An automated solution to meet demands of business expansion

The issue

The global client was growing at 5% CPGR, and was hitting capacity constraints at each peak period. They needed a long term logistics solution to support their growth, reduce headcount and also improve the warehousing cost to serve.

Our objective

• Lead the project from initiation through to high level design sign off of a new purpose built warehouse
• Gain agreement on the future growth aspirations
• Model a “straw man” automation solution to estimate future warehousing operating space required
• Select appropriate automation providers and invite to the Request for Information and Request for Proposal stages
• Conclude a successful automation tender process and select the right partner

What we did

• Captured current service levels, schedules and costs
• Created a model based on a range of potential automation options, to understand future capacity requirements over a 15 year period
• Engaged with the six most suitable automation providers
• Reduced the six potential providers down to a final two
• Benchmarked responses to challenge costs
• Provided a project managed solution owning several workstreams across the project and leading the design element

How we did it

• Clearly understood the clients needs from the outset
• Worked on behalf of the client, ensuring the best deal was done with the right automation provider
• Supported both the client and automation provider in ensuring the design was right for the business
• Implemented suitable communication methods between the automation provider, UK clients, and US clients
• Controlled and verified all data prior to it being used within the tender process – to ensure we had confidence in the numbers
• Agreed scoring metrics appropriate to the clients needs
• We put in place strong governance to control the project and ensure all tasks were completed on time