Consulting Services

Strategy

What is keeping your company’s C-level executives up at night? Warehouse layout? The latest developments in bar code, RFID or voice technology? Supply chain execution systems? The answer in most cases is “Not likely!” More likely, your most senior executives are concerned about market differentiation, trading partner collaboration, product life cycles, new product development, revenues, margins, return on assets, shareholder value, Sarbanes Oxley compliance, cost containment including healthcare and workers compensation; and, possibly, threats such as offshore competition and homeland security.

The challenge for supply chain executives is showing how logistics infrastructure performance improvement will address these concerns – in a manner that will resonate with leadership all the way to the board level.

The first step in the process is to assure that supply chain strategy and programs are closely aligned with corporate strategy and performance metrics and that the linkage between them is clearly articulated. The second step is to develop a high-level, supply chain value proposition that mitigates risk and shows specifically where and how performance improvement will impact the P & L, balance sheet and other financial measures watched by corporate owners and stakeholders.

This approach creates broader senior-level understanding as well as informed support for the specific supply chain infrastructure, technology and systems initiatives you are considering. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today.

Supply Chain Strategy

The formulation of a detailed supply chain strategy that addresses your warehouse or distribution center network, inventory stocking strategy, facility layout and processes, staffing, technology, systems and related costs is critical to maintaining a competitive advantage. The balance of this section addresses these areas and how TranSystems | ESYNC can help you refine your supply chain strategy in the areas of:

• Business Case Development
• Supply Chain Network Optimization
• Inventory Stocking Optimization
• Trading Partner Collaboration
• Project RoadMap^SM

Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to begin analyzing your supply chain strategy.

Business Case Development

TranSystems | ESYNC’s proven business case development methodology is used to build the value proposition for warehouse, labor and transportation infrastructure improvement initiatives. The methodology:

• Uses Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) and Industry Best Practices to establish and value performance improvement targets.
• Uses standard TranSystems | ESYNC templates to identify the changes needed to meet performance goals.
• Matches functional requirements against current systems, identifies gaps and estimates probable costs for remediation.
• Defines recommended solution(s) and the likely total deployment cost.
• Documents potential risks and recommendations for mitigation.
• Estimates the tangible and "soft" savings potential of deployment.
• Uses the estimated total deployment cost and projected savings to develop an ROI (Return on Investment) and estimated break even points.

Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to begin building a successful business case for your supply chain project.

Supply Chain Network Optimization

Supply chain network optimization analyses address the following questions:

• Given demand for a defined set of products, what is the optimal configuration of the network needed to satisfy that demand at agreed upon service levels and the lowest possible cost?
• Are facilities sized properly and in the right locations? Will they be in five years? Seven?
• Which and how much inventory should be deployed within the network and where should it be located?
• When and where should we add additional plant and/or storage capacity?
• What about construction/lease costs, the local labor market, wage rates, utilities, access to carriers, etc.?
• Which sites should be served from each facility?
• What transport modes and lanes should be used to move products through our network?

Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn how our experienced professionals can help to maximize the value of your supply chain network optimization analysis.

Inventory Stocking Optimization

Managing and optimizing inventory levels is fundamental to supply chain excellence. Poorly planned inventory levels can be extremely costly to an organization’s bottom line and have a very real ‘trickle down” effect on other aspects of the business. Excessive inventories can lead to a strain on cash flow, additional costly warehouse space and inefficient performance of logistics operations. Overly lean inventory levels can lead to customer service issues and higher transportation costs from expedited shipments. The ability to optimize inventory and stock reach to the individual item level for each distribution center in the network will reduce overall costs and, in most cases, enhance customer service levels. TranSystems | ESYNC’s proven methodology for inventory optimization includes the use of modeling tools coupled with seasoned operational expertise. We have the experience needed to help you design and deploy the right inventory optimization strategy for your company.

Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn how we can help with optimizing inventory deployment within your operations.

