Material Handling Case Study - Conveyors, Order Pick Module

With over 150 stores in Florida, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is the country’s largest privately-owned retailer of ­fine wine, liquor, gourmet food, and cigars. ABC features over 4,000 ­fine wines, and a complete selection of both rare and popular spirits. All of the 150 locations are supported by their 180,000-square-foot distribution center in Orlando, FL. 

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits documented wants and needs for their operation to be more efficient. ABC wanted to reduce breakage on the conveyor system, increase bottle picking efficiency, eliminate hand-scanning of products, and develop a safer way to clear jams on the conveyor. 

TriFactor’s engineers collaborated with ABC Fine Wine & Spirits to develop a feasible plan of action to reach those goals. With a current distribution center already in place, the solution had to utilize the space available.

To accomplish ABC’s goals, TriFactor installed new accumulating conveyor, implemented a new pick module and installed scanners to bring the WMS system up to date. The pick module provided consolidated the spirits and mini-cage lines into one. The use of scanners to update the WMS system allowed ABC control of the merge.  With limited space available TriFactor made full use of the cube available by installing the conveyor system above the pallet racks and order picking modules.

The installation of the merge and sortation system as well as an additional pick module, allowed ABC to increase their pick rates and throughput; dramatically reduce product breakage, downtime and pilferage; improve accuracy; and create a safer workplace with fewer ergonomic concerns. TriFactor’s design provided ABC the opportunity to pick, process, and ship signi­ficantly more product per day, allowing them to meet their aggressive return-on-investment requirements.

• Download a copy of the ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Case Study
  
  
• Consider also reading the Premier Beverage -Wine and Spirits material handling case study.