3 Steps to Operational Readiness

Operational Readiness Step 1

Assess

Lay the groundwork for success: Before implementing changes, a thorough assessment is crucial. This involves understanding areas of the warehouse, such as infrastructure, processes, and workforce capabilities. While internal teams can conduct this assessment, partnering with a supply chain expert like FORTNA provides an objective perspective. The FORTNA assessment, coupled with their expertise, can uncover hidden obstacles and opportunities often missed by those immersed in daily operations.

The assessment delves into key areas:

• Physical Infrastructure: This includes identifying bottlenecks, capacity limitations, and the facility’s suitability for automation or robotics.
• IT Infrastructure: Examining network capabilities, connectivity, and software compatibility is essential for planning development and customisation needs.
• Project Roadmap: The assessment creates a collaborative checklist of tasks for the organisation and its supply chain partner. This checklist then translates into a clear project timeline displayed in a Gantt chart.
• Workflow Analysis: Existing workflows are mapped and analysed to understand their impact on upstream and downstream operations. This helps identify labour-intensive tasks for automation and eliminate costly bottlenecks.
• Skill Gap Analysis: Automation will require new skills and responsibilities for your workforce. This analysis allows for targeted recruitment or upskilling programmes to ensure a smooth transition.

Operational Readiness Step 3

Implement

The planning is complete! Let’s roll up our sleeves and bring this project to life. The delivery phase focuses on executing the plan and achieving the desired outcome. Here’s how we’ll ensure success:

• Constant monitoring and open communication: We’ll work closely with the project team and partners, continuously measuring progress and keeping everyone informed.
• Proactive roadblock management: Unexpected challenges are inevitable. But by identifying and tackling them as a team, we can minimise their impact.
• Meticulous checklist completion: By diligently completing all tasks, we’ll avoid delays and unnecessary costs, setting the stage for a smooth transition.