I have driven $770M+ supply chain savings and 25%+ working capital improvements across two major global corporations. I know what ‘good’ looks like at scale — and I can tell you quickly when it isn’t there.
Who This is For
Private equity firms evaluating supply chain-intensive e-commerce acquisition or investment targets. Also M&A advisors, family offices, and growth equity investors who need rapid, credible operational assessment before committing capital.
The Problem I Solve
Supply chain problems that surface post-close are among the most expensive surprises in PE investing. They erode EBITDA, delay value creation timelines, and often require significant capital to fix.
Common issues missed in standard diligence
- Inventory that is overstated or structurally excess
- Single-source supplier dependencies with no alternatives
- Fulfillment costs that are above market by 20–40%
- Inadequate technology that will require significant investment to remediate
What I provide that standard diligence does not
- Operator-level pattern recognition, not just ratio analysis
- Quantified cost savings and working capital opportunity sizing
- A 100-day post-close action plan, ready for Day 1
- Investment Committee presentation-ready materials in your firm’s format
Engagement Models
| Engagement | Scope & Deliverables | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-LOI Scan: 5–10 business days | • High-level supply chain health assessment from available data • Red flag identification across inventory, fulfillment, supplier risk, and tech • Go / Proceed with caution / Pass recommendation with rationale • Key questions for management interview and data room request list | Flexible per hour or fixed fee. |
| Full Diligence: 2–4 weeks | • 8-domain deep-dive (see below for details) • Management interviews and operational data analysis • Opportunity sizing for cost savings and working capital • 100-day post-close action plan with prioritized initiatives • Investment Committee-ready findings deck and written diligence report | Flexible per hour or fixed fee |
| Post-Close Advisory: Monthly retainer | • Ongoing advisory to portfolio company supply chain team • Implementation support for post-close operational improvements • Available for Limited Partner updates and board-level supply chain reporting • Interim supply chain leadership support if needed | Flexible based on your needs and budget |
| Expert Network Calls: 1–2 hours per call | • Ad-hoc calls for specific supply chain topics or sector questions • Amazon's supply chain and fulfillment model: forecasting, buying, inventory health, inventory placement, inbound and outbound regionalization, fulfillment optimization (consolidation and speed), fulfillment network design, and cross-border (US to Canada) fulfillment. • Inventory optimization (turns, availability, working capital, forecasting, safety and cycle stock optimization, and demand management) | Hourly rate prorated based on actual call lenght |
Due Diligence Framework
The following framework is applied across every full diligence engagement. Each domain is assessed through document review, management interviews, and operational data analysis. Findings are rated Green / Yellow / Red with supporting evidence and quantified value impact.
1. Inventory Management
• Inventory turns vs. industry benchmark and historical trend
• Cycle and safety stock methodology opportunity
• Stockout rate, lost sales estimation, and service level attainment
• Excess and obsolete inventory as % of total; write-down history
• Seasonality and peak demand planning process
2. Demand Planning & Forecasting
• Forecast accuracy and methodology opportunity
• Planning system maturity
• Promotional, seasonal, and new product launch planning process
• S&OP cadence, cross-functional participation, and decision quality
• Integration of market signals and customer collaboration
• AI/ML adoption in demand forecasting
3. Supplier Performance & Risk
• Supplier concentration (% revenue from top suppliers)
• Single-source dependencies and qualified alternative suppliers
• Lead time and on-time delivery rate (average and variability)
• Quality defect rate, chargeback, and compliance history
• Geographic risk: China concentration and nearshoring status
• Payment terms, trade credit, and working capital impact
4. Fulfillment & Logistics
• Order fulfillment capability, network design, delivery speed, and on-time delivery.
• Cost per order shipped vs. industry benchmark
• Carrier mix, rate structure, and contract terms
• Warehouse/DC utilization, layout efficiency, and throughput
• Damaged rates, returns processing cost and cycle time
5. Technology & Systems
• ERP, IMS, WMS, TMS stack: version, integration quality, and coverage
• Data visibility and real-time operational reporting capability
• System licensing risk, cost, and upgrade roadmap
• AI and automation adoption maturity vs. roadmap
• EDI or API connectivity or other data exchange with suppliers and customers
6. Team & Organization
• Supply chain org structure, headcount, and reporting lines
• Key person dependencies and succession / backup coverage
• Team capability vs. growth ambition and post-close plan
• Turnover rate in ops and supply chain roles (last 2 years)
• Outsourcing vs. in-house balance and rationale
• Evidence of continuous improvement culture and initiative history
7. Cost Structure & Working Capital
• COGS breakdown and logistics cost as % of net revenue
• Working capital tied up in inventory: $ and days
• Cost reduction opportunity sizing vs. benchmark
• Landed cost calculation methodology and accuracy
• Comparison to closest comp set or industry benchmark
8. Scalability & Growth Readiness
• Capacity headroom at current infrastructure (warehousing, fulfillment, carriers, suppliers)
• Identified bottlenecks to 2x or 3x revenue growth
• New channel readiness: DTC, retailer, wholesaler/distributor, agent