DCS provides supply chain network design and optimization consulting to help organizations determine how facilities, inventory, transportation, and fulfillment should work together across their distribution network.
Using operational data, advanced modeling, and real-world supply chain expertise, DCS’ consultants evaluate your current network and model future-state scenarios to help balance cost, capacity, service, and growth.
Network optimization uses data and scenario modeling to evaluate how changes to that structure could affect cost, service and operational performance.
This can help answer critical questions such as:
DCS helps turn those questions into a data-driven network strategy.
Every network is different. DCS’ consultants combine supply chain expertise with modeling and analysis to evaluate the variables that have the greatest impact on your operation.
Available network design and optimization services include:
Adding a distribution center may improve delivery times but increase fixed costs. Consolidating facilities may reduce operating expenses while increasing transportation costs or affecting service. Positioning inventory closer to customers may improve responsiveness but create additional complexity elsewhere in the network.
There is rarely one obvious answer.
DCS uses historical and projected operational data to establish a baseline and model alternative network configurations. By evaluating the trade-offs between scenarios, the DCS consulting team identifies a network strategy that aligns cost, service, and operational requirements with your broader business goals.
Where facilities are located—and the role each one plays—can significantly affect the performance of your entire supply chain.
The DCS consulting team assesses different network configurations to determine whether your operation could benefit from adding, relocating, consolidating, or changing the role of distribution facilities.
Analysis can consider factors such as:
The goal is to create a network structure that supports both current requirements and long-term strategy.
Network design isn’t only about where buildings are located. It also determines how inventory and orders should move through them.
DCS’ consultants can evaluate how inventory is positioned across the network, which products should be carried at different facilities, and how fulfillment strategies affect cost and customer service.
This analysis can help organizations determine the right balance between centralized inventory and positioning products closer to customers while considering transportation, facility, and inventory costs.
Changes to a distribution network can require significant capital and operational commitments. Scenario modeling allows organizations to evaluate potential changes before making those investments. DCS' consultants use network modeling and optimization tools to compare future-state scenarios and understand how changes in demand, facility locations, inventory, transportation, capacity, or service requirements may affect the network. As your business changes, models can also be refreshed to evaluate new scenarios and support future decisions.
Network optimization answers questions about where your distribution facilities should be, how many you need, and what role each should play. Distribution center design takes the next step by determining how an individual facility should operate. DCS can connect these two levels of planning so that network strategy, facility capacity, processes, material flow, technology, and automation are considered together rather than as separate decisions.
As business demands evolve, your distribution network may need to evolve with them. Common indicators include:
Network optimization helps determine whether changes are necessary and where they can create the greatest value.
DCS’ consultants worked with Bermuda Hospitals Board to evaluate its distribution network and develop a centralized, scalable distribution center strategy.
The engagement connected network analysis with facility design, helping BHB evaluate how products should flow through its network and how a future distribution center could support its operational requirements.
A network recommendation often creates additional decisions at the facility level.
If an analysis identifies the need for a new distribution center, expansion, retrofit or operational change, DCS can continue the process through distribution center design, operational improvement, material handling strategy and, when appropriate, system design and integration.
This creates a connected path from network-level strategy through facility-level execution.
Network design focuses on determining the structure of the supply chain, including the number, location, size and role of facilities. Network optimization uses data and modeling to evaluate alternative configurations and identify the structure that best balances factors such as cost, capacity, and customer service.
Network studies typically use information such as inbound and outbound order history, customer and supplier locations, inventory, transportation costs, facility operating expenses, demand forecasts, service requirements, and projected growth. The specific data required depends on the objectives of the engagement.
Yes. Location analysis can evaluate customer demand, transportation costs, existing facilities, suppliers, service requirements, and other variables to compare potential geographic locations for a new distribution center.
Yes. Network modeling can compare different numbers and configurations of facilities to understand the trade-offs between transportation, facility, inventory, and operating costs, as well as customer service.
Yes. Network analysis can include evaluation of company-operated versus third-party logistics (3PL) facilities and how different operating models affect the overall network.
There is no single schedule that applies to every organization. A network should generally be reevaluated when significant changes occur in demand, customer geography, transportation costs, facility capacity, fulfillment channels, acquisitions, or overall business strategy.
Your distribution network should support where your business is going- not simply reflect where it has been.
DCS combines supply chain expertise, operational data and advanced modeling to help organizations evaluate their current network, understand their options and build a practical strategy for future growth.
