
Challenge
A large aerospace manufacturer in the Midwest utilizes an on-site distribution center to receive parts from its large supply chain and ship them to the manufacturing line in the form of kits. These kits are composed of open-top containers with foam cutouts, which present the parts in an organized and protected manner for mechanics on the factory floor. The client processes 60,000 pieces and 4,000 kits each day.
Until recently, the company was using a manual warehouse operation that required over 300,000 square feet of facilities and employed around 450 operators. As is often the case in large manual picking operations, order fulfillment was slowed due to long operator travel distances on the warehouse floor. Accuracy was impacted by the vast number of stock-keeping units (SKUs) and complexity of orders. To improve efficiency and accuracy, the company needed to consolidate and automate its warehouse.