Trading Partner Collaboration

In large measure, a company's customers and suppliers define how well the company performs. Regardless of a company's skills and resources, customers have to buy and suppliers must supply what is needed when it's needed in order to satisfy that demand. Does it not then make sense to first examine the needs of these partners before defining your supply chain strategy, as well as what you will need from them in order to make the strategy work? TranSystems | ESYNC experts will help you to define a collaboration strategy and infrastructure requirements tailored to your needs and sensitive to those of your partners. We will then guide you through the processes of identifying and implementing solutions for such trading partner requirements as special packaging, pallet builds, bar code and RFID labeling compliance programs, shipment tracking (EDI/XML-based advance shipment notifications and alerts) and other value added services.

TranSystems | ESYNC experts will work with you to define a collaboration strategy and infrastructure requirements tailored to your needs and sensitive to those of your partners. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn more.

Project RoadMap^SM Planning

Changes to your supply chain infrastructure will impact all components of the organization, your trading partners and your market position. It is critical, then, that management sets expectations, identifies priorities, develops a roadmap with a clear statement of objectives, budget and timing, and proactively drives the project throughout its life cycle.

TranSystems | ESYNC's Project RoadMap planning methodology facilitates expectation setting to assure that your project is clearly focused from initiation to implementation. The Project RoadMap is a field-proven process that utilizes the material developed during the Business Case Development phase and details the resource requirements for program management, employee training, installation, operation and performance auditing.

Even if your project is already underway, you can still benefit from this critical prescription for deployment success. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today and we'll help you get your project in line for success with our Project RoadMap planning methodology.

back to menu

Operations

The best supply chain technology installed in operations with ill-conceived material flows & processes will only enable users to do things badly - - - faster. Optimal supply chain practices focus upon matching material and data flow as transactions occur. The challenge is to craft a fulfillment and delivery infrastructure that meets these needs at a cost that won’t break the corporate bank. The currently popular approach to supply chain management places enormous emphasis upon information systems with often too little attention paid to the physical infrastructure. Clearly optimal supply chain management cannot exist without information technology and systems. However, information systems cannot be designed in a vacuum. Launching an initiative without a hard look at facility layout, handling systems and methods will almost certainly produce a sub-optimal implementation. Prospective users must first look at process flow as well as the efficiencies that might be realized in terms of space, layout, equipment and people. Indeed, enhancements to facility configuration, material flow, storage and picking procedures will often produce benefits before technology is introduced. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn how we can add value to your operations.

Best Practices

Best practices and continuous performance measurement are fundamental to sustaining fulfillment and delivery excellence. The challenge is in defining the metrics that will accurately characterize performance in those areas that are relevant to your operations and will differentiate a company from its competition. The process begins with development of profiles of current performance in order and inventory management, customer service, warehousing, transportation, etc. TranSystems | ESYNC provides a step-by-step approach for analysis of current metrics such as order cycle times, inventory accuracy and costs per order shipped.

We will then help you to:

• Match your performance against published standards and, if data is available, compare your performance against that of competitors or those of companies in similar industries;
• Assess opportunities for incremental improvement in each area, establish goals and identify the technologies and systems you will need to achieve them;
• Measure the potential of the incremental improvements in terms of anticipated benefits; and, finally,
• Match the results against required investment to determine feasibility.

Note that workforce engagement in this process is critical to identifying real issues, crafting solutions and building the enterprise-wide ownership of new initiatives so fundamental to success. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to begin establishing Best Practices for your organization.

Strategic Facility Design

Did the results of the network optimization analysis suggest consolidation or expansion of your current distribution facilities? Are your facilities sized, configured and equipped to support your supply chain strategy? What are the tradeoffs between automation and additional staffing? Can deployment of Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) reduce equipment and staffing requirements, speed material flow and improve accuracy? TranSystems | ESYNC will work with you to address these questions, analyze alternatives and develop layouts and material handling designs that work to support your requirements, both today and into the future. Our seasoned team of consultants and engineers will help you to identify the most cost-effective, practical solutions and then support their implementation. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today.

Slotting

Warehouse location sizing and inventory deployment based upon activity profiles directly impact space utilization, travel and search times, forward pick zone efficiency and replenishment frequency. TranSystems | ESYNC will work with you to profile item/SKU activity (including seasonal variations) and storage and pick slot locations and sizing. Using slotting tools, TranSystems | ESYNC will help you to evaluate alternative deployment scenarios and replenishment schemes to optimize productivity and throughput. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn if a slotting analysis could benefit your organization.

Simulation and Modeling

For larger operations, once a decision has been made that a new facility or modifications and equipment additions to an existing facility will be required to meet performance objectives, simulation and modeling tools can make invaluable contributions throughout conceptual and detailed handling system design by:

• Validating that the design of the facility layout, material handling equipment and operational processes will meet specific throughput and service level requirements.
• Quantifying the appropriate type, number and configuration of material handling components necessary to meet objectives.
• Identifying unknown dependencies within a particular design that can only be seen through dynamic modeling of order volume within the anticipated material flow paths at target vertical and horizontal transportation rates.
• Optimizing the final design by highlighting critical adjustments that can be made in order to keep the system balanced over the range of throughput fluctuations.
• Confirming that the operation can meet the peak throughput requirements of a highly seasonal operation.

TranSystems | ESYNC professionals have the experience with simulation and modeling tool kits that will ensure design integrity and eliminate surprises before implementation. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to get started.

Engineering Services

TranSystems | ESYNC engineering resources have a combined 30 years of experience with various Labor Standards platforms and over 200 successful engagements. Few companies in our industry have TranSystems | ESYNC's collective experience in installing Engineered Labor Standards (ELS) in warehouse operations. Our professionals re-engineer processes and perform productivity improvement evaluations on various platforms in warehousing, transportation and manufacturing, deploy Labor Management Systems (LMS) and audit and re-validate existing ELS (adjusting them as needed). Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn more about our Engineering Services and how they can benefit your organization.

back to menu

Systems

TranSystems | ESYNC realizes that systems projects are driven by real business needs, not just the latest technology. Our resources bring a blend of both operational expertise and technology know-how to every supply chain engagement. We add value by applying these skills to your business needs and scrupulously managing the project timeline and budget. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn more about our systems experience and the value we bring to our clients.

IT Strategy

TranSystems | ESYNC has the expertise necessary to help you develop a comprehensive supply chain information technology strategy. Our resources have hands-on experience with supply chain software applications, infrastructure and integration tools such as Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) software. We have delivered on large, complex IT strategy engagements and small, focused, point-solution programs. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn more.

Requirements Definition

TranSystems | ESYNC's experience has proven that successful supply chain systems projects get off to a great start by having the proper set of requirements documented. Over the years, TranSystems | ESYNC has developed comprehensive requirements for:

• Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
• Distributed Order Management Systems (DOM)
• Labor Management Systems (LMS)
• Yard Management Systems (YMS)
• Supply Chain Visibility/Event Management (SCV/EM)
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• Slotting
• Mobile Asset Management
• Consolidated Billing
• Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC)

We utilize our experience from previous engagements to build out and maintain these requirement templates. Utilizing these existing documents allows us to efficiently and effectively deliver value to our clients. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today for assistance in developing the detailed and comprehensive requirements your organization needs to select the right supply chain solution.

Software Evaluation and Selection

TranSystems | ESYNC's supply chain software evaluation and selection methodology is a comprehensive, vendor-neutral, air-tight process that leads clients through the development of requirements, Requests for Proposal (RFP), scripted demonstrations and alternative product evaluation culminating with the development of our Project RoadMap(SM). Our agnostic approach to supply chain software evaluation and selection produces the absolute best outcome for our clients. We've evaluated and been involved with the selection of dozens of different software applications over the years. Contact TranSystems | ESYNC today to learn how we can add value to your supply chain software evaluation and selection process.

back to menu