The Solution
The Wagner Industrial Engineering and Operations team landed onsite and immediately began to assess the situation. A detailed process definition and CAD facility layouts were developed for each warehouse. More Wagner team members worked with the customer’s management to uncover failing processes and staff deficiencies to plan training activities. Initiatives focused on WMS capabilities and limitations, but also on storage efficiency, material handling and food safety training.
During the three-week consulting period, facility layouts were revised multiple times to reach a team consensus on a solution. The existing facility design included extremely deep storage bays that resulted in elevated “honeycombing” percentages and wasted floor space. By adding a few strategically placed aisles, the Wagner solution not only increased storage efficiency but also enhanced overall maneuverability with increased travel and material-handling options. The new design also added a 134-location case-pick area to streamline less-than-pallet quantity orders, which comprise nearly 20 percent of total customer demand.
Once the analysis and design phase was complete, employees took over executing the plan while Wagner moved into a support role. Pallets of “QA Hold” products were segregated out of available stock and storage location markings were applied on the warehouse floor. Barcode signs were ordered through a trusted Wagner supplier, and integration solutions were in place to handle the transition to a paperless operation.
Working with the master production scheduler, Wagner engineers created a warehousing schedule template that shows real-time statistics of inbound pallets of finished goods by class, quantity and arrival date. With ample upfront knowledge, management can plan product moves or redirect production materials based on the availability of floor space.
Results
- “Honeycombing” at company warehousing facilities has been cut by 50 percent thanks to Wagner engineers’ unique design strategies.
- Average fill percentage for each storage bay increased to 90 percent, allowing for an additional 871 equivalent pallet positions.
- Product locations are marked with ample room to safely store finished goods and avoid handling damages.
- High-visibility barcode plaques are installed throughout the warehouse to eliminate error-prone keystrokes during product movements.
- Warehouse staff are trained on proper material-handling techniques and shown illustrated examples of opportunities for improvement.
Overall, the company’s warehousing efficiency, order accuracy and production performance continue to rise as this company executes the Wagner solution.
