Upgrading the FortnaWES (Warehouse Execution System) to manage the new processes.Īll this needed to happen without disrupting current operations, concurrent with the implementation of three major systems: enterprise resource planning (ERP), warehouse management system (WMS), and forecasting.Retrofitting the large sorter to bring more efficiency and speed, and.Implementing a tote-handling system so orders would flow better,.Converting to processing orders in waves, to take advantage of picking efficiencies,.But the e-commerce DC would require a complete overhaul, requiring: Then came the more challenging part of the project: shutting down L.L.Bean’s store DC, and merging those orders into the e-commerce DC in order to get synergies of inventory and personnel. Next, Fortna worked with L.L.Bean to install a multi-level pick module that made more space available, and order picking more efficient and accurate. After detailed analysis, the decision was made to embark on a long-term, multi-step approach to transform L.L.Bean’s distribution operations for greater efficiency and improved costs.įirst, a replenishment sorter was installed to speed up the process and free up space. Operating in a labor-constrained region of the country, the company wanted to reduce the amount of seasonal help required to fulfill orders during peak. At the same time, it was being pushed to speed up processing in the DC so as to fulfill commitments for on-time delivery. During peak, the company ships nearly 1 million packages a week.Ī few years back, L.L.Bean found that both its e-commerce and store fulfillment DCs were reaching capacity and would soon strain the company’s ability to grow. Yet close to 60% of those orders are processed in the six weeks before Christmas. That’s an average of about 45,000 orders a day. Last year, L.L.Bean shipped more than 14 million orders from its distribution center in Freeport, Maine. Keeping those customers happy can be a distribution challenge. But some things haven’t changed - in particular, the company’s loyal fan base and commitment to customer service. From its beginnings as a catalog merchant, the company has grown into a global, multi-channel retailer with physical stores and e-commerce channels, in addition to its popular catalog business. L.L.Bean has seen a lot of change in its 100-year history.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |