Client: Shipping Brokerage
Project Scope: International Business Travel
Project Target: Cost Reduction
Results: Saving of £158,000 (19%) p.a.
This London-based client has staff brokering the shipment of commodities and commissioning
the new-build of tankers and freight vessels dealing across the world.
Correspondingly, international travel is a large expense, but service levels are also critical. Staff are expected to step off a plane and straight into a meeting where they may be negotiating £multi-million contracts, so budget travel would not provide the service that these
highly valued travellers expect.
Solutions needed to take into account the range of flyers, frequent routes and preferred airlines, and the class of travel that different members of staff would be expected to use. Different rules applied as to who could specify a direct route and who was expected to fly through a hub.
A matrix of options was built, and a new Travel Policy put in place, to make sure staff and the chosen Agent could easily determine the best-match for any given travel plan. The chosen Agent remained the same one as previous, but renegotiation of their fees, by removing costly features from the flight booking process, and re-defining the criteria for different classes of traveller the client gained a better managed service with a demonstrable reduction in cost.
If you feel that there is scope to improve quality, service, management, and visibility of your
processes don’t hesitate to call Phil Edwards of Weald Business Solutions on 01825 761890 and ask for advice.
Sue Edwards
Virtual Assistant Sussex
(01825) 761890
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Cost and waste reductions for furniture manufacturer and retail company
Project Scope: Waste Reduction
Project Target: Cost Reduction
Results: Saving of €320,000 (55%) p.a. on European Pallet procurement and disposal
Saving of €30,000 (100%) p.a. on Waste Disposal
Reduction of landfill volumes by 90% (100% available with further changes)
Reduction of HGV carbon emissions by 30%
The client was struggling with two issues - firstly, the goods arrive in the UK on nonstandard wooden pallets, from which they are unloaded, stored in the warehouse and distributed. Because they aren’t a standard size there was no market for the pallet, and they were paying to have them removed from site.
Furthermore, old and returned bedding products were being sent to landfill – an increasingly costly option, and a large environmental headache.
The solution to the pallets was not a cheaper method of disposal, but eradicating the problem at
source. An alternative method was proposed that cost far less to procure, needed less warehouse space, and one product could be purchased instead of 14 different sizes of pallet. The product also had a recycling value to the client. This was met with such great interest in the UK that the parent company looked at the solution as a global fix to this problem.
The solution for bedding materials meant the products were converted for other use and completely removed the need for any waste disposal associated with these products.
If you feel that there is scope to improve quality, service, management, and visibility of your
processes don’t hesitate to call Phil Edwards at Weald Business Solutions on 01825 761890 and ask for advice.
Sue Edwards
Virtual Assistant Sussex
(01825) 761890
Project Target: Cost Reduction
Results: Saving of €320,000 (55%) p.a. on European Pallet procurement and disposal
Saving of €30,000 (100%) p.a. on Waste Disposal
Reduction of landfill volumes by 90% (100% available with further changes)
Reduction of HGV carbon emissions by 30%
The client was struggling with two issues - firstly, the goods arrive in the UK on nonstandard wooden pallets, from which they are unloaded, stored in the warehouse and distributed. Because they aren’t a standard size there was no market for the pallet, and they were paying to have them removed from site.
Furthermore, old and returned bedding products were being sent to landfill – an increasingly costly option, and a large environmental headache.
The solution to the pallets was not a cheaper method of disposal, but eradicating the problem at
source. An alternative method was proposed that cost far less to procure, needed less warehouse space, and one product could be purchased instead of 14 different sizes of pallet. The product also had a recycling value to the client. This was met with such great interest in the UK that the parent company looked at the solution as a global fix to this problem.
The solution for bedding materials meant the products were converted for other use and completely removed the need for any waste disposal associated with these products.
If you feel that there is scope to improve quality, service, management, and visibility of your
processes don’t hesitate to call Phil Edwards at Weald Business Solutions on 01825 761890 and ask for advice.
Sue Edwards
Virtual Assistant Sussex
(01825) 761890
Monday, 2 November 2009
Retailers save £100,000 and improve service
An Uckfield business consultant has helped a branch of the Co-op save more than £100,000. Phil Edwards, of Weald Business Solutions, was involved in a review of costs which helped Chelmsford Star Cooperative Society – which runs convenience food stores, department stores, travel centres and funeral branches in Mid Essex - save 61 per cent on washroom services, 38 per cent on telecommunications and 27 per cent on waste and disposal. Phil said: ‘Higher service levels were achieved as a result of the process which is all about managing expenditure and not about cutting corners.’
The company’s deputy chief executive officer Barry Wood said he didn’t initially believe the savings were there to be made and was usually extremely sceptical about the claims made by management consultancy firms.But he was impressed by the methodology used by the consultants and liked the way they continued to work with his business to negotiate and implement chosen solutions rather than just present a report and walk away.
Mr Edwards said he was very pleased to have won a new contract with Chelmsford Star as a result of the work already done. ‘Sometimes it takes an outsider to spot new ways of improving processes and saving costs. We are pleased to have been so effective on this project.'
Mr Wood said it was an extremely opportune time to be reviewing costs. ‘We always like to feel that we are negotiating the best rates, but this is an ongoing process and has never been more important than in the current climate.’
He is now taking the process one stage further and making use of new software, licensed through Weald Business Solutions, which will allow Chelmsford Star to continuously monitor and manage processes on a proactive basis.The software has been proven across a number of social and housing sector clients and is now being introduced to manufacturing and retail clients allowing them to benefit from managed expenditure and improved productivity across single or multiple sites.
For more information about this press release please contact Cathy Watson on 01825 760102 or go to Cathy Watson Associates
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
(01825) 761890
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