BAE Systems Strategic Logistics Support
7 Oct 2009 3:38pm
The NAC project with BAE Systems at Newcastle Upon Tyne has developed the business's logistics capability and associated thought processes concerning materiel kitting definition for manufacture and assembly, transport, storage and material handling through new methods and processes. The measures of the project will be felt as new projects come on stream. Logistics planning is now embedded in the business processes and is already helping BAE Systems to intercept issues, reduce associated costs and assist environmental improvements.
BAE Systems is currently manufacturing and assembling wheeled vehicle products for the UK MoD and for overseas customers. The intent of the project with NAC was to review the current logistics processes and improvements already planned. Next step was to extend these new ideas leading to an on-going learning process that would generate logistics requirements within design, procurement and the whole supply chain thereby improving logistics control on the next generation of products that are currently being tendered. Future production rates could be at higher volumes and the base for handling these needed to be defined.
Chris Lee, Materials Manager for Newcastle said "Initially NAC group was brought in to consult with a cross functional team to undertake a logistics needs analysis within the facility. This process determined the opportunities that existed to ensure that the end-to-end logistics development opportunities were identified. Logistics requirements needed to be built into the product design and procurement specification phases relative to the production flow line requirements. Optimisation of kitting definition, material flow, stock levels, supplier management and supply chain performance is crucial and requires the correct level of planning to achieve this. The experience the NAC people enabled the preparation of the correct thought processes to be transferred into procedures for logistics planning including an assessment of the lessons learnt on current projects for use on future projects. The need for clarity in the planning thought process and the definition of the requirements on the supply chain were emphasised."