Adapt to fluctuating demand

SUPPLY CHAIN solutions provider Körber has helped PPE manufacturer AS Arbeitsschutz to expand its logistics network and modernise its software and processes. The WMS from Körber is seamlessly integrated with the company’s automation components – e.g. an AutoStore – at its headquarters in Bedburg, Germany.

AS Arbeitsschutz banks on flexibility in order to handle unprecedented fluctuations in demand. AS Arbeitsschutz MD Jens Thome explains: “The past few months have presented companies with unexpected challenges, especially in terms of occupational safety. We have been able to deliver the necessary products at the right time and to the right place mainly due to the intelligent WMS and the reliable support it provided to meet the challenges of our industry.”

Especially during the go-live, the project partners faced special challenges, for instance due to test phases which had to be planned and carried out remotely. Intensive simulation scenarios ensured a smooth go-live in a very short amount of time. This became necessary due to the increase in demand for protective equipment, such as protective gloves and breathing masks, which increased throughput by 50% compared to the previous year.

Thanks to Körber's many years of software and integration experience, the logistics centre, including the integrated AutoStore storage and retrieval system, smoothly entered high-load operation. It encompassed optimised logistics processes in the goods receiving and goods issue areas, storage structures for pallets and picking strategies for deliveries to sales partners in over 30 countries.

As the product range continues to grow, about 10,000 SKUs for shipping up to 6,400 parcels will be managed in the future. Körber Supply Chain EME CEO Michael Brandl explains that the WMS developed by Körber was implemented for these requirements. "Modifiable and efficient processes are the performance features of our warehouse management solutions that make all the difference. This means that our solutions can be perfectly tailored to the needs of our customers and seamlessly integrated with existing system environments to meet the changing requirements of the retail industry."

Last but not least, all employees enjoy using the new system. “Our new solution has benefited us in many ways,” Thome emphasises. “System-related agility is important, but the possibility to have our employees use intuitive interfaces has improved the operational process in particular. We can achieve more with less – and Körber is a reliable partner at our side that will continue to provide the necessary IT know-how to future-proof our intralogistics processes.”

For more information, visit www.koerber-supplychain.com