The latest phases of Project Synergy have seen further improvements in the Armitage warehouse and distribution centre.
After some major infrastructure changes over the past two years, the latest measures have centred around environmental and safety upgrades. These are:
• Lighting: All lights in the distribution centre and XL warehouse have been replaced with PIR motion sensor lights, which has upgraded the lighting levels
• Barrier and walkway protection: 250m of walkway protection has been installed to keep pedestrians and vehicles apart, plus new pallet gates (below) to increase safety
• Fire system upgrades, including fire alarm, detection and equipment, fire doors and exits, plus fire marshal and general fire awareness training
Warehouse General Manager Steve Telford said: “These latest upgrades follow on from the major developments in the warehouse and distribution centre which made big changes possible in the way we manage and distribute our products.
“They have been focussed on environmental and safety improvements for the people working in these areas and those operating mechanical handling equipment.
“We have also been working towards integrating the management systems for quality, safety and environment under one standard, and will have more information about that in the new year.”
Project Synergy is an investment of more than £1.2m which has brought 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 to 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 is now picked in the UK and cross-docked for delivery to Ireland customers. This has improved range availability for the Ireland market, including next day delivery options for urgent requirements
• 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.