O’Reilly Accelerates Network Growth with Acquisition - FORTNA
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Case Study

O’Reilly Accelerates Network Growth with Acquisition

 

When O’Reilly Auto Parts acquired CSK, the race was on to merge both companies’ distribution operations. The two companies had very different models and market strategies. To maintain service levels and deliver immediate financial results, O’Reilly needed to shift the integration into overdrive. They called on FORTNA to help.

 

THE CHALLENGE

By acquiring a large competitor, O’Reilly aimed to increase market share and gain economies of scale. But the integration of the two company’s distribution networks would be tricky. The companies had different distribution models. O’Reilly offered daily replenishment and piece picking. CSK offered weekly replenishment and focused on case/bulk picking. The planned move to daily replenishment would not be possible with CSK’s existing distribution centres (DCs).

Compounding the challenge, O’Reilly was moving forward with a long-planned expansion of their existing distribution operations to support their organic growth. Coordinating a massive integration, while simultaneously expanding the existing network, would be a complex task.

But, perhaps the biggest challenge was the time frame. The entire integration had to be completed in under 24 months to seize the opportunity to service both the do-it-yourself retail customer and the professional installer markets.

Due to the complexity, scale, and speed required, O’Reilly teamed with longtime partner, FORTNA.

chart-network-growth

THE SOLUTION

The first step was to assemble all the stakeholders involved to discuss alternatives to maximise the two companies’ inventory, real estate, distribution assets, labour, and transportation, while improving service levels to both customer segments.

The final plan included:

  • Building four completely new DCs
  • Relocating one DC to a new site
  • Retrofitting two existing facilities
  • Consolidating two DCs into one

But the implementation would not be easy.

To meet the tight timeframe, tasks would have to be implemented in tandem. For example, stocking and receiving would occur in one section of the building while material handling equipment was being installed in another. Managing the shared resources and concurrent tasks would require superior program management.

auto-parts-aftermarket-distribution

Each facility would need its own design requirements based on each DC’s product mix, volume, and physical building size. To leverage volume discounts, all of the material handling equipment would be purchased under a master agreement. Special care would be needed to find vendors that could handle the large volume while meeting quality and schedule requirements.

The retrofits to the existing distribution centres would have to occur while in production and be invisible to their customers, the O’Reilly retail stores.

THE RESULTS

In just two short years, every one of the projects was completed on time and under budget.

Now O’Reilly has a fully integrated, 23-facility distribution network that serves over 3,800 stores with over 120,000 SKUs. The company has accomplished its integration goals and has a strong foundation to confidently expand into new markets.

The company is well positioned for future growth. But the real payoff is for O’Reilly’s customers. Since 2008, the number of O’Reilly stores has more than doubled. And customer service levels are high, with every store getting daily replenishment of a broad number of products.

fortna
Every FORTNA project was completed on time and under budget. I am very pleased with the track record that FORTNA has with O’Reilly Auto Parts and am proud to be their partner.

Senior Vice President, Distribution Operations, O’Reilly Auto Parts

 

Published/Updated 1/11/21