Admin. changes at Institute of Traffic Administration
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CHANGES in the administration of the Institute of Traffic Administration were agreed at the Institution's annual conference in Bristol, last weekend.
The present director, Mr F. Pyewell, will retire from that position in April next and will be replaced by a national secretary. The position is to be advertised shortly.
The Institute's magazine is to be recast and presented in a different format and Mr David Lowe has become national press officer.
During the conference, Mr Norman Mower, Metal Box Co Ltd, Hull, was installed as national chairman to succeed Mr Len Evans, Shell-Mex and BP.
Case histories of listribution undertaken for Boots Ltd, Shell-Mex and BP Ltd and the Rank, Hovis 14cDougal organization were explained by Mr R. R. rons, managing director of Nestern British Road iervices Ltd. Mr Irons used hese examples to illustrate he road transport aspects of physical distribution and the factors which should be taken into account for particular aspects of this activity.
Making the point that distribution was a fundamental link between manufacture and marketing, he pointed out that it could be used as a marketing weapon. For this reason, it must be flexible with the ultimate aim to get the right amount of the right kind of product in the right place at the right time and at the right cost.
Setting up a distribution scheme involved an exatuination of past and predicted future sales performance. Plotting this information on a map would produce an easily recognized pattern from which depot situation and vehicle requirements could be determined.
Cost of stock holding in relation to the service factor must be evaluated as this could have a significant effect on the capital invested in stock. United Kingdom markets were comparatively close so that consideration could be given to serving the majority of the company from a minimum number of stock-holding points. The availability of labour in a particular area would influence the situation of these also, said Mr Irons.
Choice of warehouse equipment would have to be compatible with the product, as this could affect flexibility particularly if changes in product or packaging took place.
Touching on vehicle suitability — a very complex subject, said Mr Irons — he emphasized the importance of vehicle appearance with, preferably, a uniformed driver. Another important aspect was staff training so that staff could identify with a particular product. The earliest possible stock replacement through an efficient documentation system was vital.
Proper consolidation of distribution systems should have the effect of reducing the number of vehicles required so that environmental requirement would, in part, be satisfied.