Features/Benefits Provided: Decreased turnaround time on customer orders Increased productivity Most efficient use of hardware and labor Maximized return on investment

A manufacturer of various access hardware solutions, including locks, fasteners, latches, and hinges has three manufacturing facilities - each producing a different product. All three facilities ship items to the order fulfillment center, which is strategically located just 2 miles from the area's international airport.

In order to improve response time for customers, an integrated material handling system was designed for the order fulfillment center. After extensive data analysis and careful review of the company's operations, the final system design makes the most efficient use of both hardware and labor, maximizing the company's return on investment.

Case lot items are stored in totes in a buffer zone consisting of horizontal carousels. Automatic extractors pick totes from the carousels and place them on a conveyor, which then carries the totes to the shipping area.

Order items that make up less than full-case lots are picked from the broken case picking area. This area utilizes horizontal carousels with light-directed picking and automated work stations with light-directed sortation. Completed orders are automatically released to the conveyor and are combined with the associated full-case items in shipping.

The company is very pleased with the streamlined system; they can receive and fill orders up until moments before the late deliver of overnight services such as FedEx and UPS, and still ship the same day.

is a Proud Member of the AS/RS Product Section of Material Handling Industry of America

P.O. Box 1608
Lewiston, ME 04241-1608
Phone: 207-784-1381 Fax: 207-786-0271
www.diamondphoenix.com