Trade and Logistics

The Davies Transportation Consulting Inc. (DTCI) team was engaged by Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) to increase its understanding of the shipping and logistics options available to industry when approaching new Asian markets including India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Mr. Anderson was a senior consultant for a project that included the following scope:

• Identifying and addressing transportation cost differentials among supply regions in reference to new Asian markets;
• Optimizing domestic logistics prior to export;
• Optimizing shipment characteristics and logistics practices to improve the competitiveness of British Columbia lumber exports.

Mr. Anderson was a senior consultant for the QGI Consulting supply chain logistics consulting project completed for a confidential client. The objectives were to review supply chain and logistics issues for Canadian and essential US agricultural product trade flows; Identify the customer’s advantages for both bulk and containerized agricultural products and leveraging them to attract additional export sales volume. The research provide the port industry client with an enhanced understanding of the strengths and limitations of the existing container and bulk infrastructure in the North American trade corridors used by the client’s customers. The research insights overcome market intelligence obstacles so that containerized and bulk export agricultural product business development and logistics infrastructure investment decisions were aligned with market opportunities.

The confidential client engaged the Wave Point Consulting team to assist with this transportation and supply chain project arising from British Columbia’s emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) export opportunities. The value chain analysis included vital aspects of the proposed BC LNG projects starting with natural gas exploration and extraction, through to production, processing, transportation, and distribution of the final product. The report identified each of the critical supply chain areas and determined the employment and supplier opportunities for communities along the northern BC LNG corridor, as well as Aboriginal people and vendors in other parts of the province.

Wave Point Consulting teamed up with BC Shipping News to initiate the annual Surface Transportation Annual Review (STAR) Survey. Respondents were asked for their opinion on three topics to gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of the supply chain logistics and transport sector in response to global trade challenges:

– General economic outlook and business confidence.
– Logistics performance perceptions and assessment of British Columbia-based ports and transportation system.
– Management priorities in regarding logistics, transportation, and sustainability initiatives.

The 2014 Surface Transportation Annual Review survey findings are available for downloading here.

Mr. Davies led a team including Darryl Anderson of Wave Point Consulting; Brian Zak of All Forest Solutions; and Jean-Francois Arsenault of CPCS Transcom in a logistics and supply chain management study for the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. Project objectives include identification of current and forecast economic opportunities to respond to increasing global demand for forest products moving from BC and North America and identification and recommendations for actions and strategies to take advantage of these opportunities. This comprehensive supply chain study focused on the end-to-end logistics requirements of BC forest producers, including transportation modes, customer needs, decision-makers and distribution within destination countries to increase their market share. As a senior consultant, Mr. Anderson played a crucial role in gathering information, stakeholder communications, developing the structure and preparation of the ocean freight rate analysis. He also provided expert advice and analysis related to both Interior and Coastal forest products trade & logistics opportunities for the BC industry. Mr. Anderson led in the identification of current and emerging commercial practices of market participants that influence forest products trade flows and distribution decision-making in the respective foreign markets. The results of the logistics and supply chain consulting assignment were used to enhance the efficiency of the logistics and transportation infrastructure with the goal of increasing market share.

Darryl Anderson of Wave Point Consulting was a senior consultant for a B2B research supply chain logistics consulting project involving an export customer trade and logistics needs and opportunities assessment with the goal of increasing market share. Project tasks included sample selection, in-person and executive telephone interviews, data analysis and the development of client recommendations. Interview instruments captured qualitative and quantitative data for assessing the factors affecting a representative group of current and potential customers (shipping lines, shippers, 3PL/Freight Forwarders, etc.) decision-making criteria for providing service to, or using a specific port. Identification and analysis of critical factors influencing container lines’ equipment allocation decisions were also conducted. A more robust understanding of client’s requirements based on global supply chain decision-making criteria was created. Opportunities for improving customer service through supply chain reconfiguration or the provision of new services were identified. Prioritized export cargo opportunity list to support marketing efforts and infrastructure planning and investments decision-making aligned with trade & logistics market requirements. As a result, loaded TEU container exports through the port more than doubled.

As an independent researcher, Mr. Anderson co-wrote the terms of reference, developed study methodology and completed a supply chain logistics report that identified key issues that were shaping the performance of the sector participants. The objective of the report was to ascertain whether conflicting pressures and trends spell prosperity or difficulty for the future maritime transport of perishables cargoes. The report described the composition of cool cargoes, shipping routes and methods of maritime transport. The structure of the cool cargo transport industry was reviewed. The analysis covered the supply, demand, maritime transport options and competition. Regulatory issues that affect the reefer/refrigerated shipping industry were also assessed. Conclusions on the composition and structure of the maritime transportation of cool cargoes – reefers and refrigerated shipping – and their implications for Canada’s international trade in perishable goods were presented.

Mr. Darryl Anderson of Wave Point Consulting was a principal researcher for the Davies Transportation Consulting Inc. led supply chain logistics consulting team. The project assessed the multimodal transport competitiveness of actual and potential Alberta liquid and dry petrochemical products to selected North American and off-shore markets. The scope of the project included assembly of qualitative and quantitative information on current Alberta petrochemical production, sales, and markets. Transportation costs analysis included assessment of port infrastructure requirements and adequacy of existing facilities for port customers; identification and classification of new products by transportation requirements; and a detailed evaluation of each element of supply chain costs for Alberta-produced petrochemicals relative to competing producers. Client value-added: Alberta petrochemical producers and government officials had an updated assessment of the performance and effectiveness of their current supply chain management practices and ways to better align development and investment efforts with commercial opportunities to increase market share.

Mr. Darryl Anderson was the executive author of a supply chain logistics report that assessed the business development and growth opportunities arising from the changing ownership structure of the coastal forest industry. The report included an analysis of domestic, US and international market conditions, regulatory policies and port authorities infrastructure, pricing and logistics considerations. The report identified ways to ensure increase competitiveness and fairness for forest products manufacturers to remain globally competitive. The work resulted in the introduction of revised pricing and land use strategy that increased the level of competition in local log transport markets and increased business for the port authority. As a result, deep-sea shipping traffic increased by over 50%.