PlainlySupply Chain Optimisation
Supply chain planning and optimisation for stock, service and cost
Right stock, right place, right cost. I provide hands-on supply chain planning and optimisation for product and service businesses — covering demand planning, inventory, suppliers, logistics and fulfilment. Whether you need to fix forecasting, reduce excess stock, or get a proper planning process in place, I work with your team to build a supply chain that is reliable, transparent and scalable.
This is for you if:
- Capital tied up in slow movers while key lines are out of stock and constantly expedited.
- Forecasts, stock levels and demand signals do not line up, so decisions are based on guesswork and arguing over whose numbers are "right".
- Suppliers, warehouses and carriers are hard to predict, so service is fragile, firefighting is constant and costs creep up through fixes and workarounds.
Typical challenges I help with
Most supply chain projects start because some of this feels familiar
High overall stock levels, but frequent stock outs on key products.
Limited visibility of true demand across channels and customers.
Long or variable supplier lead times, with little leverage to improve them.
Rising logistics and fulfilment costs without a clear view of cost to serve.
Poor SKU level profitability insight, so decisions are made on instinct rather than data.
What I do
I work across the end-to-end supply chain, from suppliers to customers, to understand where value is created and where it is lost.
Supply chain review and diagnostics
End to end review of your current supply chain design, flows, contracts, service levels and costs to highlight bottlenecks and quick wins.
Demand and inventory optimisation
Assessment of demand patterns, forecast methods and inventory policies, with practical recommendations to improve availability and reduce excess stock.
Supplier management and sourcing
Support to segment suppliers, review performance, renegotiate terms and, where needed, source alternatives that better match your strategy.
Logistics and fulfilment improvement
Review of warehouse processes, 3PL arrangements and delivery performance, with a focus on reliability and cost per unit or per order.
S&OP process design
Design and implementation of a simple Sales and Operations Planning process so commercial, operations and finance work from the same plan.
Planning
Supply chain planning services for growing SMEs
Good supply chain planning is what keeps stock, service and cost in balance as you grow. Many SMEs run on spreadsheets and instinct long after they've outgrown them — I help you put a proper planning process in place, or sharpen the one you have.
- Demand planning and forecasting — build a forecast process that reflects real demand across channels and customers, instead of guesswork.
- Inventory and replenishment planning — set stocking policies and reorder logic that protect availability while freeing up working capital.
- Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) — get commercial, operations and finance working from one agreed plan, reviewed on a regular cadence.
- Capacity and supply planning — match supply, suppliers and lead times to the demand plan so commitments are realistic.
- Planning as a service — ongoing, fractional planning support if you need the capability but not a full-time planning hire.
How I work
Focused on service, cost and cash, not just theory
Assess
Data review, process walkthroughs and interviews to understand how your supply chain currently operates and where the biggest issues sit.
Prioritise
We agree a clear set of priorities and success measures, focusing on the areas that will have the greatest impact on service, cost and cash.
Improve
I work with your team to design and implement practical changes to processes, policies, systems and contracts.
Embed
We set up simple KPIs, reviews and ownership so improvements stick and continue to deliver benefits over time.
Results and impact
Typical improvements from this kind of work
- Reduced stock levels while maintaining or improving service.
- Fewer stock outs, expedites and last minute fire drills.
- Clearer visibility of demand, capacity and constraints.
- Lower logistics and fulfilment cost per unit or per order.
- Better supplier performance and stronger commercial terms.
Case study · UK retailer and wholesaler
From cost reduction to capacity for growth
How streamlining a retailer and wholesaler's reporting environment cut costs and freed the capacity to onboard a second brand and link resource to sales.
Read the case studyWho I work with
Frequently asked questions
Can you work with our existing ERP, WMS and planning tools?
Yes. I am used to working with a range of ERP, WMS and planning systems. The focus is on how you use the tools you already have, not on selling new technology.
Do you only do diagnostics, or will you help deliver change?
Both. Some clients want a focused diagnostic to confirm issues and options. Others ask me to stay involved to help design, deliver and embed the improvement programme. We can shape the engagement around what you need.
Do you work internationally?
Yes. I am based near Milton Keynes and regularly support UK and European operations, including suppliers and logistics partners based overseas.
Ready to strengthen your supply chain?
Let's find out where to focus.
Book a no-obligation call to discuss your current challenges and explore where optimisation would deliver the greatest impact.