Distribution Assistance

Address:  P.O. Box 1418

East Dennis, MA E-mail:  atsilk@gis.net

02641-1418

Telephone:  508-385-9802

Web site: www.distributionassistance.com

Services offered:

Logistics consulting, expert witness and executive education.

Profile:

Arthur T. Silk is President of Distribution Assistance, a logistics management consulting firm established in 1985 to help Senior and Operational management create and implement cost effective solutions to logistics issues across their physical distribution, transportation, warehousing, supply chain and related service areas.  Executive and consulting experience spans more than four decades.

Consulting Assignments:

Client assignments have been across such industries as active wear, beverage, building products, consumer products, contract warehousing, footwear, food, insurance, leather, liquor, non-profit, optical, paper, packaging, retail, software, third party logistics, wine and wholesale distribution.

Expert Witness Litigation Assignments

Some of the services provided as a logistics consultant/expert witness during 2001to the present included:

· As a Logistics Consultant for DLA Piper, Rudnick, Gray-Cary, U.S. LLP – New York, NY. representing United Parcel Services/Fritz Logistics versus Mr. D. Coles. a Fritz warehouse employee, we provided analysis of the existing warehouse racking, layout, aisle dimensions and safety operations at the time of Mr. Coles’ hi lift accident.

· As a Logistics Consultant for Pepe & Hazard LLP, Hartford, CT. representing International American Products, a U.S. based international service provider versus UTI Worldwide, their third party logistics/transportation provider. Our assignment included analysis, report preparation, deposition and court testimony as an expert transportation witness regarding UTI’s contractural failure to deliver thirty mobile generator units from Egypt to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq.

· As a Logistics/warehouse consultant for FBEM LLP, Oakland, California, represented Long’s Drug Stores, a west coast chain versus their third party logistics provider, Ryder Logistics. Our assignment included analysis and report preparation for arbitration regarding Ryder’s inability during a period of more than twelve months to deliver the correct quantities of store ordered merchandise to Long’s California stores.

· As a warehouse consultant assisting Keegan Law Firm, San Jose, CA, .representing North Coast Industries, a clothing importer versus their sole Contract warehouse – Continental Warehouse. Our brief assignment included analysis and report preparation outlining Continental Warehouse’s inadequate inventory control and operational procedures which resulted in internal loss or pilferage of a substantial amount of North Shore’s stored inventory.

· As a Warehouse consultant for Latham & Watkins, San Francisco, California, representing Safeway Stores, a major west coast supermarket chain. versus their third party warehouse/logistics provider – Summit Logistics. Our assignment, in conjunction with Cornerstone Research, Menlo Park, CA included operational analysis, deposition and arbitration report preparation. We analyzed Summit’s pre-strike contingency planning, replacement employee recruitment and training as well as the actual warehouse and delivery efficiency versus the agreed upon productivity goals during the anticipated twelve week Teamster’s strike. Safeway’s contention was that Summit, as their long standing third party provider did not utilize their accumulated supermarket logistics expertise to properly service Safeway’s California stores with needed product at an acceptable cost.

Areas of Practice/Expert Witness Service

· Contract Logistics                   Transportation

· Customer Service                    Supply Chain       

· Distribution Operation            Third Party Logistics      

· Logistics                                  Warehousing       

· Traffic Management

Training:

Logistics oriented professional development seminars have been presented at many universities and colleges such as the Universities of Alabama, Louisville, and San Diego as well as Clemson, James Madison, Rowan, St. John’s, San Jose State, and Southwestern Missouri State Universities.  

Also tailored “in house” logistics training seminars have been presented to supervisory and management groups at Alcoa Building Products, Allied Signal Corp., American Management Assoc., American President Lines, General Services Administration, Ryder Integrated Logistics and U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

Professional Experience:

Operational and Executive Experience as:

· Vice  President- Operating Services

· Director – Warehousing, Transportation, Industrial Engineering

· Director – Administration/Operations

· Manager – Distribution Services

 Management and Operational Responsibilities for –

· Designing a domestic and international supply chain/physical distribution system for an active wear/athletic shoe manufacturer and distributor;

· Initiating cost effective improvements in fleet operations for a major multi-regional supermarket chain;

· Achieving Customer Service improvements and cost reduction goals for all distribution centers and transportation operations across an eight state area;

· Supervising the hiring and training of hourly warehouse/transportation union employees as well as non-union shift supervisors and managers.  Involved in union grievance, arbitration and termination hearings.  A member of the management/union contract negotiation team;

· Reorganizing and improving inventory management, multi-warehouse efficiency and total logistics costs for a domestic electronic parts/components distributor.

A complete resume of pertinent operational responsibilities and experience is available upon request.

Professional Affiliations

· Council of Logistics Management – New England Chapter

· New England Navy Supply Corps Associations

Education

· Bachelor of Arts from Boston College

· MBA with concentration in Distribution Operations from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration

· Attained the rank of Captain, Supply Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve (RET)