The transportation and logistics industry is experiencing above average growth due to a variety of factors, including globalization, declining trade barriers, and an increasingly mobile workforce. Acquisitions, joint ventures, and alliances are also reshaping the industry. Companies are continually expanding their offerings and taking control over more of the supply chain. In addition, the Internet is facilitating business communication over many transportation-related exchanges focused purely on information, costs, and service levels.
A wide variety of business models exist within the industry, and consolidation and activity have blurred the lines that segment the industry, as well as the search for higher margin value-added services. Railroad operations, shippers and suppliers, and passenger and commuter operations have to plan and execute on a massive scale. There are also many challenges and complexities facing companies that serve and support these large enterprises.
A new key trend facing the industry is transportation security. The further companies look into and investigate the magnitude and complexity of securing supply chains against terrorist threats, the more imperative the need to address this task becomes. The security mandate touches almost all aspects of the industry from equipment to systems, mobile tracking, and especially human resources.
In these times of change, financial transparency, sound risk management processes, and state-of-the-art technology are required.
Thomas Group recently helped a major rail company overcome daunting operational challenges. As the CEO for the company put it, "Thomas Group…forced us to shift our focus back to what we should be managing–our business and its processes. Without them and their experienced Resultants, the successes we obtained would never have happened.”
While we did not turn a bolt or switch a car, we did, in just a few short weeks, demonstrate to our client how their operation could be made more productive by:
Our supply chain consultants do not move raw materials, finished goods, or people from point A to point B–we simply help those that do improve their operations, reduce costs, increase revenue, and drive profitability. Our Resultants® are helping businesses in the transportation sector leverage the power of our proprietary Process Value Management methodology, plus other tools, such as Six Sigma, and Lean, and industry best practices to achieve:
At Thomas Group, our transportation and logistics experts can assist you in meeting these new challenges, including help to enable world-wide alliances and quality partnerships between your company and others.
Regardless of the issues facing your organization–asset utilization, throughput, improved operations or network design–Thomas Group Resultants® will deliver a solution that will place your company on the path to sustained operational excellence and profitability.