Call for Consultancy– Production optimization, manufacturing practices, quality control, supply chain management and inventory management- Basatine

Context & Background

Bolstering Agriculture Systems’ Ability to Invest, Nourish, and Employ (BASATINE) is a four-year project that aims to support farmers and other value chain and associated sector actors in areas of Beqaa and Akkar focused on the production of wheat and vegetables, seeking a territorial approach, and promoting linkages with other value chains. Through complementary interventions designed in alignment with the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, the project will immediately address food insecurity and provide needed income and technical support to farmers to survive this tumultuous time, as well improve the capacity of food systems to maintain employment and growth in the longer term via stronger domestic production and system linkages. This will ultimately contribute to greater economic stability – particularly for women, improved rural development, and more positive social cohesion between host/refugee communities at a local level.

For this purpose, Berytech, through the BASATINE Project, will hire consultant(s) who will be able to deliver the consultancy services requested below to 16 SMEs operating in the agri-food sector.

The consultant(s) will be primarily working with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) most of which are characterized by their primitive and low-tech nature. These enterprises are underdeveloped and may lack the necessary resources and infrastructure commonly found in established companies. Furthermore, some of these MSMEs are situated in vulnerable areas, which may pose additional challenges to their operations. It is important to note that a number of these enterprises might not have well-defined governance structures or fully developed teams. The consultant's role will be crucial in supporting these MSMEs by providing guidance, expertise, and assistance in enhancing their operational capabilities, fostering growth, and establishing sustainable business practices based on the three axes of intervention defined in this TOR.

Consultant(s) might in some cases and based on the clients’ location, travel in-country to rural areas. Online sessions might be allowed if approved by the program team.

Production optimization, Manufacturing Practices, Quality Control, Supply Chain management and Inventory Management.

The objectives of the consultancy engagement are as follows:

a. Enhance the operational literacy of the targeted SMEs, including management, employees, and relevant personnel, in the realms of production optimization, manufacturing practices, quality control, supply chain management, and inventory management.

b. Develop an operational structuring plan to optimize the company's processes and resources in the domains of production optimization, manufacturing practices, quality control, supply chain management, and inventory management.

c. Implement effective record-keeping practices integrated into production and inventory management processes to ensure accurate and up-to-date operational records.

d. Design an operational model that maximizes efficiency and sustainability within the SMEs’ operational constraints, focusing on production optimization, manufacturing practices and quality control

e. Provide guidance on operational structuring to optimize the company's processes and resource allocation within the context of production optimization, manufacturing practices, quality control, supply chain management, and inventory management.

Scope of Work:

a. Production Flow Assessment:

1. Conduct a thorough assessment of the company's production processes, workflow, and efficiency.
2. Identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement in the production flow to optimize productivity and reduce waste.

b. Cost Optimization and Resource Management:

1. Analyze production costs and resource utilization to identify opportunities for cost optimization and resource efficiency.
2. Suggest strategies for improving resource management and reducing production expenses.

c. Manufacturing Best Practices Implementation:

1. Assess existing manufacturing practices and standards within each business.
2. Implement industry best practices to streamline manufacturing operations, ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards.

d. Quality Control Enhancement:

1. Review and strengthen existing quality control measures in the production processes.
2. Guide the targeted SMEs to develop and implement quality assurance protocols to improve product quality and consistency.

e. Supply Chain Optimization:

1. Analyze the end-to-end supply chain processes, including procurement, transportation, and distribution.
2. Identify and implement strategies to optimize the supply chain, reduce lead times, and enhance overall efficiency.

f. Inventory Management Improvement:

1. Evaluate current inventory management systems and practices applied for each SME.
2. Develop and implement inventory control strategies to minimize holding costs, reduce stockouts, and ensure optimal inventory levels.

g. Cost Reduction Strategies:

1. Identify cost-saving opportunities within the production, supply chain, and inventory management processes.
2. Implement strategies to reduce operational costs while maintaining or improving product quality.

Upon selection, the consultant will be duly onboarded on the task with the program team and accordingly, the intervention roadmap will be developed in tandem with the program team with exact timeline of intervention and deliverables.

  Additionally, and as part of Berytech’s Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) processes, the consultant(s) is required to:

• Deliver an end-of-intervention report to the program’s team. This final report summarizes the outcomes and impact of the intervention with targeted businesses, highlighting key achievements and lessons learned.
• Attending check-ins short meetings, if needed and required by the program’s team.
• Attending MEL induction meeting before the beginning of the intervention and adhere with all MEL requirements with the assistance and proper support of the program team.

Deliverables & Payments

The consultant is/are anticipated ti facilitate three personalized, three hour, one-on-one coaching sessions with each of the 16 targeted SMEs. This approach aims to address the distinct and individual needs of each business, fostering a tailored coaching experience that aligns with their unique requirements. Through these sessions, the consultant is expected to provide guidance and support to enhance the capabilities of each SME in Financial literacy and practices, cash management and Revenue Model

Deliverables:

1. 1 assessment report per company (SME) detailing the current situation of the business, the action plan.
2. 48 one-on-one coaching sessions for the 16 targeted SMEs, 3 sessions per SME - (attendance sheet)
3. 1 end-of-intervention report detailing the work done and the impact.

Full payment shall be made upon the satisfactory submission of all deliverables in accordance with the agreed terms and conditions.

Intervention Modality

• The consultant must expect to work with at least three companies.
• Upon selection, the implementation timeline is expected to fall between March 2024 till May 2024.
• The consultant(s) will prepare and submit an end-of-intervention report as part of the consultancy job and attend all onboarding meetings that are required by the program team. It is understood and agreed that the provision of this report should be provided free of cost and included within the scope of the consultancy services.

For technical clarifications on the scope of work, deliverables, work timeline, or for any relevant questions please contact Mr. Slayman Fawaz (Program Manager) at slayman.fawaz@berytech.org,  Mr. Hussein Sheet (Senior Business Advisor) at hussein.sheet@berytech.org. or Ms. Bouchra Tamer (Business Advisor) at Bouchra.tamer@berytech.org .