Straight Forward Consulting

Straight Forward Consulting

Business Consulting and Services

East Amherst, NY 360 followers

We fix broken supply chains, and we make good supply chains better.

About us

Straight-Forward Consulting is your "one-stop shop" for supply chain and process improvement needs. We blend Supply Chain Best Practices with Lean Principles to provide Operational Excellence throughout your organization. We deliver practical, sustainable solutions to small and mid sized organizations, enabling them to compete and win in today's competitive global marketplace. We focus on delivering results, not reports. For many of our engagements, we are not paid until we deliver real, tangible savings for you. Recognizing that all companies and issues are unique, we customize our approach for you.

Industry
Business Consulting and Services
Company size
2-10 employees
Headquarters
East Amherst, NY
Type
Privately Held
Founded
2008
Specialties
Transportation, Warehousing, Lean and Six Sigma Principles, Forecasting, New Product Development, Employee Engagement, Project Management, and Interim Executive

Locations

Employees at Straight Forward Consulting

Updates

  • As predicted for the past few years, the U.S. warehouse market is seeing significant changes as we close out 2024. Vacancy rates have climbed to 7.2% (November 2024), a jump from 4.8% in 2023 and the historic low of 3.4% at the end of 2021. This shift reflects the convergence of two key factors: the surge in new capacity coming online, and the realization that inventories needed to be reduced across the supply chain. A Quick Look Back since the pandemic: 📦 2021: Record low vacancy (3.4%) fueled by pandemic e-commerce growth. 📦 2022: The 'push' supply chain effect- it was slow to react to softening demand, so new supply outpaced demand, pushing vacancy to 4.2%. 📦 2023: Continued oversupply led to a 4.8% average vacancy. Why Are Vacancies Rising? 1️⃣ High New Supply: Warehouse companies started planning their expansions during the craziness of 2020's economic boom. Unfortunately, it takes years for this new capacity to come online. Over 310M square feet of warehouse space was added in 2023 alone. 2️⃣ Softening Demand: The new capacity came online at a time of economic uncertainties and right when manufacturers and distributors realized they needed to adopt leaner inventory strategies. What Does This Mean for 2025? 🔹 Lower Rents? Rising vacancies may drive landlords to offer better terms. 🔹 Slowdown in Construction: Higher interest rates and oversupply are likely to temper new builds. 🔹 Increased Automation: Businesses will invest in efficiency to offset costs and labor challenges. The warehousing landscape is evolving, but with change comes opportunity. Now is the time for companies to refine strategies, optimize space, and prepare for what’s next. Did you see this shift coming? What trends are you watching in the warehouse market for 2025? Share your thoughts below! #Warehousing #SupplyChain #Logistics #WarehouseTrends #WarehouseWednesday #SupplyChain #Logistics #Buffalo

  • FROM CAR HAULING TO AN LTL CARRIER. A GOOD MOVE OR A RISKY MOVE? Jack Cooper, a prominent car hauler, is nearing entry into the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector by potentially acquiring Standard Forwarding, a regional (Illinois) LTL carrier. A tentative five-year labor agreement with the Teamsters union, covering over 350 drivers, includes a 26% wage increase, enhanced overtime, an additional paid holiday, and increased sick time. Got me thinking a bit deeper about this potential move- Opportunities: Market Expansion: Diversifying into the LTL market could open new revenue streams for Jack Cooper. Job Preservation: The acquisition may safeguard hundreds of union jobs, maintaining labor stability. Challenges: Financial Health: Jack Cooper's 2019 bankruptcy restructuring raises concerns about its capacity to integrate and sustain new operations. Standard Forwarding's Viability: Reports suggest Standard Forwarding faced struggles prior to acquisition talks, potentially complicating the transition. Things to think about: How might Jack Cooper's entry impact the LTL market landscape? What strategies should be employed to ensure a smooth integration of Standard Forwarding's operations? Or do they integrate at all? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! #TransportationTuesday #SupplyChain #Logistics #LTL #Buffalo

  • I AM GRATEFUL This Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to my clients, partners, and friends. Your trust, collaboration, and support have made this year incredibly rewarding. I’m thankful for the opportunities to work alongside you and for the connections that continue to inspire and drive success. Wishing you and your families a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving! Let’s keep building stronger partnerships and brighter futures together. #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #ThankYou

