together.  The collaboration of departments functioning as one helps minimize delays and costs and brings maximization to profits.  This is the goal for all businesses big, small, service or tangible goods.  The truth is that when a company is operating clearly the objective of collaboration has been achieved.  This could not be any truer than within a company’s supply chain.  
It has been proven time and time again that when each division of a business is working cooperatively, interacting and exchanging ideas it is reasonable for objectives to be met.  This in turn leads to increased profits, decreased costs, higher customer satisfaction and an overall heightened sense goodwill for the company.  For divisions of a business it is not an option to work alone.  The old adage, “There is no I in team” rings so true in the workplace. 
Management teams exist in many different industries that can help improve businesses of all types and sizes.  When it comes to the logistic division within the company it is important to seek out the advice of a supply chain management consulting team.  A supply chain audit will be done to analyze the current strategy and ideas will be evaluated to find the combination that will provide logistic optimization. 
When a reconfiguration is done a company will be able to see direct results.  The needs of customers will be met, while obtaining alignment within the sales division, the production group all while becoming cost efficient.  It is important when an evaluation is started that the supply chain consultant that is hired does not look simply at the transportation end of things.  An evaluation will look at all aspect within the company and make recommendations based on the information found and look to provide more efficiency throughout the company helping to expand and sustain business opportunity. 
Supply chain audits consist of multiple layers in which consultants are able to provide effective steps that can be taken to achieve big results.  The first step in an audit is to identify areas where simple tweaks and improvements will achieve major results.  Often it is the little things that owners and managers miss because they are too engaged in the everyday transactions and overlook small ways to save that can add up to big savings.  This is super important before company’s waste money on expensive software that will not necessarily help the individual company.
If software is a necessary part of the supply chain audit the consultant will be able to recommend the right package to blend the needs and desires of the company into one software package.  Software is an expensive investment to a company and the options available are abundant.  Supply chain audits lead consultants to know exactly what a firm needs in software so that they are not overspending for a product that will not add value. 
A consultant will provide information to the company in the form of comparison to show the pros and cons of each program they are implementing such as; software integration, carrier changes and production changes.  A recommendation will be given and implemented when approval is given. The consulting team works side by side with each of the businesses they are working with to guide them.  Some supply chain companies will continue to support a firm even after initial implementation depending on the firm.

Revive Your Company Profits With Tweaks Found In Freight Transportation Management


Freight transportation management can make or break a company.  It is important for companies with or without a logistics division to look into hiring consultants to ensure mode optimizing techniques are not being overlooked.  Some companies assume because they own their own fleet of vehicles that they could not be experiencing any logistic issues.  However, this is not always the case.  It necessary that a freight transportation management firm is hired to access, evaluate and make recommendations to improve the transportation, inbound and outbound.  It has been proven that when all of the pieces of the business our working together and movement is fitting together like gears on a wheel business will not only thrive but prosper.
With businesses that own truck fleets of their own it is often difficult to look objectively at the logistic process.  It is standard for people within a situation to find it difficult to see problems that exist. This is not only true within freight management businesses invite consultants in to review many different aspects.  Finance and marketing are other areas that are often of consulting concerns.  When a consulting team is hired they look at aspects with a bird eye view.  This often leads to inexpensive switches which lead to major cost savings for the client.
A freight management solutions expert will come in and begin by providing a thorough analysis of current activities within the company.  This includes a review of current freight activities, service needs, freight fees and current carriers.  A comparison is then done using current industry standards to measure errors within the current system.  Knowing the segments that needs to be dealt with lays a foundation for growth.  Improving the deficiencies in the system using industry standards as a guideline will lead to direct cost cutting and improvements within service.  Whenever a consultant is brought in the goal is to reduce waste and improve procedure, this is true with a team of experts offering freight management solutions. 
Freight management solutions are tailored to each individual company.  The task can be broken down depending on the client’s wants and desires.  Some firms believe it is only necessary to have an outside source managing a portion of the freight shipping operations rather than the entire operation.  Consultants can work either on site or off site to continue monitoring and improving upon shipping, track and reduce damage/loss, file claims, expedite shipments and manage the quality of service.  Most companies are in direct communication the minute something is not as it should be and working to resolve the issue.
Mode optimization is one area of the shipping process in which a watchful eye is needed.  With changes in rules, regulations and shippers happening everyday companies often lose track of what is happening in the industry things that will affect their procedures and in turn company profits.  Employing an outside freight management solutions team can allow a company to find industry experts keeping up with to date with the latest software, regulations and carrier changes.