Distribution Warehouse operators are continuously seeking efficiencies within their internal processes as well as for picking, logistics and environmental impacts. Success requires maintaining the highest levels of partner and customer satisfaction, whilst reducing operational costs and wastage. RAS have recently been commission by Iceland to manage a Cubiscan data capture project that would ensure the new Warehouse Manage System would allocate stock to cages/pallets in the most economical way.
Project Requirement
A Cubiscan is an advanced dimensioning and weighing data capture device which is designed to increase productivity, improve the packing of stock into delivery units and to reduce the shipping of ‘air’ across the supply chain. Cubiscans provide accurate and reliable product and weight data for items ready for shipment.
As new lines are introduced and existing lines are repackaged, the data file becomes out of date and inaccurate due to incorrect weight and case dimensions, resulting in transport builds being inadequate/inefficient.
Iceland and XPO Logistics approached Retail & Asset Solutions (RAS) to support them with the collection of accurate dimension and weight data. The specification was to provide an end to end service of all live product lines held in XPO depots in readiness for the implementation of a new warehouse management system which would enable XPO to optimise cage and pallet space.
Project Delivery
RAS were delighted to offer this new service and extended the current Picker Accuracy services that they have been providing to Iceland for over a decade. The service would see RAS periodically include a full sweep of product range across the grocery, chilled and frozen chambers.
Initial checks were conducted over a 6-week period. Starting in Swindon, the RAS team remeasured ALL product lines, moving on to Warrington and then Livingston. In total, across all 3 sites, RAS measured over 5,000 unique SKU’s across the grocery, chilled and frozen chambers.
The completed data file was directly fed into the new warehouse management system ready for immediate use. The much improved accuracy of the data file has had an immediate and positive effect resulting in an increase in productivity and overall space optimisation. The periodic full sweeps will keep the data file as up to date and accurate as possible allowing all parties to continually benefit from the most efficient warehouse operations.
