Customer Requirements

• At the core of the organisation is the movement of goods from donors to our client's warehousing facility and then out to the charities it serves.
• Despite providing significant value to charities, our client recognised that, if the organisation was operating more efficiently, this value could be improved.
• During 2007, out client's trustees enlisted the help of a third party, enabling them to transform their supply chain operation and warehouse management and provide an improved service to its charity partners.
   

Our Solution

• We commenced with advising our client how to reduce warehousing and logistics costs and improving its service to Charities. A bespoke solution was adopted.
• Robin Boles, chief executive explains, “It was a significant decision deciding to move to working with TSB Supply Chain. Like many organisations, our board was initially more comfortable with a large brand, but we were confident that would not suit our requirements. After due diligence, we took the decision and have never looked back.”
• Following an analysis stage, we designed an integrated solution, bringing together companies in specialised areas of the supply chain. This network was designed around our managed warehouse. By working with specialists, we could work together to achieve results. A significant cost saving was made, together with improved service.
• We enhanced the supply chain, by providing high visibility of order and transport status. Using our intelligence software we were able to draw on information from multiple systems and suppliers to display information in a single view format. This enabled our client to make informed decisions about orders, inventory and transportation.
• In order to improve operations within the warehouse, we implemented a flexible, yet low cost, RF-enabled Warehouse Management System (WMS), providing the right level of functionality and inventory/order status for our client at a very affordable cost. This application, improves picking and despatch efficiency, reduces order fulfilment time, and enhances accuracy and customer service – helping them to get the most out of its inventory.
  Steve Murray, the Head of Logistics and Catalogue Production explains, “When boxing up goods, we used to include a large enough quantity of one item to make the despatch of that carton cost effective. Our smaller charity partners however, told us they didn’t necessarily want that large a quantity or didn’t have the capacity to store that volume of one product. We also had to ship each item in separate boxes in order to maintain visibility of what had been delivered, but with Matrix this problem is solved. Now we can pick and pack at element level which matches our charity partners’ specific needs, improves packing density and this reduces our delivery costs. Matrix can then show us the despatch method and link to track and trace web sites.”
• The biggest benefit since implementation is the reduced volume of errors. Now orders are sent directly and electronically via the WMS which ensures complete accuracy and reduces time taken, removing the need for any re-keying.
   

Outcome

Since working with TSB Supply Chain, our client has found that it is better equipped to deal with any changing needs associated with outbound transport and has benefited from significant cost savings in its distribution network, while delivering the right goods to the customer, on time. The return on investment has already been proven with a huge decrease in shipping complaints and positive feedback from charities.

Our client continues to work with us to find ways for the organisation to further reduce its costs and increase efficiencies in the service supply chain.

“We have seen additional benefits by working with TSB Supply Chain.” Robin Boles continues, “Having a dedicated warehouse workforce makes a vast difference. Working solely on us means they are focused on our charity work with no distractions. If I had to say what the one overriding benefit is to working with TSB Supply Chain, I would say it’s the attitude of everyone involved. It is such a pleasure to work with people who truly want to continuously improve. It’s helping us, thousands of charities and the millions of people they serve. And this should translate into TSB Supply Chain being a growing and profitable business for many years to come. ”