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Artex-Rawlplug
Performance Improvement
The BPB group acquired the Rawlplug Company and following its merger into one company, Artex-Rawlplug was established. Whilst Artex-Rawlplug has several sites within the UK and France, which manufacture and distribute building and decorative products, fixings and tools, the distribution of the ‘Artex’ product range is primarily undertaken from a Central Distribution Centre at Ruddington near Nottingham. The range of products distributed from Ruddington is quite varied and includes texture, plasterboard, bagged plaster, cove and cornice, adhesives, tools and other assorted items. The warehouse is laid out along traditional lines with wide aisle racking providing picking faces and reserve locations. A local haulier provides vehicles on a dedicated basis with several of them equipped with carry on forklift trucks to assist with unloading.
As part of a performance improvement initiative Steve Humberstone, Commercial Director of Artex-Rawlplug, invited Davies & Robson to review the Ruddington operation in order to identify opportunities to improve service and efficiencies. These primarily were to undertake a review of minimum order values, look at the stockholding and warehouse processes, evaluate the robustness of the delivery scheduling system and consider the implications of the Working Time Directive.
The study identified a series of recommendations, which it considered would improve service and reduce cost. These included reviewing minimum order values, the possibility of a geographical service offer and improving the accuracy of stock records to increase accurate visibility. The study also concluded that, by changing the fleet mix, continuing with the fixed order day initiative and extending the use of out-bases, the impact of the Working Time Directive could be considerably lessened. Finally, Davies & Robson identified changes to the transport contract to encourage increased productivity and improved service quality.
Steve Humberstone, commented: “The work undertaken by Davies & Robson was found to be thorough, undertaken with obvious knowledge and experience and the final report is proving to be an important management tool as we continue to review our plans in customer service and satisfaction improvement. It is comforting to have many of our existing initiatives supported by the study and we have already begun the process of prioritising all of the recommendations from the report”.
www.bpbartex.co.uk
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