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  • Should we even use the term “Black Friday” anymore? It used to mean a single-day frenzy, when retailers can finally go into the black, but now it’s stretched into a week—or more—of deals. I remember so many people heading out into the snowy night after a Thanksgiving meal, or people getting up at 3 or 4 am to go shopping. Thankfully, we don’t have to do that anymore. Since “Black Friday” has leaked into a whole week, or more, it’s easier for us consumers, but it is easier for warehouses and fulfillment centers? Not exactly. Consider these changes that these operations need to now enact: - Extended Peak Periods: Instead of gearing up for one intense day, warehouses now operate at near-peak levels for weeks. This requires sustained labor, leading to higher costs and greater employee fatigue. - Inventory Congestion: Promotional inventory arrives earlier and stays longer. This ties up valuable storage space, making it harder to accommodate new stock or regular replenishments. - Increased Order Complexity: With extended sales come varying promotions, leading to more SKUs needing rapid picking and packing. This complexity can strain accuracy and throughput. - Labor Challenges: Warehouses need to scale staffing for longer periods, which is harder to manage without overworking employees or over-hiring for a temporary peak. - Pressure on Automation: Facilities relying on automation must ensure systems can handle sustained demand. Maintenance downtime becomes a critical risk during these extended peaks. How can retailers optimize their operations with these new changes? • Dynamic Slotting: Prioritizing high-turn SKUs near packing stations. • Cross-Docking: Reducing storage needs by moving inventory directly to outbound shipping. • Flexible Labor Models: Balancing full-time staff with seasonal or gig workers to meet demand efficiently. The shift to an extended Black Friday may reduce some chaos for customers, but for warehouses, it’s a marathon that requires agility, planning, and innovation. It’s like a mini-season unto itself. How are your warehouses handling the new Black Friday reality? Let’s talk solutions in the comments! 🚛📈 #WarehouseWednesday #BlackFriday #SupplyChain #ECommerce #logistics

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  • UPS GETS CAUGHT OVERVALUING ITS LTL BUSINESS The SEC recently fined UPS $45 million for failing to accurately evaluate the value of its UPS Freight unit before selling it to TFI International in 2021. Despite an internal 2019 review estimating the unit’s value at $650 million, UPS relied on a consultant who valued the business at $2 billion—150% more than TFI ultimately paid ($800 million). This inflated valuation allowed UPS to avoid a $500 million writedown on goodwill, a balance sheet item often criticized for being subjective. Goodwill, representing intangible assets like reputation, is notoriously hard to measure and can obscure a company’s true financial health when mismanaged. I am not an accountant, but it was always difficult for me to get my head around trying to evaluate goodwill. It's too squishy, in my book. The SEC found that UPS not only withheld critical details from the consultant but also ignored Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) that should have flagged the goodwill as impaired. The result? Misleading financial statements and a hefty penalty. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS What safeguards should be in place to prevent missteps in asset valuations? Is goodwill too subjective to play such a significant role in financial reporting? How should companies balance consultant insights with internal analysis for compliance and accuracy? How did TFI not uncover these issues during its due diligence process before the acquisition? Your thoughts? Let’s discuss! #TransportationTuesday #Supplychain #logistics

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  • Don't Run Your Thanksgiving Kitchen Like a Bottlenecked Production Line! A week from today, many Americans will sit down to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal, followed by some football. This year, the football lineup is... less than stellar, so maybe that tryptophan will do its thing and help you nap through the Dallas-Giants game. But back to the turkey... Ever notice how your mom always seemed to have Thanksgiving under control? The turkey was perfectly golden, the gravy hot, with no lumps, the mashed potatoes nice and firm (my kids still rib me about the year I made 'mashed potato soup'), the sides ready and piping hot, and somehow, the rolls came out of the oven right on time. Those days feel like a distant memory now. Nowadays, hosting feels like chaos in the kitchen. The turkey’s taking longer than expected, the green bean casserole is lukewarm, and—wait—the mashed potatoes need reheating again. It’s like we just can’t nail the timing. Some people have a second oven tucked away in the basement, but is that really the best solution? Adding more “capacity” might help in the short term, but lean thinkers know the real issue isn’t the lack of ovens—it’s the bottlenecks! It’s all about improving flow: minimizing constraints, better timing, smarter sequencing, and eliminating inefficiencies. Just like in manufacturing, the key is identifying the pinch points and planning around them. You can only fit so much in the oven at once! Prep cold dishes the day before (assuming your refrigerator isn’t your bottleneck!). Cook oven-based sides while the turkey rests (or cook them in advance, and simply warm them up while it rests). And don’t forget the power of delegation—sometimes the simplest solutions, like assigning a dish to a guest, can be the most effective. Thanksgiving dinner might seem small in the grand scheme of things, but the lessons apply everywhere—from the kitchen to the production floor. The secret isn’t more ovens—it’s better flow. How do you manage bottlenecks, in the kitchen or at work?

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  • Purchase Price is a Horrible Procurement Metric! I still encounter far too many procurement professionals who rely on purchase price or purchase price variance as their primary metric for success. It's a narrow and incomplete measure that doesn’t tell the full story. Here’s why: 🔍 Purchase price and purchase price variance ignore critical factors like transportation costs and inventory impacts. Instead, we should focus on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). TCO combines the purchase price with transportation and other incremental costs, providing a clearer view of the actual cost. 🔢 Every business should also develop and publish its unique cost of inventory metric. This isn't just the cost of money. It includes: Opportunity costs of tied-up capital Storage costs Additional transportation or handling needs Obsolescence risks When I shared this with a VP of Procurement, he asked, “Why isn’t it just the cost of money?” Simple: inventory costs go far beyond interest rates. 🎯 The takeaway: If your team is measuring success with simplistic metrics like purchase price or PPV, it’s time to level up. Start tracking TCO and your unique cost of inventory to make smarter, more strategic decisions. What metrics are you using to elevate procurement performance? Let me know in the comments!

