Supply Chain

Best practice or industrial tourism?

Best practice or industrial tourism?

By Hugh Williams

In principle nothing is wrong with most businesses' obsession with supply chain best practice. People want to know what other companies are doing...

Take stock of business costs

Take stock of business costs

I have a fundamental problem with some of the traditional measures and key performance indicators in place in companies, because they do not always...

Focusing on cost can be so costly

Focusing on cost can be so costly

I guess at least a few people share my prejudice that the US breeds supply chain people who are highly skilled at talking and 'theorising', but not...

Put brakes on transport costs

Put brakes on transport costs

The food industry bemoans being forced by powerful buyers to operate on low profit margins for most lines. Not only are margins low and under...

Adding miles to packaging waste

Adding miles to packaging waste

Before anyone begins to think it, let me say that I have no'green' bees in my bonnet, despite several articles on green issues. I cover the subject...

A duty to discharge

A duty to discharge

By Bob Brooks

While the handling of raw materials has improved in recent years, hygiene and explosion hazards still exist, as Bob Brooks discovers

Energy reduction becomes a priority

Energy reduction becomes a priority

With growing concerns about climate change and electricity costs soaring, the cold storage and distribution sector faces a challenging future. Francesca Twinn reports on how new research could help to provide the answers

Analyse before tendering

Analyse before tendering

Several very large manufacturers operate dedicated vehicles for customer delivery, claiming that they have 'critical mass' and can cut out the...

Stock cuts lead to supply chaos

Stock cuts lead to supply chaos

The latest efforts by retailers to cut lead-times, inventory and infrastructure investment are headed towards perdition rather than supply chain...

Sweet move for supply chain

Sweet move for supply chain

By Rick Pendrous

Cadbury subsidiary Monkhill Confectionery this month goes live with a mid-range preconfigured food and beverage enterprise resource planning (ERP)...

Food miles tax is the answer

Food miles tax is the answer

The world's supply chain managers should brace themselves for government intervention as high oil prices and shortages become permanent, with no...

Optimistic day job syndrome

Optimistic day job syndrome

I should by now have finished a job that required a client manager to work with me to install a cost-to-serve process that produces true customer and...

Forecasting: where art meets science

Forecasting: where art meets science

By Elaine Watson

The difference between 'JIT' (just in time) and 'JTFL' (just too f**king late), as some manufacturers politely refer to their supply chain planning...

Just in time

Just in time

By Elaine Watson

The ambient food supply chain will gradually follow in the footsteps of chilled, the boss of Baylis Logistics informs Elaine Watson

Release that hidden power

Release that hidden power

I am told by big food manufacturers that innovation in product and packaging design is the key to medium-term profit growth. The message is clear -...

Savour the benefits of production scheduling

Savour the benefits of production scheduling

By Rick Pendrous

Peter Hunt's Bakery Foods, the Bolton-based savoury products baker, is starting to see the benefits of improved production planning since installing...

High level operator

High level operator

Imagine working on the ledge of a three-storey building every day. With a maximum lift height of 9.5m, allowing operators to reach to 11.3m, that is...

Self-billing helps identify true costs

Self-billing helps identify true costs

I came across a food manufacturer which queried an invoice it received from the third-party logistics provider (3PL) that ran its warehouse and...

All Asda's eggs in one basket

All Asda's eggs in one basket

Until it was called off, Asda stores across the country were threatened with empty shelves following a vote in favour of strike action by staff at 20...

Solutions for small deliveries

Solutions for small deliveries

By Elaine Watson

A small logistics firm offering creative solutions to the problem of distributing small loads to supermarkets and foodservice outlets is on course to...

Manage your small retailers

Manage your small retailers

As you measure the real costs to serve your customers and can see the true trading margins created, you will be faced with some interesting dilemmas....

What's fair is fair

What's fair is fair

In calculating the real cost of handling and transport to customers, there are three obvious components: the distance from your factory or warehouse,...

Wiseman tracks down dollies

Wiseman tracks down dollies

By Elaine Watson

Robert Wiseman is exploring whether it can build a business case for radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging by using it to keep tabs on roll...

The big squeeze

The big squeeze

Winter may be over, but things are still looking bleak in the cold storage sector. Rebecca Green looks at what is being done to offset spiralling energy costs and accommodate other commercial pressures

Get a handle on your costs

Get a handle on your costs

I have written before about the way manufacturers respond to retailer 'requests' for supply chain redesign. I have urged all suppliers to get a...

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