Distribution Center Operations

"Fortna led the DC and Operations design efforts for our new West Coast Distribution Center. We are extremely excited regarding the efficiencies and flexibility that are a built into the new operation." – Jerry Essex, Brown Shoe		>> Services Operations Design DC Design / Facility Layout Material Handling Equipment Design Retrofits / Greenfields Storage Media Design Process Design and Improvement Alternative Analysis Business and Operations Profiling Capacity Improvement Slotting and Pick Path Analysis Business Case & Metrics Development Integrated Solution Design WMS and WCS Requirement Definition Assessment & Triage Constraint/Bottleneck Identification Improvement Priorities Quick Hits Assessment Warehouse Utilization Functional Area Benchmarking Best Practices/Methods Organization/Labor Assessment Reporting and Metrics Review Implementation Roadmap Implementation Program Management Project Schedule & Budget Management Training Strategy and Execution Leadership Training Labor Modeling & Staff Planning Site Preparation Operations Startup & Readiness Go-Live/Ramp-up Planning Realization of Business Case
View webcast >> Designing a DC for Multi-channel Distribution More Fortna >> DC Operations Thought Leadership
Distribution center operations are at the heart of every supply chain. But designing these operations involves trade-offs - finding the best option among alternatives to most cost-effectively meet the business need. Fortna starts by developing a business case that serves as the basis for decision-making and acts the measurement of project results. At the end of the project, we audit those results and stand by their achievement. Whether you are trying to lower the operating costs of an existing DC, or getting ready to build a new facility, Fortna will help you build a solid and achievable business case for change. From optimizing layout and the flow of goods to integrating the most effective material handling equipment and software— we examine every aspect of DC operations. We evaluate people, processes, assets and systems. We factor in requirements and restraints, growth goals and technical capabilities. But most importantly, we understand the need to balance cost, service, flexibility and risk. >> Recent Client Results Anyone can offer services. Fortna drives results. Typical results from a Distribution Center Operations project include: Fortna created a 22% smaller building footprint for a leading footwear company, enabling a 36% cost reduction from the previous site. Additionally, storage capacity per square foot was increased by 25% and throughput capacity rose by 20%. Fortna helped a large pharmaceutical company consolidate two of its DCs into a single DC, serving 30 forward DCs as well as direct customers. Cost per case decreased by 25% and throughput improved by 200%. Fortna supported a multi-channel DC design as part of a distribution network transformation. Benefits included a 15% improvement in operating costs, 84% improvement in wholesale delivery, and greater than 99% online shipping performance, while supporting 10% annual growth.
>> Building a DC: A Two Minute Time Lapse Video Watch a time lapse video that shows a distribution center being built – from grading to shipping – in under two minutes. Fortna helps companies through every phase of the project – building the business case, design, engineering, MHE procurement, systems, testing and ongoing support. >> Focus Areas		>> Featured Professional Steve Johnson Senior Director Phone: 440.716.8868 stevejohnson@fortna.com "An optimized operations design seeks to achieve the right balance across multiple components to provide the appropriate flexibility & scalability supported by a business case " Want to know more? Just ask.