Any help or advice with my Supply chain case for a startup in herbal blends(high School thesis )

Question

I am working on a logistics optimization project for a startup that produces herbal blends. The company is currently handling both direct deliveries to stores and customers, while also considering outsourcing certain logistics processes, such as packaging, labeling, and shipping, to an external partner. Additionally, there are challenges related to the varying shelf life (THT) of certain ingredients, which need to be addressed.

The main goals of this project are to:

Optimize the logistics process, from raw material procurement to delivery.
Solve shelf life (THT) challenges, especially for ingredients with shorter shelf lives.
Investigate the costs and benefits of working with distributors versus direct delivery.
Identify bottlenecks in the current logistics process and propose efficiency improvements.
Conduct market research with existing and potential retail partners.

My Question:

To gather the necessary data for this project, I need to ask the company owner for specific documents. Could you provide advice on what documents are essential for this kind of project? So far, I believe I will need:

Ingredient and Product Specifications: A list of ingredients used in the blends, including their respective THT dates (shelf life).
Supply Chain and Logistics Data: Current logistics workflow, supplier contracts, and agreements with the packaging company.
Sales and Distribution Contracts: Existing agreements with stores, distributors, or partners that detail terms for delivery, THT requirements, and margins.
Inventory and Stock Information: Current stock levels, turnover rates, and data on products with shorter shelf lives.
Customer Feedback or Market Research: Any available insights or feedback from retailers or customers that could guide the market research part of the project.

Goal: The goal is to obtain enough data to make informed decisions on logistics optimization, THT management, and distributor partnerships.

Could you advise if these documents are sufficient, or if there are other specific reports or data that I should request? And any help with project self ? Or similar cases?

Answer 1

Hey! I would additionally look into those factos:

Ingredient and Product Specifications: List of ingredients, including their shelf life (THT).
Supply Chain and Logistics Data: Workflow, supplier contracts, and packaging agreements.
Sales and Distribution Contracts: Terms related to delivery, THT requirements, and margins with stores and distributors.
Inventory and Stock Information: Current stock levels, turnover rates, and data on products with shorter shelf lives.
Cost Analysis of In-House vs. Outsourced Logistics: Cost breakdowns for packaging, labeling, and shipping.
Production Schedules: Timeline breakdown for each phase of production.
Transportation Costs and Routes: Delivery costs and frequency data.

This could help you to identify bottlenecks, optimize logistics, and better manage shelf life challenges, ultimately aiding in the decision between direct delivery and working with distributors.

Hope this helps!

Alessa :)