The Armitage Distribution Centre has begun its journey of transformation through the £1.2m investment program ‘project Synergy’.
A full detailed design is now in place for the entire facility and the first phase of work on the zone for extra large products – known as the “XL product warehouse” – has started, with new racking and a new layout.
The blueprint for the IT development of the warehouse managements system is now complete after six months of collaboration between several departments.
When complete, the new system will increase the distribution centre’s functionality to support the business’ customer propositions, including enhanced capabilities for delivery in channels such as online, retail and DIY.
Warehouse General Manager Steve Telford said: “A lot of work by a lot of people has gone into getting us to a point where we are actually beginning to see things happening in the distribution centre.
“We’re really looking forward to moving onto the next phases and starting to see the improved services we can offer customers, which are important to our plans as a business to grow in areas like retail and online.”
“This project will deliver new standards in the distribution centre.”
Project Synergy is an investment of more than £1.2m to bring about a step change in the performance and business model of the warehouse and distribution function in the UK and Ireland.
The three strands to the project are as follows:
• Armitage warehouse and storage optimisation, and new layout concept: This will improve productivity performance through process optimisation; reduce travel time through layout optimisation; improve the use of space; and reduce external storage space requirements.
• Ireland supply chain product will be picked in the UK and cross-docked for delivery to Irish customers. This will improve range availability for the Ireland market, including next day delivery options for urgent requirements and reduce OBF cost through customer delivery consolidation. Benefits include the full UK range being available to meet customer needs.
• Direct factory deliveries: Sending the product direct from the factory to the customer which is a fast-track way of being able to get product to customers.
Look out for future updates on Project Synergy in The Bubble.