M&R spent the last few years refining the company’s parts-fulfillment system. With the department’s move into M&R’s Roselle, Illinois facility, that process has come to full fruition. They introduce their new parts department in a video featuring Parts Department Manager Kris Bochenek.
Changes have ranged from low tech to high tech. Setting a lower maximum height on shelving eliminates the need for ladders and speeds the parts-picking process. Flow-pattern studies and linear part-picking lists resulted in one-way travel. According to M&R President & CEO, Rich Hoffman, “A parts picker never goes backwards.” Hoffman said the flow pattern allows the same number of people to comfortably pick about 30% more parts per day.
Touchpads, scanners, and the integration of bar codes with parts images speed parts picking and virtually eliminate the shipment of incorrect parts. And M&R’s paperless systems greatly reduce environmental impact.
“In most cases,” says Hoffman, “about 85% of parts are shipped the day they’re ordered. And air freight orders placed by 3:00 PM Central Time are typically shipped the same day.”
