FSDF programme prepares members for Olympic challenge
January 23rd 2012 The Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF) has launched a programme of events to help support its members with their planning and preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Recent research by BT published recently claims that almost a third of logistics companies run the risk of not capitalising on the economic opportunity of the Olympics, because they have not made basic preparations such as staffing, routing and planning modelling and adapting delivery schedules.
“The announcement made by BT relating to the preparations being made by logistics companies in time for the Olympics is quite concerning. With under 200 days remaining until the games begin, we strongly recommend that companies start to look into their planning process to make sure they maximise their organisations effectiveness during the games, as well as their profitability,” explained the Federation’s CEO, Chris Sturman.
“The FSDF has already begun a programme of Olympics Planning Workshops, helping to ensure its members continue to satisfy their customers requirements and maintain food supplies to businesses and consumers in London, as well as providing practical advise on how to manage their businesses through the disruption and congestion that is forecast for London during the Olympic period between July and mid- September.”
Working with Transport to London, the FSDF has developed a programme of five workshops. At the first event which took place in early January, Dave Silvey of TfL examined in detail the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks (ORN/PRN), the restrictions that will be applied to traffic other than that which relates to the Olympic Family and provided detailed information on how best to keep operations running whilst the grand event is happening around London.
This was followed by a presentation from Map Mechanics providing advice on how best to use geo-mapping and GPS in conjunction with existing routing and scheduling software to optimise customer service and delivery performance.
The next FSDF workshop will be held at CBI Centre Point on New Oxford Street, London on 22 February, closely followed by another which will take place after the FSDF Breakfast meeting at the Foodex Exhibition at NEC, Birmingham on 25 – 27 March.
If you are interested in attending any of the workshops, please contact Chris Sturman, Chief Executive of the FSDF on 01189 884468 or email chris.sturman@fsdf.org.uk | 
