Self Analysis with Acorn Trading logists and delivery services

Acorn Trading Ltd

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Unit 64, Greenway Business Centre,

Harlow Business Park

Harlow

Essex

CM19 5QE

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T: +44 (0)1279 408762

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F: +44 (0)1279 408763

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E: sales@acorntrading.net

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Tabs

This Self Analysis form has been designed to guide you through your outsourcing requirements, highlighting the most important issues.

By ticking the boxes, you are answering YES. By completing the form, you will see how many boxes are left blank, which may need attention. If you would like to submit the form, we will send you your written analysis.

CHOOSING YOUR PARTNER
1. Have you checked the credibility of the logistics company?
2. What degree of expertise exists in the company?
3. Is it ISO9002 accredited or working towards this?
4. Have you been able to speak to their customers or references?
5. What is the logistics company’s financial standing? Have you examined Company Accounts?
6. Has the Company’s management made an effort to understand your business? Are you sure you understand theirs?
7. Do you understand who does what within their organisation? Have you met relevant people? Can you ‘do business’ with them?

CHECKING YOUR PARTNER’S CAPABILITY
1. What is their capability statement? Have you checked it? Is your future business likely to stretch their resources?
2. Can the Logistics Company take expansion in its stride?
3. Have you walked their ship and personally evaluated facilities?
4. Are you satisfied with the security arrangements?
5. Are you happy with the ‘added value’ services being offered? For example … Packing? Shrink Wrapping? Bar Coding?
6. What returns, repack and reporting procedures are in place? Are the procedures robust?
7. Can the Logistics Company consolidate for reduced freight charges?
8. Where is the logistics company situated? Is it close to motorways, airports? What transport facilities are available?
9. Are the storage facilities organised, clean, accessible?
10. Are inventory management systems in place?

MANAGING THE CHANGE
1. Have you decided what the implications are for your staff? Redundancies? Retraining? Staff transfer (TUPE)?
2. Have you examined the capital implications, premises and equipment?
3. Have you thought about other costs? One time costs? Start up costs?
4. Is there likely to be any break in service continuity? Can you minimise this?
5. Have you decided on a timetable for change? Have you written a Critical Path?

SETTING PROCEDURES
1. Have you decided on an agreement period?
2. Have you laid out procedures to run the operation? Warehousing? Transportation? Administration?
3. Have procedures and performance levels been agreed? Will they work? Can you cut out and streamline anything?
4. Have you agreed order turnaround times?
5. What checks and measures are in place for continuous improvement? Have you decided on a review procedure?
6. What reports do you want and when? Will these include proof of deliveries? Receipts? Sales and returns?
7. Have you decided on a data transfer process? Paper? Disc? Electronic? Internet?

FINANCIAL
1. Have you fully examined the basis of the Logistics Company’s charges? Have you obviated ‘hidden’ costs?
2. Have you thought about the insurance implications?
3. Are you going to impose penalties for non-conformance?

*To help us help you, please complete the remainder of the form with your contact details, especially the boxes marked .**

Name:	*
Title:
Company:
Address:
County:
Post Code:
Country:
Telephone:	*		Please type with no spaces i.e.:	012345678
E-Mail:	*
Comments:
Would you like us to contact you to discuss your requirements?		Yes:	No:

Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. If you have requested so, we will contact you in the near future to discuss your logistics requirements.

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