Features/Benefits Provided: 5,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space recovered Saved $1.3M expansion cost Picking time cut in half Reduction in shrinkage

As the population grew in a major city, so did the need for public transportation. This, in turn, has increased the number of vehicles that the transit authority must maintain and repair.

Over 5,000 square feet of the transit authority's warehouse was dedicated to storing bus and light-rail train parts, including bearings, filters, washers, brake pads, and assorted parts for engines, transmission and suspension repairs. With over 35,000 items, they were quickly running out of space. As a result, they resorted to stacking parts in the aisles.

To fill orders, a warehouseman was given a pick list generated by the inventory system. The warehouseman would then pick parts, traversing over 10,000 square feet on two levels. When orders were complete, they were packaged for shipment.

The transit authority came to the conclusion that something had to be done. Space was at a premium and employees' valuable time was being wasted searching for parts. They considered several options, including a $1.3 million expansion to their warehouse. However, after learning about the benefits of a multi-bay vertical lift module, the choice was clear. The VLM was selected due to its ability to maximize the vertical space of the building, allow two operators to access the same inventory simultaneously, and its secure access features.

The vertical lift module has been up and running for just over a year and they are very satisfied with the new system. Employees were initially wary of the new system, but the VLM has changed their work philosophy and it has been widely accepted. Clerks that used to spend an entire day roaming the multi-level 10,000 square foot area to fill orders now only travel about 10 feet and it takes half the time.

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