Storage: Affordable, functional and easy on the eyes

This article was published in Modern’s 2011 Casebook.

A major parts distributor was in a bind. It was out of space, but it needed to add 6,000 new SKUs to its line. Already, the company’s error rate was almost twice what it had been just three years earlier. An investment in vertical lifts and an organizing totes/divider system (Flexcon Container, 908-871-7000, http://www.flexcontainer.com) allowed the company to maximize the use of space and considerably reduce errors.

After reporting a 46% savings in space and a reduction in errors of more than 82%, the company plans to implement the same concept in eight other locations.

The containers were designed to maximize the available cube space on each shelf. They are also dividable on 2-inch centers for flexibility should the parts mix change in the future. A label area in each section just above the parts allows the picker to easily identify the proper item. The totes are easily removed and adjusted, and are durable enough to travel on the conveyor system for replenishment. To top it off, the system’s color was chosen to fit the facility’s existing color scheme.

The dividers are rigid and coated with an eight-step painting process for a kitchen cabinet grade durable finish. Multi-adjustable, they were designed to fit the distributor’s bagged products. Each cell and row of dividers is configured specifically for a grouped part size and laser systems reliably identify the product to be pulled.