THE ENERGY AND DISTRIBUTION CRISIS: How can the consultant help?

Escalating fuel costs, increased costs in materials handling equipment, labour costs in every sector rising — all these constitute a unique and especially pressing problem to the company with a major distribution function. Management consultants specialising in distribution are finding their services are in unusual demand. Interestingly enough, the abnormal conditions are prompting companies to look at their overall distribution situation, rather than merely tinkering with nuts and bolts. RDM interviewed three consultancy organisations — Modern Materials Management, R & M (Management Consultants), and Harold Whitehead & Partners, in order to identify common problems and examine solutions offered.