  • Well, these contract talks didn't last very long! (Understatement of the Year!) This week's #TransportationTuesday post talked about how the East Coast and Gulf Coast Ports contract discussions were set to resume this week. On Wednesday, the contract talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) broke down. The core issue? The same core issue that the union is dead set against, and has been, for months- automation. The ILA walked away from negotiations after USMX proposed incorporating semi-automated equipment into a new six-year labor pact. While the USMX highlights modernization as key to improving safety and efficiency, the ILA views these proposals as a direct threat to the jobs of its 45,000 union members. This standoff follows an October strike that temporarily froze container handling across 36 ports, impacting billions in trade. The ILA has remained firm in its stance against automation, stating, “Our resolve remains strong not to surrender any ILA jobs.” USMX argues otherwise, asserting that modernization is vital for supply chain resilience and long-term job growth. The clock is ticking, with the current contract expiring on January 15. Will common ground be found, or do we go right back to the drawing board? For what it's worth, only 5 US ports crack the Top 100 most efficient global ports. Most estimates I read say that US port efficiency in aggregate would rank us somewhere between 150-200. This negotiation highlights a broader question: how do we balance technological advancements with the livelihoods of workers? Or- who wants to come in 150th in a race? What’s your take? #SupplyChainDisruption #AutomationDebate #LaborRelations #PortOperations #FutureOfWork

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  • East Coast and Gulf Coast Port Negotiations to Resume this Week Negotiations are set to resume this week between the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). Recall this is the 3-day strike that was delayed when the Biden administration intervened, setting January 15 (five days before Inauguration Day) as the end of the 'truce'. These talks, covering labor contracts at 36 East and Gulf Coast ports, are pivotal for keeping goods flowing and avoiding another costly disruption. What’s at Risk? A work stoppage could freeze billions of dollars in imports, disrupting everything from pharmaceuticals to fresh produce. Importers are scrambling to pull shipments forward, bracing for the dual challenges of a potential strike and upcoming tariffs on Chinese goods. Meanwhile, the broader economy is holding its breath as January 15 looms. The Key Sticking Points Automation: The ILA strongly opposes increased port automation, fearing job loss, while employers argue for technology as essential to improving efficiency in global trade. This debate isn’t just about ports—it’s a microcosm of the wider labor vs. innovation conversation playing out in many industries. Political Dynamics: Two things. First of all, I find it fascinating that they set Jan 15th as the day the truce ends, not knowing who would win the election. Secondly, with the Biden administration declining to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to end past strikes, all eyes are on how the Trump administration will handle it. ILA leadership has had prior discussions with Trump, but how this relationship influences the outcome is unclear. Contract Extensions: Another short-term extension could delay conflict, but it would leave businesses in a prolonged state of uncertainty, disrupting supply chain planning and long-term strategies. What’s Next? The decisions made in these talks will ripple across the supply chain, influencing labor policies, port operations, and economic stability for years. (Remember- they already agreed to a 62% wage increase over the term of the contract. The sticking point is the automation.) Whether it’s a breakthrough agreement, a strategic extension, or another strike, the outcome will be closely watched by industries worldwide. The question now is: how do we balance the preservation of good jobs with the need for innovation to compete in a global economy? I'd love to hear from my transportation friends on this!

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  • Honoring Our Veterans- Discovering the Red Ball Express! Today, we pause to honor the 17.9 million veterans in our nation, who represent 6% of the adult population. These men and women, including a growing number of women and minority veterans, have given so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy. They remind us that service is a call to action—and a lifelong commitment to leadership and resilience. Any supply chain hiring managers reading this? Do yourself a favor and hire a veteran! Veterans bring unique skills to civilian life, many of which are deeply rooted in the military’s history of excellence in logistics. A perfect example is the Red Ball Express of World War II. After landing in Normady, the Allied Forces were moving faster than the railroads could supply them, so they came up with this "Red Ball Express" concept. It was a truck convoy system that ensured advancing Allied forces had the supplies (food, ammunition, medical equipment, and fuel) needed as they pushed further East into Nazi-occupied France. Some interesting facts: It used 6000 trucks, required 23,000 people many of whom worked 16+ hours per day to move 12,500 tons daily to the front-line troops. It’s a testament to the power of adaptability, innovation, and teamwork. Without it, victory in Europe might have been delayed—or worse. What can we learn from this? Agility Matters: The Red Ball Express adapted to rapidly shifting demands. Today, businesses must be equally agile to remain competitive in dynamic markets. Collaboration Wins: It took coordination between planners, drivers, and the military to succeed—just as collaboration fuels modern supply chains. Resilience is Key: Soldiers braved enemy attacks and fatigue to deliver supplies. In supply chains, resilience against disruption is now a strategic necessity. Veterans bring this mindset to every role they take on after service. They’ve been at the forefront of leadership and logistics innovation, shaping not just military success but also the principles that power today’s global supply chains. Let’s take a moment today to thank our veterans—not just for their sacrifices, but for the invaluable lessons they teach us about strategy, perseverance, and leadership. To all who have served: Thank you. Thank you for our cherished freedoms that you have preserved.

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