JW & Associates allows clients to apply senior level expertise to jump start new fulfillment operations or re-engineer existing operations to optimize customer services.
Partner with the supply chain firm that will be there at every step.
JW & Associates is an independent supply chain consulting firm that is dedicated to the best solutions for clients with a strong preference for products and services that have worked well in the past when implemented for former clients or in the industry environments experienced by our Principal and or Associates. The objective, process oriented approach allows the clients to get the full benefit of software and services survey orchestrated by JW & Associates. Clients are involved every step of the way from first business requirements definition to iterative evaluation of potential providers. Every step of the way, JW & Associates has only one goal; ultimate client satisfaction and lasting solutions. After surveys are completed and a mutual selection process arrives at a solution, JW & Associates allows the client to make agreements going forward facilitated by the consultant to insure all contractual items are covered.
JW & Associates have had exposure to numerous industries, a variety of software and service solutions and scale that ranges from small start-ups to large scale enterprises. We have international business experience as well as background in numerous North American geographies with specific real estate and port development/capability familiarity and multi-modal transportation experience. JW & Associates is uniquely positioned to assist clients with Make vs. Buy decisions where clients currently have their own operations but question the viability or flexibility of same. This can apply to Private Fleets, Order Fulfillment and Warehousing Operations, Freight payment and audit, import customshouse services, etc.
Most enterprises have weaknesses in one or more supply chain functions along the continuum of demand/supply planning, sourcing, procurement processes (e-procurement,) importing, receiving and putaway, inventory management, inventory control, shipping, and delivery. The order to cash cycle is usually a good place to start looking at efficiency and effectivity. JW & Associates would start an assessment of supply chain capabilities and make recommendations for optimization. The assessment is normally done at no charge to the client because it is not normal to find a quick fix and clients normally become longstanding users of the consulting services, especially when software investments and implementation are involved.
How we partner with you
For start-ups, new ventures, or companies changing from traditional models to omni-channel distribution
NETWORK DESIGN
Looking at sources, customer base/channels (omni-channel?) what is the best distribution network?
SITE LOCATION
Moving sources back to the USA?
INVENTORY DEPLOYMENT
What is the best inventory deployment strategy to meet customer requirements and keep investment as low as possible?
FULFILLMENT OPERATIONS
Make vs. Buy? Do we need a 3PL? Who are the best order fulfillment partners in the geographies we need to deploy?
FINAL MILE
How will the end customer receive efficient and cost effective delivery?
COMMUNICATIONS
How will end customers be communicated with regarding order status, shipment, and delivery?
SYSTEMS TOOLS
Which tools supplement all of the above once determined?
The above steps are usually done concurrently requiring teams to work across the enterprise. JW & Associates is well positioned to project manage the activity levels and can assign associates with specific expertise when required, i.e., small parcel rate experts, network design software operators, retail product offering and merchandising experts, ERP systems experts, WMS or TMS experts, fleet management experts, supply chain software tools knowledge base, and 3PL survey and RFP when required, etc.
New Montana Services
JW & Associates is pleased to announce a new menu of Montana Services in conjunction with the recent growth and development of the Montana economy.
Supply chain design for companies seeking to open new operations in Montana
This would include supply line changes for existing distribution networks to include the new Montana operating location and outbound movement to other company operations or customers. We can also assist with site location and real estate evaluation. This is especially valuable to firms seeking to begin “near-shoring” for international manufacturing and distribution coming back to the United States.
Order fulfillment support for new or existing businesses in Montana
This is aimed at quality, cost effective, and customer focused processes in the business operating environment to include; e-commerce, freight management, and end to end streamlining of internal company processes. We are able to recommend system solutions from our extensive network and organize implementation of same.
Start-up support for entrepreneurs for Montana initiatives
We can facilitate and coordinate your local Montana activities in support of the new product or operation.
We are able to bring our network of experienced Associates from other areas of the US to assist with Montana projects, if special expertise is required.
Contact us for assistance with your Montana project.
Solutions for every client
For Existing mature clients or tunarounds, mergers and acquisitions
Supply Chain Assessment – this is a full body scan of your supply chain which is the circulation system for your customer services and business performance.
We normally start with the P & L to identify key financial objectives and the client’s ability to meet goals in this area. As an independent consultant, we gather competitor information and determine where key comparisons lead to improvements for our client usually in the demand/planning environment, order to cash cycle, or systems. Common findings from the Supply Chain Assessment usually fall in the following categories:
For Startups
Design and creation of a fulfillment system starting with Sales, Market, and Customer Experience objectives/strategy
The start-up business normally finds itself with disparate systems applications that were plugged in at spur of the moment or at one staff member’s suggestion from prior experience in past environments. We correct this short circuit by finding out what the startup objectives are and lining up the systems and processes to the entrepreneurial goal.
We quickly understand the order to cash cycle in the business, process flow it out, and survey the market for applications or ERP software that meets the requirements. After the survey, we quickly identify a solution within the investment objectives of the client.
We don’t walk away after the survey and selection, we project manage the implementation which allows for our true accountability to the client.
We work with the mantra, “Expect, Inspect” so that we are comparing the results of what we proposed with the actual outcome.
Who we are
JW & Associates was developed in 2020 to allow retailers to take advantage of senior, experienced order to delivery experts applied to new ventures or existing firms buffeted by the dynamics of starting up, radical shift to e-commerce, omni-channel, or reacting to unpredicted market forces.
The mission of JW & Associates is to craft solutions which weave People, Process, and Technology into an optimized delivery experience for our clients’ customers. “Everything starts with the customer” so our goal is to make sure that all the mutually developed solutions are on point to satisfy the end customer requirements in the most cost and service effective manner.
JEFF WALSH
Jeff Walsh is the Founder and Principal of JW & Associates after many years working for marquee supply chain consulting practices and their top name clients. Prior to his consulting activities, Jeff was a director level executive with a multi-national corporation and a leading Third Party Logistics (3PL) organization that serviced Fortune 50 order fulfillment. Most recently, Jeff managed projects with private equity held omni-channel retail clients in apparel, beauty products/services, high-end appliances, etc. All of this experience has shown Jeff that there is a need for seasoned operations and consulting background in the “new reality” facing retail today. Jeff’s exposure to a number of leading edge software solutions and his extensive professional network has positioned JW & Associates to bring the right resources to bear on any supply chain function in any client situation.
Jeff is a graduate of Dickinson College and attended Executive MBA program at St. Mary’s College.
