Davies & Robson has helped leading academic qualifications provider, AQA, step up its logistics operations to continue to meet the critically strict service and security requirements associated with exam administration.
Formed out of the merger of a number of awarding bodies, AQA is an independent education charity and the largest provider of academic qualifications taught in schools and colleges, setting and marking the papers for around half of all GCSEs and A-levels taken every year.
Recent and imminent changes made by the Government to the method of assessment and timing of examinations were exacerbating the already cyclical nature of the demand for its internal warehouse and fulfilment operation, making it difficult to maintain a cost-effective service across its two distribution hubs.
AQA brought in Davies & Robson to help determine their optimal future infrastructure strategy and, having done so, to assist in the delivery and implementation of a new warehousing and distribution operation.
Recognising the future requirements of the organisation, Davies & Robson initially reviewed AQA’s plan to outsource its logistics and concluded that this was the best solution to provide the flexibility, security and efficiency required.
In the next stage of the assignment, Davies & Robson helped AQA to find a logistics partner to meet its demanding set of requirements for the secure and timely storage, processing and fulfilment of its orders.
As this was the first time the operations had been outsourced, this required extensive research and analysis to measure and describe the many and varied tasks undertaken to supply educational establishments with both the non-sensitive and sensitive materials needed throughout the year.
Finally, Davies & Robson helped prepare a comprehensive Invitation To Tender document with supporting datasets, developed an appropriate pricing model to inform the bidding process, identified suitable contractors and also assisted in the selection process, culminating in the identification of the optimal partner to deliver the services required.
As a result, AQA expects to realise cost savings of at least 30% and will benefit from a more flexible, ‘pay as you go’ charging mechanism, in line with fluctuations in activity levels and volumes.
Nigel Witcombe, AQA’s Head of Production, Print and Logistics, said “Davies & Robson’s experience and pragmatic approach played a vital role in the successful outsourcing of a complex and sensitive operation and their responsive service and the quality and relevance of their work was critical to the success of the project.”
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