Introduction

Manufacturers are facing problems stemming from poor tracking of materials and stock within their production facilities. Now, these companies are looking to implement a range of strategies to ensure that costs are minimized and the level of service maximized.

Scope

*This brief looks at outsourcing as a viable strategy for manufacturers and discusses where gains can be made, and some of the challenges associated.

*Task or transaction interleaving is a strategy that makes sense for a lot of industry outsiders, yet is proving hard to implement in the warehouse.

*Cross docking is on the lips of many manufacturers and distributors as it provides a way to significantly reduce inventory holding costs.

*As ever, technology will play a large part in helping manufacturers solve their inventory management issues.

Highlights

Outsourcing has been a recurrent theme within the manufacturing industry for a number of years now, and it stands to reason that for warehousing, the same general principles apply. Logistics outsourcing in particular has been a key growth area within the industry with many companies now engaged in such contracts.

Reasons to Purchase

*Understand what business strategies manufacturers are implementing to see where they will need help most.

*Assess the opportunity for technology within manufacturing strategies to more closely target key pain points.

Introduction



Manufacturers are facing problems stemming from poor tracking of materials and stock within their production facilities. Now, these companies are looking to implement a range of strategies to ensure that costs are minimized and the level of service maximized.



Scope



*This brief looks at outsourcing as a viable strategy for manufacturers and discusses where gains can be made, and some of the challenges associated.

*Task or transaction interleaving is a strategy that makes sense for a lot of industry outsiders, yet is proving hard to implement in the warehouse.

*Cross docking is on the lips of many manufacturers and distributors as it provides a way to significantly reduce inventory holding costs.

*As ever, technology will play a large part in helping manufacturers solve their inventory management issues.



Highlights



Outsourcing has been a recurrent theme within the manufacturing industry for a number of years now, and it stands to reason that for warehousing, the same general principles apply. Logistics outsourcing in particular has been a key growth area within the industry with many companies now engaged in such contracts.



Reasons to Purchase



*Understand what business strategies manufacturers are implementing to see where they will need help most.

*Assess the opportunity for technology within manufacturing strategies to more closely target key pain points.