B&Q - Distribution Centre ( Warehouse Analysis and Simulation )

Description

B&Q had developed a design for a new distribution centre working with an integrator and logistics operator.

They wanted to simulate the design to test for capacity constraints and bottlenecks.

The design comprises an automated highbay crane warehouse, miniload picking and traditional wide aisle pallet picking area.

Purpose and Scope

Simulate the operation to identify appropriateness of the design.

Identify bottlenecks and capacity constraints caused by the equipment

Make recommendations for design changes.

Get operating rates and capacity constraints for the operation

Each product is given a pickslot. Picklists were created to match actual despatches.

The simulation was run with all the activities for a day.

Conclusions

The simulation highlighted some areas of congestion with the initial design.

This enabled design changes during the functional design stages

The simulation allowed the site's operators to see all activities within a day.

Operator rates and the number of MHE required was provided.

The simulation was used to test the overall capacity of the facility against predicted growth.