Stuart Taylor
Weaverham,Cheshire
Summary
Experienced logistics and supply chain leader with expertise in advanced logistics planning, software implementation, and operational improvement. Demonstrates proven leadership in designing logistics solutions, managing 3rd party relationships, and delivering complex projects with a focus on change management, return on investment and reverse logistics. Skilled in budgeting, transport management (both closed and open book), and leveraging systems such as Descartes and Paragon to optimise operations. Committed to driving efficiency and innovation within the logistics sector while achieving measurable results.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
4050
4050
years of post-secondary education
Work History
National Planning Manager
ArrowXL
, National
11.2018 - Current
- Accountable for planning of circa 2 million final mile activities per annum along with circa 20 thousand first mile movements.
- Enhanced team performance by implementing well-structured operational procedures.
- Managed complex projects from conception to completion, ensuring timely delivery without compromising on quality standards and delivering exceptional benefits
- Ensured compliance with all relevant regulations during project planning stages for risk reduction purposes.
- Improved internal processes for enhanced productivity through detailed organisational planning.
- Successfully scoped and implemented three planning software solutions on time and in budget
- Named Transport Manager on multiple Operator licences.
- Improved business compliance through review, education and process implementation
Systems and Solutions Manager
Co-op
National
06.2017 - 11.2018
- Responsible for delivering key National Transport projects
- Contributed to and delivered or supported 2017 initiatives to reduce logistics spend by over £7.5 million
- Accountable for planning system performance and stability
- Developed new initiatives to improve end to end planning processes from creation through execution
- Indirectly responsible for 3rd Party southern planning team
- Delivered standardised system processes and data setup to enable central SQL reporting
- Developed solution to plan using accurate transport volume to reduce operating costs by c.£1 million
Regional Planning Manager
Co-op
National
04.2015 - 06.2017
- Responsible for Managing business relationships with two 3rd Party Logistics Planning Teams
- Accountable for delivering key KPI improvements within five depots and c.2000 stores under 3PL planning control
- Work with National Planning Team to promote consistent planning environments
- Work with system experts to enable best practice through processes and functionality throughout all planning functions
- Identify and scope opportunities to enhance business output
- Deliver Nationwide business supported solutions to agreed timescales
- Collaborate with National Transport team colleagues to remove duplication of workload across support teams
Project Manager
Hewden
01.2014 - 04.2015
- Responsible for identifying business wide opportunities for improvement
- Communicated with and engaged board members to sponsor improvement opportunities by presenting accurate briefs which enable them to assess potential benefits
- Created and managed realistic project plans which encompass all work streams and complete within agreed time frames
- Provided technical logistics advice to colleagues, using expertise to advise on future transport systems architecture
- Successfully delivered projects in plant and accommodation business areas providing significant operational savings, such as reducing third party spend by sixty thousand pounds per month, increasing own transport moves by thirty percent and customer SMS messaging saving circa thirty eight thousand pounds per annum by reducing failed transport call
- Paragon re-modelling to improve auto-routing load fill by twenty percent saving fifty seven thousand per annum on third party logistics and maximise time planners have to work on ‘added value' tasks
- Abnormal load planning and notification
Regional Transport & Planning Manager (Operations Excellence)
Hewden
06.2012 - 01.2014
- Supported Head of Operations Deployment and Operations Excellence Director in deploying and embedding a Regional Planning structure using Paragon across the national depot footprint
- Is the Paragon expert, ensuring the software solution works for Hewden, advised on any changes required to improve the functionality of the software within the business
- Assisted the Southeast planning function by relocating to the Wokingham hub for nine months to ensure the Regional planning solution landed successfully
- Worked with the Business systems and IT development teams to ensure a new PDA system was ‘right' for the business, sat on development meetings to ensure the PDA workflow was effective and easy to use
- Responsible for day to day vehicle and driver compliance across five depots
- Create demand driven, dynamic transport plans on a day one for day two basis
Distribution Scheduler
Pets at Home
03.2009 - 01.2012
- Created and owned the static distribution schedule
- Key achievements included: designing and delivering a predominantly nighttime delivery schedule, utilising support colleagues to securely access stores and realising top level delivery on time and fleet utilisation targets
Transport Team Manager
Tesco Distribution Plc
01.2007 - 12.2009
- Successfully completed the Tesco Team Manager training programme over a six month period.
- Responsible for First Line Manager duties on shift.
Warehouse Operative, Transport Clerk & Transport Scheduler
Tesco Distribution Plc
01.2002 - 01.2007
- Progressed from Operative to Scheduler through dedication and determination.
Education
Level 3 Certificate of Professional Competence - Transport Manager (Road Haulage)
Logistics UK
London / U.K.Level 3 Award (City & Guilds) - Commercial Vehicle Fleet Management
Logistics UK
London/U.K.Ba Hons - Theatre Design and Technology (Scenography)
Bretton Hall College (University of Leeds)
Wakefield 01.1999 - 01.2002
BTEC National Diploma - Performance Arts
South Cheshire College
Crewe 01.1997 - 01.1999
8 GCSE's at grade C and above - English, Mathematics, Science
Hartford High School
Northwich 01.1992 - 01.1997
Skills
- Descartes Advanced User
- Proven Leadership
- Paragon Expert User
- Advanced Logistics Planning
- Software Implementation
- Logistics solutions design
- Closed and Open Book transport management
- 3rd Party Relationship Management
- Project Management & Delivery
- Change Management
- Logistics and Supply Chain systems
- Operational Improvement
- Reverse logistics
- Budget management
Accomplishments
- Delivered multiple projects realising savings in excess of £5m.
- Successfully implemented batch (local) and continuous optimiser (cloud) planning software, delivering significant savings whilst maintaining service levels.
- Led the company planning function through unprecedented volume increases and government enforced operational restrictions
- Transferred 3rd Party Planning operation to in house improving planning KPI's overnight
- Led 3rd Party planning team in transfer from night to day working in line with business requirements
- Led a 14 strong team of transport planners and officers improving engagement alongside day to day role.
- Contributed to a 97% team engagement score (direct reports) in a company-wide survey.
- Introduced Enterprise server planning environment improving business disaster recovery by removing the need for local depot access and minimising data loss.
- Successfully worked to implement an ‘airlock' delivery solution for a major retailer and engaged geographically strategic 3rd party service partners
- Company expert implementing a Paragon scheduling and routing software solution for 37 sites across the UK
- Completed a nine month relocation to the South east to successfully implement a regional planning solution in a challenging environment
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
National Planning Manager
ArrowXL
11.2018 - Current
Systems and Solutions Manager
Co-op
06.2017 - 11.2018
Regional Planning Manager
Co-op
04.2015 - 06.2017
Project Manager
Hewden
01.2014 - 04.2015
Regional Transport & Planning Manager (Operations Excellence)
Hewden
06.2012 - 01.2014
Distribution Scheduler
Pets at Home
03.2009 - 01.2012
Transport Team Manager
Tesco Distribution Plc
01.2007 - 12.2009
Warehouse Operative, Transport Clerk & Transport Scheduler
Tesco Distribution Plc
01.2002 - 01.2007
Ba Hons - Theatre Design and Technology (Scenography)
Bretton Hall College (University of Leeds)
01.1999 - 01.2002
BTEC National Diploma - Performance Arts
South Cheshire College
01.1997 - 01.1999
8 GCSE's at grade C and above - English, Mathematics, Science
Hartford High School
01.1992 - 01.1997
Level 3 Certificate of Professional Competence - Transport Manager (Road Haulage)
Logistics UK
Level 3 Award (City & Guilds) - Commercial Vehicle Fleet Management
Logistics UK
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