Straight talk about your Asian supply chain
Alistair joined Khiri Vietnam in October 2021 after spending 6 years managing freight for a mid-sized electronics firm. He doesn't spend his time looking at theoretical maps or talking about global trends. Instead, he looks at your specific shipping invoices, port fees, and supplier contracts to find out where your money is actually going. Last year alone, he reviewed the books for 14 different UK manufacturers, finding an average of 4.2% in overcharges related to misclassified import codes.
Handling the paperwork so you don't have to
Most of Alistair's day is spent dealing with the messy reality of Asian local law and customs paperwork. He knows that a single wrong digit on a Bill of Lading can leave your cargo sitting in a Da Nang port for 12 days, racking up storage costs. In March 2024, he helped a textile business in Sheffield fix a recurring documentation error that had cost them £3,400 in fines over the previous quarter. He works directly with local port authorities to make sure your goods move through the system without the usual headaches.
Pragmatic audits with fixed project fees
We don't believe in open-ended consulting hours that lead nowhere. Alistair works on a fixed-fee basis for every audit he conducts. Typically, he needs 11 business days to complete a full review of a standard supply route. He will tell you exactly which parts of your current setup are solid and which ones are likely to break when local regulations change. He recently completed his 47th project, which involved vetting 3 new component suppliers in the Binh Duong province for a Manchester-based lighting brand.
Heads-up: Alistair is honest to a fault. If he thinks a supplier you like is a massive risk for your 2025 production schedule, he will tell you plainly. He won't sugarcoat the facts just to keep the mood light.
What to expect from a consultation
When you speak with Alistair, the focus is always on the numbers. He starts by looking at your last 3 shipments to identify any bottlenecks or hidden costs. By the end of a 20-minute intro call, he can usually tell you if an audit is worth your time or if your current route is already as efficient as it can be. He's based in our Manchester office on Silk Mill Street but manages all our direct communications with logistics partners on the ground in Southeast Asia.