Gist helps Birds Eye become the model of efficiency
October 2008
Supply chain specialist Gist, has created an interactive simulation model for leading food manufacturer Birds Eye to help create the most efficient production scenarios for its UK production lines.
Gist’s supply chain experts were challenged to reduce current levels of product held in stock following a consolidation of manufacturing across the Birds Eye’s European production sites.
An interactive simulation model of one of Birds Eye’s UK manufacturing plants was built by Gist’s team of supply chain consultants. The model was used to manipulate components of the production process so the team could identify any cost reductions that resulted from different combinations of operational changes.
Changes to the operation such as batch size, shift patterns and safety stock levels were all tested to identify the most efficient combinations. The one element that could not change was that the production volumes must still meet Birds Eye’s established customer service levels.
The team, through rigorous testing, have successfully created an opportunity for Birds Eye to reduce stock levels, without impacting customer service. These changes support Birds Eye in delivering working capital savings of around 20% and reducing logistics costs by eliminating the need for non-value added transport moves and outside storage.
Mike Flynn, business solutions director, Gist said: “Gist’s expert team reviewed all aspects of the supply chain to create an efficient and realistic solution for Birds Eye. Involving all the business areas that impact or are impacted by the operation has been a vital part of this process to ensure that everyone understands how they can influence and improve the business.”
Jon Strachan, European supply chain director, Birds Eye Iglo Group said: “Gist has helped us identify how we can better manage the key levers and compromises across the business to meet our customers’ requirements. We have been able to optimise the trade-off decisions around cost, service and stock holding.”
Notes to Editors:
About Gist:
Gist combines leading edge experience and expertise to transform supply chains. With industry-specific understanding, know-how and excellence, Gist's solutions bring end-to-end visibility and implementation, from concept to delivery.
Gist's 5,000 employees operate out of 35 locations, providing a full range of intellectual and asset-based business offerings in the UK and continental Europe.
Gist is the largest importer of flowers into the UK and is the 6th largest contracts logistics company in the country.
Gist's customers (including British Airways, Marks & Spencer, Carlsberg UK, and Dutch Flower Group) operate in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors, including grocery, electronics and gas.
As part of The Linde Group, with around 50,000 employees working in 100 countries worldwide, Gist also benefits from Linde's global capability, synergy and scale.
