Supply Chain Logistics Optimization

We help organizations with customized solutions that solve problems off-the-shelf tools cannot address, providing insight, visibility, and optimization that delivers exceptional business results

WeĀ help customers overcomeĀ theĀ startlingĀ supply chain issuesĀ prevalentĀ today and prepare forĀ many elements ofĀ theĀ APQC list of massive changes coming by 2023,Ā including robotic process automation, blockchain, continuing digitalization of the supply chain, global tariff uncertainties, and the leverage of artificial intelligence andĀ machine learning.Ā 

OurĀ supply chainĀ modeling, complex analysis, and optimization deliver customĀ solutions that solve problems that off-the-shelf packages cannotĀ solve.Ā Ā WeĀ handle challengesĀ ranging fromĀ minimizing transshipment and inventory costĀ toĀ selecting optimal replacement products.Ā Ā Ā 

How We Help Clients

Problem Recognition

We help organizationsĀ recognize the real problems that are impacting their supply chains.Ā First, weĀ drill down to root causes and identify current and future gaps in the organization’s technical stack,Ā processes, and management tools.Ā Then, fromĀ aĀ new understandingĀ of the problem, we build a prioritized portfolio of supply chain issues that offer the best opportunity for resolutionĀ and results.Ā 

Building Visibility

Our GlimpseĀ® tools and connectors enable us toĀ join real-timeĀ data feeds from disparate ERP, CRM, and WMS tools and clean and transform the data.Ā  We present clever and insightful displays notĀ ordinarilyĀ available.Ā  What-If controls enable quick sensitivity analysis and enable disruption recovery planning, transshipment cost minimization, and inventory cost reduction.Ā 

Lead Custom Solution Implementation

We lead solution implementation projectsĀ that deliver unique and remarkable solutions for our customers.Ā  Solution elements vary with the nature of the project, but we pursue exceptional resultsĀ withĀ the best technology available.Ā  We combine on-site engagement with remote support to work withĀ customer staff andĀ executive sponsors.

What We Do

ā€Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters mostā€

Transshipment Cost Minimization

Modeling inbound vendor deliveries through networked DCs, studying local demand, and adding in lot size,Ā truck size, and dockĀ restrictions to create a tunable model to slash costs by choice of optimal transshipment routing.Ā 

Stocking and Order Cost Minimization

Choosing a modified EOQ model that cuts stocking and ordering cost by incorporating machineĀ learning-basedĀ forecasts and applying proven cost minimization techniques toĀ selectĀ order quantityĀ for any of hundreds of thousands of inventoried SKUs.Ā Ā 

Fulfillment Performance Tuning

Examining the organization and function of fulfillment operations to create a performance model to tune.Ā 

Optimal Warehouse Location

CalculatingĀ optimal locations for new DCs, or for replacing some or all existing DCs.Ā 

Vendor Management

Implementing automated data collection and visualizations that spanĀ multiple systems toĀ revealĀ vendor performance measures and to showĀ currentĀ stocking levels and inbound stock for each supplier, supportingĀ order actions.Ā 

Delivery Route Optimization

Creating optimal plans for outbound delivery from an existing DC to reduce costsĀ while maintainingĀ customer satisfactionĀ and enforcing realisticĀ restrictions on truck capacity, route length, and dock limitations, among others.Ā Ā 

Loading Dock Labor Forecasting

Applying machine learning forecasting techniques and data ingestion from production systemsĀ and including restrictions on truck and dock typesĀ to build and updateĀ least-costĀ dockĀ staffing plans.Ā 

Supply Chain Assessment

Creating sophisticated models of existing supply chain logistics, in whole or in part,Ā to identifyĀ vulnerabilities and redundancies and to power interactive What-If sensitivity analysis, even in real-timeĀ within a team meeting.Ā Ā 

Solutions For All Aspects of Your Business

Our Approach

We help customers tune existing supply chain logistics and design the optimal supply chain logistics they need for the future

We deliver information visualizations that make supply chain statistics actionable.Ā  We use modeling, analysis, simulation, and optimization tools to provide the best results today and the best possible designs for the future.

Study and Discovery

We invest the effort needed to build an in-depth understanding of our customer’s logistics network.Ā  This effort includes the identification of restrictions of all types and consideration of upcoming impacts such as planned mergers and acquisitions.

Analysis and Modeling

Securing access to clean, accurate, and timely data is a primary concern of modeling and analysis problems.Ā  When the data is secured, EDA (exploratory data analysis) reveals the quality of the solution that can be achieved and the types of methods that will offer the best analysis and optimization.Ā 

Modeling and Analysis

We build high-fidelity models that accurately reflect the production reality.Ā  With these models, we can apply classical simulation and optimization techniques to yield excellent and sometimes surprising results or provide valuable insights.

Data Acquisition

Our data team makes a concerted effort to identify the true source of data for each element needed for analysis and works with the organization’s staff to secure access to the data. In addition, the team sets up connectors that provide sophisticated data transformation and cleaning.

Sectors We Serve

Quality Focused, Result Driven

Impact Stories

What-If Analysis for Call Centers

What-if analysis provides the ability to compare different scenarios and their potential outcomes based on fluctuating conditions. Einstein Analytics and Tableau SF are just some of the tools that can be utilized to show data interdependencies for key outcomes. Learn more about how Blackstone + Cullen worked with Norfolk Southern Railway Company on their what-if analysis for their call center.

Customer Profitability Model

Do you know the status of all the products in your supply chain? Do you how much revenue each of your customers bring in? If a product is unavailable, what is the next most likely substitution of a similar product that will deliver the same profit? Blackstone + Cullen delivers solutions that provide never before seen insights to organizations that can help answer these questions.

Global Business Capability Model

In the strategic planning process, Business Capability Modeling can help the business translate their IT capabilities into a roadmap for business success. A Business Capability Roadmapping approach was used by Blackstone + Cullen to converge business and IT strategies and priorities for Imerys, the world's leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for industry.

Delivering the Enterprise What-If Capability

Organizations are always looking for more insight out of their reports and dashboards. What-if analysis can deliver exactly that. Discover how to maximize the capabilities of Power BI or Tableau, and how they can be used with advanced what-if analysis to help you answer not only "What happened?" but "What could happen?" and deliver an optimized yet dynamically configurable business scenario models.

Sustained, Unfair Competitive Advantage

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