Data Visualisation Optimises Warehouse Operations for SAP EWM - KNDL

Kuehne and Nagel Drinks Logistics (KNDL) provides specialised on-trade and off-trade drinks logistics services to customers across the UK. Their extensive depot network delivers the equivalent of 3 billion pints per annum.

The Challenge

KNDLs new off-trade 600,000 square foot national distribution centre comprises of dense very narrow aisles (VNA) racking to maximise storage capacity. While this is a very space efficient layout, VNA storage needs careful optimisation of workload and material handling equipment (MHE) to ensure high throughput and gain the best efficiency and load-balancing. As part of a full SAP WMS and mobile workforce implementation at the site, KNDL needed a design to allow fast simulation and optimisation of workload to ensure the VNA and warehouse throughput was kept high.

The Solution

Fast and easy understanding of the warehouse situation was critical to any solution due to the dynamic nature of warehouse workload, people and MHE. Therefore, a real-time visualisation of warehouse layout, workload and resources was chosen and the Rocket Virtual Warehouse Monitor and Simulation Tool for SAP Extended Warehouse Management was deployed. The Virtual Warehouse Monitor provided KNDL visibility of where work was being placed into the warehouse in real-time, enabling smarter operational decision making based on visual insight. Effectively this allows KNDL to simulate what would happen, for example, when a vehicle staged at a door and where put away or pick activities were starting of finishing.

Business Outcomes
• Optimisation of very narrow aisle storage
• Faster, smarter pro-active operational decision making
• MHE Load balancing and interleaving
• Maximised distribution centre throughput

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