BDF Beiersdorf

As a manufacturer of leading skin care brands like Nivea®, Beiersdorf® needed distribution operations that were silky smooth.

The Challenge:

Beiersdorf, a leading international manufacturer of branded consumer products for skin and beauty care, needed to achieve labor cost efficiencies in its North American distribution operations. Given a recent acquisition, Beiersdorf also wanted to develop a consolidated, world-class warehouse design to minimize costs while ensuring optimal levels of picking and shipping accuracy. 

 

The Solution:

FORTE designed and implemented a new 250,000 sq. ft. distribution center in West Chester, Ohio, recommending a smaller, expandable building rather than the larger facility Beiersdorf had originally considered. Utilizing FORTE's Automation Director™ warehouse control system (WCS) software, the warehouse management system (WMS) was integrated with the new material handling system. Multiple changes were designed and implemented as business requirements evolved, e.g., a large customer requiring smaller cases and more frequent shipments. FORTE also altered mechanical material handling equipment to accommodate new material to be handled, such as converting split-case pick modules to full-case pick modules when split was no longer required.

The Result:

100%increased capacity

25%reduction in labor costs

The new DC increased capacity by 100%, reduced labor costs by 25% and reduced operating expense by 15%, with a calculated ROI of 15%. Order turnaround is performed in less than one hour with greater than 99% accuracy and on-time delivery of greater than 99%.

And then the awards came pouring in:

Excellence in Logistics Award from Logistics Today

Warehouse of the Month recognition from Modern Materials Handling

Wal-Mart® Vendor of the Year

Key Services Employed Strategic Development Supply Chain Network & Inventory Optimization Distribution Center Design & Implementation Automated Material Handling Systems