Case Study
Storage & Picking for Private Equity Firm
Where Storage Solutions Came In
Having worked with us before in a different capacity, a member of the operations team approached us with the confidence to know we were the right organization for this project. It was this individual’s prior experience with our Turnkey Solutions and project management process that made us an ideal partner. They trusted our holistic approach to innovation in storage and in their pick-and-pack processes. They wanted to optimize their storage space for current needs with an eye toward future growth.
Because we integrate supply and service, we can have a tight hold over projects’ timelines and results. We offer a single point of contact for project management, with the team behind them to get the job done the right way. In this case, the clients “gave us the keys” and let us drive the project from start to finish.
The Results
Designing A Primary Solution
As the client grew after the acquisition, so did their warehouse capacity challenges. Over time, it is common for warehouse picking operations to become burdensome and suboptimal. Typically, we recommend regularly taking a step back to examine your entire picking operation – from order fulfillment to shipping — to make sure you are not wasting funds that could be re-allocated elsewhere.
Before the acquisition, the company had not completed a layout assessment for some time. Our team ran into our first hurdle when we learned our client did not have up-to-date drawings of their warehouse layouts. However, our solutions-oriented focus knew that the right processes start with a good design, so our design team paid a visit to their 10 facilities to map out what was needed from a baseline perspective at each unique facility.
From there, we conducted an inventory profile across our client’s pick locations and SKU order frequency to determine which products should be placed optimally throughout the facility in a future state storage system. Because there was no forecast for the inventory, we had to apply a purchasing model from the company’s history, then configure growth factors into the design.
That type of partnership – one where the client is transparent with their processes and their desire to grow – is ideal for us. The more applicable information we have at our fingertips, the better we can design and optimize our clients’ facilities. Because we had a previous relationship, and our client’s point-of-contact had built a level of trust with our team, we were able to factor in all elements and variables into our supply chain engineering.
A Mix Of Dense And Simple Storage Solutions
One of the unique challenges of this project involved consolidating SKUs while finding the optimal configuration for picking across our client’s smaller facilities.
As our initial designs were complete and approved, we looked to improve the density with which our clients’ products were stored. At the time, nearly all of the facilities’ hosted selective racking and storage via floor stacking. While this form of bulk stacking may have made sense initially, the clients’ needs grew to the level that floor stacking was no longer efficient.
Following our CARES Process, we further evaluated the inventory profile and determined that each facility would need its unique plan. Some facilities required double-deep racking, while in other areas, we installed half-pallet rack elevation options, cantilever shelving for ground pick levels, and racking with full pallet ground pick locations. Through this mix of solutions, we allowed for the optimal use of the layouts, dependent on each facility. In buildings with lower clearance heights, we opted to install more hand-picking locations. In taller buildings, we utilized taller uprights with taller bays. Each solution met the needs of each facility.
Because we were able to start this project at the design stage, we were able to give our clients a truly customized, optimal layout created to maximize the efficiency of their plans and processes.
Installation Through Project Management
Because our client had experience with our Turnkey Solutions previously, they knew our team had their back in keeping their project delivered on time and budget. Especially on a unique project – one featuring a reconfiguration of 10 different facilities – having that single point of contact was an essential aspect to our client. Our Project Managers have decades of combined experience overcoming unforeseen project hurdles like weather, permitting, labor concerns, and more.
Put yourself in our client’s shoes: Would you prefer to work with a single source, or would you prefer to go to a design firm first, then a distributor, then an installer, and then coordinate all of the necessary paperwork to start a project. Do you know all the steps? Did all the parts get ordered? Was there a disruption in delivery?
Being able to stick with just one experienced team makes this type of project – one that involves everything from design to installation – an easy decision to go with Storage Solutions.
The entire project was complete in about ten weeks, starting with the initial outreach to the time installation was complete. We utilized used material on a fixed cost structure and relayed the costs from our multiple vendors to give our client transparency on cost efficiencies throughout the project.
Final Thoughts
At Storage Solutions, we pride ourselves in our ability to guide our clients throughout their project life cycle as trusted partners. By leveraging our strong partner relationships and extensive internal experience, we can develop an array of solutions to fit your unique facility needs, budget, and timeline.
Let us walk alongside you to identify the best possible solution to optimize your facility and ensure your next project runs smoothly. Contact us and a member of our experienced team will be in touch shortly! For immediate assistance, please call us at (844)-249-2060.