Logistics, freight and supply chain management

Every economy depends on efficient, data-driven and carefully planned movement of goods and materials. Arup helps clients to define and design logistics and freight strategies that ensure resilience across assets and operations.

Our service begins by defining an organisation’s needs to developing their supply chain and logistics strategies. We then move through to business case development and the planning and design of required interventions, how they will be delivered and plans for day-to-day operations. Our approach is collaborative – we work closely with clients to ensure we deliver the right solution first time and that these deliver our clients’ objectives.

How we can help you

Logistics strategy

We provide strategic advice to national and regional governments, helping them to shape policy requirements for logistics infrastructure and operational solutions. We also develop strategic advice for asset and operation owners on supply chain logistics requirements, business case development and operating models.

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Decarbonising UK freight: the UK coastal shipping opportunity

Developing a strategy is the best way to stay ahead of new trends, practices and opportunities. We are helping the freight and logistics sector to strategically decarbonise the way goods and materials are moved around. We are also helping industry players to take advantage of automation, predictive AI and other new digital tools.

The sector also faces complex urban planning requirements and constraints shaping where and how sites operate. And there’s a growing need to run a resilient operation in an era of extreme weather. We help clients to identify which specific business change events they face and define a robust strategy for future success.

Case study

Regent Street delivery and servicing reduction scheme

With a street frontage of 2km, home to over 700 small and medium sized businesses, and over 150 retail and catering outlets, Regent Street represents the largest concentration of value in The Crown Estate’s portfolio. As such, it experiences heavy road congestion which results in an unpleasant shopping environment for visitors.

The Crown Estate wished to improve the visitor experience, and make pavements wider. However, doing so would have a significant impact on delivery vehicles.

Arup was commissioned to bring forward measures to reduce the volume of delivery vehicles around Regent Street. Extensive experience in delivering urban logistic solutions enabled the management of complex scenarios involving multiple stakeholder groups, ensuring that we deliver value for all associated parties.

It was discovered that retail deliveries were uncontrolled, causing unnecessary congestion and road blockages during peak retail periods, with delivery vehicles accounting for 35% of all peak hour traffic. To improve overall retail logistics efficiency, Arup proposed the use of a retail consolidation centre, the first in the UK to make use of existing operational facilities.

Logistics design

Our detailed design advice ensures logistics requirements such as, vehicle movements, goods receipt, material handling, waste management and automated systems are embedded and harmonised within design proposals to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable operating environments.

With deep knowledge of how logistics operate across a wide range of sectors, we can deliver efficient and cost-effective solutions and bring best practice from other industries.

Toyota Motor Europe has invested in the construction of a new spare parts logistics centre in Illescas, south of the city of Madrid. We provided a range of services in support of the delivery of this major logistics hub.

Logistics operational readiness

Operational readiness means being ready for change – from materials, technology, skills and cultural standpoints. We also help clients to cope with assets and operations driven change, assessing likely impacts to their operations and preparing people, processes and systems for a smooth transition.

Achieving operational excellence

Meeting performance expectations is always central, whatever your business or organisation. For logistics businesses, achieving ‘operational excellence’ is also how they meet their own clients’ goals.

We work with clients to ensure that supply chain and logistics solutions will support their current and future operations. In parallel we use this as an opportunity to implement cost efficient innovations that will lead to positive social financial and sustainable outcomes.

Remote Community Supply Chain Study

Around 150,000 people in more than 1,200 remote and very remote communities in Australia live with tenuous food security.

Working closely with Health and Wellbeing Queensland and Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance (TCICA), we produced a Remote Community Supply Chain Report. The report provides additional information – to an existing body of knowledge - upon which policymakers and industry participants can make informed decisions on measures to: