Sunday, February 24, 2008

Massachusetts Medical Society Seeks BIC’s Help

Boston Industrial Consulting was contracted by Massachusetts Medical Society to perform an Operations Analysis on the current Print Shop Operations, and the effect on the business if migrated to a new location or a 3rd party operation.

A multi-phased approach was adopted where management interviews / surveys, data analysis (financial and operational) and process mapping were used to develop conclusions and recommendations presented to MMS for implementation.

An operational Analysis was performed, moving the consolidation of print / finishing services into a new expanded facility.

  • Detailed operating costs for the new Print Shop location (FY07) were estimated

  • One-time costs associated with a new location were determined

  • Production costs per unit was assembled for each work stream, sub-stream and specific quantity ranges

  • An analysis comparing In-house vs. Outsource printing costs was performed using vendor pricing and multiple options were reviewed

Recommended physical improvements for the Print Shop Operations were developed using industrial engineering process mapping techniques and analysis. A final detailed layout, MEP Requirements and formal project plan was developed.


BIC’s recommendations included:

  • Employing the use of visual aids to guide print shop personnel while performing their duties

  • Establishing more formal guidelines for customers

  • Explore the use of a scheduling tool to provide increased efficiency

  • Design a new more efficient print operation

The relocation of the operation and implementation of BIC’s recommendations facilitated a nearly seamless relocation and transition.

Boston Industrial Consulting assists companies such as Massachusetts Medical Society, Boston Scientific Corp. and Subaru of New England reduce costs and improve efficiency.

posted by BIC @ 10:03 AM 0 Comments

Friday, February 22, 2008

Subaru New England Hires BIC to Improve its Parts Depot

Boston Industrial Consulting has been hired to assist Subaru New England to design and improve its Parts Distribution operation in Norwood, MA.

Subaru of New England is an independent distributor of Subaru parts operating in over 52,000sf in its Norwood warehouse. The operation distributes Subaru automotive parts to over 70 dealers in New England, with a turn time of 3 to 4 hours from order entry to shipping. The operation is able to support their customers with a fill rate near 100% by housing a SKU base well above 11,000 items. The operation receives, picks, packs and ships orders over a 2-shift process, often delivering to all of its customers on a daily basis a quick and high quality manner.

Over the past several years, growth has been significant, and has created pressure on warehouse areas. High growth of orders and SKUs has also limited the ability to distribute parts in a cost effective manner. With growth projected to continue, Subaru has elected to secure an adjacent building to house its office personnel, freeing up space for a necessary expansion of storage and parts processing space.

A study of the operations will be performed to identify improvements to the systems, processes and equipment to meet the growing demands of the business. A physical expansion and schematic plan will be developed to effectively accommodate increase in storage and dock areas. Improved process and systems will be evaluated such as zone picking, faster picking equipment and an improved WMS. Solutions will help Subaru continue to provide exceptional service to its customers, while reducing costs for internal operations below present levels.

BIC will be working with Subaru through multiple phases of this project until an efficient solution is fully operational. Boston Industrial continues to build its resume of parts depot centers, including 7 Caterpillar dealerships and other automotive parts operations.

posted by BIC @ 11:09 AM 0 Comments

BIC Helps Vi-Jon Optimize its Supply Chain Strategy

Boston Industrial Consulting, Inc. was recently hired to perform a Supply Chain analysis to assist Vi-Jon, Inc. in the development of a Finished Goods Supply Chain Strategy.

Vi-Jon’s Manufacturing Plants and Distribution Centers, located in Missouri and Tennessee, produce Private Label Health and Beauty products. Goods are manufactured, palletized and transported to Distribution Centers in close proximity to plants.

BIC evaluated existing baseline operational needs against several logistics options to determine the most efficient strategic plan for Vi-Jon’s Supply Chain. This process included:

  • Developed data requirements for analyzing the Finished Goods Supply Chain Strategy

  • Reviewed the cost structures for baseline options for transportation, along with proposed consolidation options with the goal of improving customer services overall

  • Evaluated benefits of consolidation and performed analysis to quantify efficiency opportunities

  • Quantified supply chain options in greater detail, providing a more accurate understanding of Logistics and Finished Goods Warehouses

BIC continues to work with Vi-Jon, Inc. to perform an overall needs assessment of Distribution space over the next 1-5 years. Once fully understood, a detailed Supply Chain strategy will be developed for distribution facilities to closely match needs versus available space.

BIC continues to help companies such as Vi-Jon, Inc., Amscan / Party City and Caterpillar dealerships realize their maximum potential in customer service relations.

posted by BIC @ 9:34 AM 0 Comments