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David Schaar is a leader in the Transportation and Logistics topic at Boston Consulting Group. He focuses on business strategy, transformative change, and operations improvement. Within the transportation and logistics industry, he concentrates on the parcel and express industry as well as the rail sector. David works with clients on a range of functional topics, including growth strategy, operating performance improvement, and procurement. 

In his recent client work, David has addressed corporate strategy, new product introduction and pricing and sales strategy for a major parcel and express carrier. He also recently designed and implemented the procurement transformation of a passenger rail operator, leading to over $60 million of run-rate savings with suppliers. 

Before joining the firm, David was a Senior Associate at Booz & Company.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • PhD, information technology with focus in operations research and systems engineering, George Mason University
  • MSc, industrial engineering and management, Linköping Institute of Technology

Publications and Videos

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A Digital Approach to Rolling Stock Maintenance

Rail operators can combat rising costs by leveraging their existing data for maintenance planning and execution or by adopting advanced technologies to produce new data sources.
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Total Cost of Ownership Puts Rail Procurement on the Right Track

When buying rolling stock, rail operators should consider the full range of life-cycle costs—including maintenance, energy, and administrative expenses.
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The Big Squeeze in Freight Transportation

To counter sinking revenue and rising costs, trucking industry players are reevaluating their customer contracts and employee value proposition as they plan far-reaching operational changes.
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Next Stop: Making Better Use of Rail Infrastructure

Demand for rail capacity is growing. Infrastructure managers need to get more out of existing assets in the near term by using them more effectively.
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Freight Rail’s Digital Future Is Just Around the Bend

Telematics can ease pain points and enable more shippers to capture rail transport’s advantages. To make it happen, collaboration is essential.
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A State-of-the-Art Supply Chain for Spare Parts in Rail

By applying digital tools and promoting functional excellence, operators can reduce maintenance time, enhance train availability, and cut costs.
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Why Parcel Companies Need to Make Every Delivery Special

To stay ahead of e-commerce giants, carriers must win the hearts of online shoppers with more efficient deliveries that are tailored to individual customers.
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Defense Grows While Commercial Aerospace Slows

Although new orders from airlines have slowed somewhat, the A&D industry continues to outperform the S&P 500, thanks to strong growth among defense contractors.
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Can Airplane OEMs Increase Their Share of Profits?

Airplane manufacturers sit atop the value chain but trail suppliers in profitability. Can they shift the profit balance, or is this the permanent state of the industry?