In order to improve our services, reduce unnecessary stocks and reduce our carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint, The Unit embarked on high stock rotation, small lots, combined shipments and local alternatives.
Each year, MRCG Logistics Department brings to The Gambia more than 120 tonnes of goods. In 2016 it was 128 tonnes and 145.5 tonnes in 2017. Our delivery routes cover the whole Gambia, from Fajara to Fajikunda, Farafenni, Basse, Keneba, including remote villages supporting our research studies. In 2014, The Unit started to take a holistic approach to its logistics chain, adjusting The Unit organogram accordingly, creating a new Logistics Department and segregating Procurement from Finance. The introduction of MS Dynamics, plus the support from MRC Head Office in London and the consolidation of our Procurement and Logistics teams have allowed The Unit to improve the level of compliance in delivering goods from point of order to a point acceptance to our research scientists.

To help improve the visibility of purchase orders, in 2017 the Logistic Department developed a logistics database which can track purchase orders through the supplier chain and provide up to date and more reliable information regarding their status. The Unit has successfully increased the frequency of goods received by 25%, reduced the airfreight orders by 12% and increased the sea freight by 50%. The introduction and opening of stores in Basse and Keneba have reduced the frequency of vehicles coming to Fajara to collect items that have resulted in 50,000 km savings.

Furthermore, stock holding value has decreased substantially between 2012 and 2017, the cost of bringing one tonne of goods to The Gambia has been reduced by 14% and stakeholder confidence in the Logistics Department’s ability to respond to their needs has also improved significantly. Reducing the airfreight orders has also contributed to reducing The Unit’s CO2 footprint. According to the UK Government greenhouse gas reporting for 2016, this means that freight flights have 88 times higher CO2 impact than sea transport, as depicted in the conversion table above.