Project Examples

Strategy Consulting: Developed a strategy for the maintenance & repair business of a European aircraft engine manufacturer, and evaluated international multimodal transportation products for multiple transportation companies, including whether or not to enter freight markets in Europe.
Policy Analysis: Developed a methodology to help the US Department of Transportation account for supply chain benefits of large-scale infrastructure projects. By using the ‘supply chain benefits’ method, the US would approve more capex for large-scale projects.
Custom Thought Leadership: Researched, analyzed, and wrote thought supply chain-driven leadership papers for clients such as SAP, Microsoft, and Cisco, including The New Face of Purchasing; RFID Comes of Age; Chinese Third-Party Logistics Market Forecast; and Unleashing the Power of Customer Data.
Speaking and Writing: Defined 4 core supply chain strategies in my book Guide to Supply Chain Management (The Economist), and presented at strategic supply chain issues at dozens of conferences such as RFID World.

Operations Consulting: Identified and supported the transfer of best practices in just-in-time production, materials management, maintenance, and material utilization across 16 metal stamping plants for an auto maker.
Training & Education: Taught graduate level operations management at Boston University.
Software Development: Developed and implemented software applications for logistics service providers and manufacturers, including a custom cross-dock application for a 3PL.
Benchmarking: Co-managed a Benchmarking Center of Excellence in A.T. Kearney’s Paris office that encompassed hundreds of European companies.
Best Practice Assessments: Conducted dozens of “best practices” studies in purchasing, manufacturing, transportation, maintenance, logistics, finance, marketing, IT, and other functions.

Negotiation: Negotiated contracts in a multi-round centralized procurement process that led to 22% savings on external expenditure for an electric and gas utility’s external expenditure such as pipes, valves, fittings, and specialized vehicles.
Contracting: Developed best-in-class contract templates for EPC contracts, JV agreements, I.P. agreements, construction contracts, maintenance agreements, and others, and over 1200 procurement, quality, and project management procedures.
Strategic & Global Sourcing: Managed a strategic sourcing program for chemicals, parts, and other categories of purchased equipment and services for a minerals processing company. Focused on the “bottleneck” categories where competitive bidding was difficult or impossible. Also designed and implemented key aspects of a global sourcing program for an automaker in Brazil.
Category Management: Cut costs of Transportation, Logistics, Lab Supplies, IT, Facilities, Energy, Printing, and HR Services through spend analysis, supplier identification, sourcing strategy formulation, RFI/RFP/RFQ, negotiation, and implementation of the onboarding of new suppliers.
Vendor Management: Developed and optimized a vendor management program for an airline. Managed a sequence of projects to improve demand forecasting, process streamlining, and planning and scheduling of outsourced maintenance activities.

Network Design. Implemented a redesigned store logistics process, improving cash-flow and decreasing stock-outs and markdowns for a French retail chain. Conducted a series of detailed pilot programs.
Rate Negotiation. Analyzed transportation rates and identified savings opportunities for shippers of chemicals, forest products, food products, and for 3PLs. Prepared and delivered negotiating workshops.
Process Optimization. Managed process improvement, and reengineering projects at rail and intermodal carriers, auto makers, distributors and logistics service providers related to planning, scheduling, materials management, and infrastructure development.
Transformation: Re-engineered the order fulfillment process of CKD (completely-knocked-down) trucks for a vehicle maker in Brazil, reducing lead time by 30% and cost by 35%.
Software Development: Built decision support tools such as a freight data warehouse (for a railroad), a Return on Investment model (for a port), and a proprietary e-sourcing application in conjunction with companies such as Manhattan Associates, SAP, Ariba, SAS, MATLAB and Primavera.
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Oil & Gas: Led a team that identified savings equivalent to a 3.4% increase in total corporate EVA for a national oil company throughout a multi-year supply chain program that yielded a 7% reduction in corporate capital expenditures, throughput increases and lower inventory costs.
Solar: Led a team that analyzed the levelized cost of electricity for solar, wind, geothermal and combined cycle technologies for the government of Mexico.
Wind: Led a team that saved 13% on a $25 billion windfarm project. Designed a master supply chain strategy and procurement plan and sourcing plans for critical spend categories.
Energy Storage: Directed an energy storage strategy project for a solutions provider. The strategy identified 15 potential applications for storage technology to add value to power generators, transmission & distribution companies, and industrial users.

M&A: Assessed the business strategy, base case, forecast scenarios, and value of an Australasian railway, paving the way for its sale at the asking price.
Capital Investment Evaluation: Evaluated the financial viability of five multi-billion dollar capital projects for a Chinese freight logistics and passenger rail and ferry company, resulting in the decision to build a container train service, a harbor tunnel, and a high-volume switching yard.
Restructuring & Privatization: Helped prepare a Polish copper mine for successful privatization by constructing financials and reorganizing business units, rationalizing production, and optimizing supply chain activities to eliminate waste.
Capital Project Management: Optimized major capital project processes and procedures for five divisions of a multinational petrochemicals company.

Trade Data Analysis & Forecasting: Designed and built a subscription-based World Sea Trade Forecasting System for container shipping companies.
Trade Policy Analysis: Analyzed world trade and developed scenarios of isolationism, bilateralism, and neo-multilateralism for my book Trump, Trade, and the End of Globalization (Praeger/ABC-CLIO).
Comparative Advantage Evaluation: Analyzed the domestic resource cost of seven agricultural commodities in Tunisia (potatoes, oranges, olives, dates, hard wheat, soft wheat, and barley). Follow-on mission based on a successful USAID project in the same ministry.
Economic Impact Analysis: Conducted a trade and economic impact study that helped a Canadian railroad successfully secure government approvals to build a cross-border double-stack freight rail tunnel.