Pierre Kitts | Integrated Logistics Case Study 1 | March 2, 2014
Case Study 1 – Buttons Limited
Canadian Distribution System

Contents
Executive Summary 1
Introduction 4
Initial Stocking of Stores 6
Figure 1 - Average Transit Time by Ocean Container from Manufacturing Plants to Canadian Stores 8
Figure 2 – Initial Stocking of Stores via 40 FT Ocean Containers to DC’s. 9
Full Distribution System Buttons Canada 10
Figure 3 - Average Transit Time by Consolidated Air from Manufacturing Plants to Canadian Stores 11
Figure 4 – Full Canadian Distribution Flow Chart: Consolidated Air into DC’s Replenishment of Stock 12
Canadian 3PL 13
Incoterm 15
Modal Selection 17
Distribution Centre (DC) 18
Distribution 19
Communications Internal 20
Communications to 3PL 22
Customs 23
Conclusion 24

Executive Summary
Buttons Limited, is a global clothing retailer, and has targeted Canada as a new market for expansion of their lines of affordable, but stylish clothing, by opening up eight new stores in the country. Two stores will be situated in Vancouver British Columbia, three in Toronto Ontario, and three in Montreal Quebec.

A very simple and straight forward distribution solution is recommended. One that will use the same flow chart process for both ocean carriage, for the initial startup and stocking phase of the program (see Figure 2, page 9), and the air consolidation replenishment of stock phase (see Figure 4, page 12).

This system will be providing savings with ocean carriage for the initial stocking phase, and ongoing speed, and economy, through the use of consolidated air shipments, maintaining Buttons claim to fame, in designing, manufacturing, and distributing their fashions to store shelves in 21 days (Figure 1 page 8).

The use of a Canadian 3PL is recommended due to its thorough IT connectivity across its supply chain, and complete