What are your risks from a disruption? A recent report by Zurich Insurance in England indicates the potential supply chain challenges for businesses in many countries, including yours. The study, of 500 businesses across multiple industries with sales to 300m UK pounds (U$471m), showed that supply chain challenges remain high. Concerning supply chain performance; 80 per cent of respondents said it was very important … Read More
Your strategy is yours
Logistics strategy for your market. An interesting question was recently asked of Sir Terry Leahy, the retired chief of British retailer Tesco. The question related to the penetration of private label items as a percentage of total sales. His response was that in the UK, private label had acquired a reputation with consumers, through the policy of retailer Marks and … Read More
Where are your warehouses?
Location of LSP facilities. Are you a manufacturer or importer that intends to contract with a logistics service provider (LSP) for storage and distribution of your goods to retail outlets. When outsourcing your distribution to a LSP, you would expect the storage facilities for your inventory to be sighted in an optimum location for efficient distribution. What if the location … Read More
Are your problems the fault of customers
Improve your supply chains and logistics. In June 2011, the CEO of a multi-national food company described the Australian food market as the ‘worst in the world’. The main reason, he said, was the dominant position of the two major grocery retailers. He noted that the two companies were in strong price competition and replacing some branded products with their … Read More
Delivery transport in cities
A bigger job with fewer trucks. Reading the United Nations development program (UNDP) report Asia Pacific Human Development 2012, I was alerted to the important role that logisticians can play in making cities of the region livable. By 2026, more than half the Asia Pacific region’s population will live in a city; and half the world’s mega cities will be … Read More