Supply chain consultancy for SMEs

A supply chain consultant who rolls their sleeves up

Your business has grown. Your supply chain probably hasn't kept up. I've spent 20 years working in supply chains across manufacturing, electronics and distribution, and I help SMEs find what's costing them time and money, then fix it alongside their team.

Book a free intro call

Does your supply chain look like this?

These are the problems I'm most often called in to fix.

"We have no real visibility of what stock we've got or where it is."
"Supplier lead times keep slipping and we only find out when it's too late."
"One supplier going down would stop us shipping."
"Orders are managed manually and it's starting to break."
"We're growing, but fulfilment can't keep up with the volume."
"Nobody internally really understands supply chain."

How I help

Most supply chain problems in growing businesses aren't caused by one big failure. They come from processes that worked at a smaller size and were never redesigned. Stock is tracked in a spreadsheet, suppliers are managed by whoever has time, and fulfilment relies on a few people who know how it all works.

I start by mapping the whole chain, from raw materials and components through to your customer, so we can see where the bottlenecks, single points of failure and hidden costs really are. Then we fix them in order of impact, with changes your team can actually run day to day.

Supply chain assessment

An end-to-end review from raw materials to delivery, with a clear, prioritised plan for a more resilient operation.

Supplier management

Supplier scorecards, lead time tracking and qualification of new suppliers, in the UK or offshore.

Inventory control and stock visibility

Inventory tracking and reorder processes that stop stockouts without tying up cash in stock you don't need.

Fulfilment and 3PL setup

Scalable fulfilment workflows, plus finding and onboarding a reliable third-party logistics partner when it makes sense.

Workflow mapping

Documenting how work really flows through the business to expose the gaps, duplication and failed handoffs.

Systems and integration

ERP and warehouse management selection and rollout, connected to your CRM and accounts so data flows automatically.

Recent supply chain work

NFC technology start-up, delivered in 3 months

Building a supply chain from scratch

A fast-growing business making NFC-enabled products had strong demand but no formal supply chain, fulfilment process or inventory control. Orders were handled manually and stock visibility was close to zero.

I mapped the supply chain end to end, introduced inventory tracking and reorder processes, built a fulfilment workflow that could scale, onboarded a 3PL partner and set up supplier scorecards. Three months from audit to go-live, with full stock visibility.

"Nick was a fantastic asset and got to work fixing systems and processes for the better. He gets stuck in and learns about how our business operates before choosing the best path for us."

Technology Manufacturing

How it works and what it costs

Clear pricing, agreed up front. If a price is agreed, it won't change.

2

Scoping session

Fixed fee, £750

  • Supply chain and process review
  • Written action plan you keep
3

Hands-on support

Optional monthly retainer

  • From £1,400/month
  • Implementation alongside your team
  • Regular check-ins and reporting

Supply chain consultancy FAQs

What does a supply chain consultant do?
A supply chain consultant reviews how your business sources, makes, stores and delivers products, finds the bottlenecks, risks and hidden costs, and helps you fix them. For me that means hands-on implementation alongside your team, not just a report.
How much does a supply chain assessment cost?
It starts with a free 30-minute intro call. A scoping session is a fixed £750 and gives you a written action plan to keep. Ongoing support is available on a monthly retainer from £1,400.
Do you only work with large manufacturers?
No. Most of my clients are SMEs, start-ups and family-run businesses that make, move or manage physical products and have outgrown the processes they started with.
Do you work on-site or remotely?
Both. Some work suits remote delivery, while other projects need time on your shop floor or in your warehouse. We agree what makes sense up front.

Let's talk about your supply chain

A free, no-obligation 30-minute call. No hard sell, no jargon, just an honest chat about what's slowing you down.

Book a free intro call

Based in Wokingham, Berkshire. On-site across the South East, remote UK-wide.
Or call 07872 617 397 · nick@clearrouteconsulting.co.uk

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