Where to locate your warehouse. The decision about locating a new distribution centre or warehouse will not be made that often in the course of a company’s business – the review of location suitability will be about every five to seven years. Selecting a site a location that is close to a freeway can be a sensible decision; new warehouses … Read More
Change your work style in logistics
Work and flexibility. I was recently talking with a sales representative from a freight forwarder and noticed that his mobile phone was not switched off for our conversation. I asked if the mobile phone was also on in the evening and he replied that the phone was never off and that he was expected to respond whenever it rang. For … 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
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