Service Offering for Shippers

Starboard Alliance caters to shipper client needs in a variety
of supply chain discipline areas.

1) Supply Chain Assessment and Optimization Using Lean Thinking Concepts

How We Work:

• Increasing Supply Chain Partner Collaboration
  Starboard Alliance shows how to establish dynamic, cooperative and collaborative networks with suppliers, logistics service providers, supply chain partners, and customers to achieve sustainable results. Starboard Alliance’s relationship building approach with trading partners enables clients to create long-term advantages by leveraging partners’ knowledge and resources. Benefits include lower costs and overhead; increased revenue, profit and market share; increased customer retention; better asset utilization; and decreased lead times.
• Gaining Control
  Keenly aware of the nuances and intricacies of international trade and logistics, Starboard Alliance enables clients to optimize and manage their supply chains with proven strategies and by deploying visibility and event management tools.  Starboard Alliance guides clients in establishing meaningful metrics, increasing standardization of processes, and executing continuous improvement efforts to maximize supply chain effectiveness and delivery of the “perfect order.”
• Delivering Results
  Starboard Alliance uses Lean Thinking principles to identify redundant, non-value-added process steps and gaps, hidden costs and areas of risk. Starboard Alliance designs a road map of recommended actions to tighten links in critical functions; smooth handoffs between supply chain partners; instill discipline; achieve maximum operating efficiency; and remove inventory, time and cost from supply chains. Taking advantage of Starboard Alliance’s expertise allows clients to focus on core competencies and transform their supply chains into best-in-class.

Methodologies We Use
Starboard Alliance employs a variety of relevant and customized techniques to suit our clients’ needs and unique supply chain profiles. These might include:

• Conducting detailed process mapping and gap analyses using the experience of Starboard Alliance and client’s in-house experts to achieve delivery of the “perfect order” (complete order, on-time, damage-free, and accompanied by accurate documents and data)
• Performing supply chain documentation examination including analysis of purchase order issuance methodology and selection of the most beneficial INCO terms of sale
  • Reviewing purchase order placement process with suppliers
  • Managing raw materials
  • Monitoring supplier accountability to scheduled completion dates
• Improving demand planning information and inventory forecasting techniques
• Reducing origin shipment processing time through electronic bookings, supplier compliance programs, and ocean carrier and origin consolidator management
• Leveraging capabilities of logistics service providers
• Increasing supply chain visibility, response and control through end-to-end shipment and event management IT tools
• Building accountability metrics through performance-based contracts
• Enhancing distribution strategies to include destination deconsolidation, transloading, direct-ship distribution center bypass programs, domestic and international cargo merge-in-transport and other value-added programs
• Providing transition management
• Leading short and long-term strategic planning efforts
• Performing benchmark studies and advising on shipper best practices

2) Multimodal Logistics Strategies Review, Redesign and Implementation
Starboard Alliance knows what it takes to make the transportation and logistics portion of a shipper’s supply chain work at an optimum level. To this end, Starboard Alliance can:

• Offer global market intelligence and recommend the right logistics service providers to meet our clients’ service needs
• Provide a comprehensive evaluation of multimodal logistics networks (ocean, air, truck, origin consolidation, warehousing, distribution and small package)
• Develop requests for proposals (RFP) with a comprehensive methodology that ensures full understanding of our clients’ requested services
• Scorecard RFP responses to achieve the best match of services to business requirements
• Negotiate competitive and sustainable service-value propositions to achieve best overall results
• Negotiate competitive contract terms and conditions to ensure logistics service providers’ full commitment to meeting performance requirements
• Implement selected logistics service providers using project management techniques that assure a successful transition
• Review cargo claims processing methodology

3) Customs Compliance Review and Supply Chain Security Risk Assessment
Starboard Alliance understands what a shipper must do to be compliant with U.S. government agency requirements related to international trade as well as how to create a more secure and resilient supply chain to mitigate the risk of business disruption due to unexpected and uncontrollable events. We can:

• Perform Customs compliance controls analyses based on Focus Assessment methodology, help clients establish and improve their internal processes and controls, and create Trade Compliance Manuals
• Perform supply chain security risk assessments and develop risk mitigation action plans
• Shepherd importers through the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) membership application process

Representative Project Experience for Shippers

• Supply Chain Optimization Project: Conceived and coordinated a process mapping and gap analysis of a large footwear and apparel company’s import supply chain, resulting in numerous business process and IT systems changes that reduced the company’s exposure to U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection penalties and fines, pushed auditing upstream, improved operational controls, and established EDI connections with the company’s consolidator and customs broker
• Supply Chain Optimization Project: Analyzed the international and domestic supply chains of a manufacturer of high-end dental office equipment; made recommendations on how to restructure the organization, streamline processes across multiple departments, and reduce transportation costs; and helped implement recommended strategies
• Supply Chain Optimization Project: Assessed the supply chain processes and organizational structure of a multi-brand catalog retailer; and recommended strategies to improve efficiency in product delivery to consumers, reduce operating costs, and decrease risks of non-compliance with U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection regulations
• Rail Study: Developed a questionnaire and interviewed rail-dependent shippers in Oregon for a metal scrap processor and steel producer to gauge the types and magnitude of rail service issues encountered to determine if they were isolated or systemic so that the company could more effectively lobby the federal and state government for appropriate action, and testified on behalf of the company before the Oregon House Transportation Committee on rail issues
• Ocean Containerization Project: Assisted a metal scrap processor and steel producer in converting a portion of its steel scrap exports from bulk to containerized vessels by developing and coordinating a request for proposal process and leading the rate negotiation process with ocean carriers
• Project Management for Implementation of Freight Management Services: As the project manager, coordinated the rollout of an Oregon industry association’s long-haul freight management services to Northwest producers and processors of temperature-sensitive agricultural products
• Supply Chain Assessment: Collaborated with Manalytics International/TranSystems on an evaluation of a large apparel and accessories importer and retailer’s international supply chain and developed strategies to effectively navigate in the era of increasing U.S. port, rail and highway infrastructure congestion
• Logistics Service Provider Evaluation and Implementation: Evaluated and implemented logistics service provider programs for all modes of transport for importers and exporters
• Customs Compliance Assessment: In collaboration with Miller Nash LLP Attorneys at Law, reviewed trade compliance practices and controls of a large agricultural products producer and processor and provided recommendations to improve import and export compliance with federal government regulations
• Customs Compliance Audit and Assessment: In collaboration with JL Haggin & Associates, executed an international trade process audit for a vertically integrated forest products company, to evaluate risk and areas of non-compliance, recommend strategies to ensure compliance with U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection regulations based on Focus Assessment methodology, and create a Customs Compliance Manual documenting internal processes and controls relating to importing and exporting
• Customs Compliance Process Improvement: Directed the review and improvement of a large footwear and apparel company’s import-related internal policies and procedures, creation of a detailed Customs Compliance Manual, and establishment of an internal cross-departmental trade compliance training program
• Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Application Preparation and Supply Chain Risk Assessments: Performed global supply chain security risk assessments and prepared C-TPAT membership applications for numerous importers and logistics service providers