KJV is one of Denmark's largest distributors, supplying a wide range of cutting tools, hand and machine tools, transmissions, and products for the metal and machine industry.

KJV in Odense liaised with Constructor to determine how they could increase pick rate and respond to ecommerce growth. The solution was to upgrade from pallet racking to Narrow aisle shelving which is designed to increase pick rates and introduce a new (warehouse management system) WMS into their warehouse.

Over the last 5 years KJV have experienced rapid growth  especially within their e-commerce division. From a base of almost zero, online orders has now increased to more than one in every four. Managing director Kristian Løftgaard says: "Buying behaviour has changed a lot and there is now a keen focus on keeping stock to a minimum. Today our customers buy more frequently but in smaller quantities. This means that we as suppliers have to be  flexible and offer same day or next day delivery, whilst managing our reqular daily orders."

The requirement

With the uplift in online orders KJV increasingly felt that they would benefit from uprgrading their exisiting storage solution to narrow aisle, which is specifically designed for quick picking, and introduce WMS into their warehouse operation. The software continually monitors stock levels, helps track orders and provides greater efficiencies within the warehouse.

KJV also wanted to integrate a click and collect station into their warehouse, so that it was more transparent to customers that KJV was a physical warehouse.

The solution

A large window was installed, allowing customers the opportunity to watch orders being picked while conveniently collecting their orders directly from the warehouse.  It was an absolute requirement from KJV that both shop and warehouse should be kept running during the upgrade.

Kristian Løftgaard says: "In general, we have been pleased with the progress and implementation of the project. There have been no major problems. It was a challenge to carry out the alterations  to the building whilst keeping the warehouse and shop running. However, there has not been a single day where we have not been able to send out orders to our customers. On occassions we    worked longer hours to ensure our customers received their orders. The starting point was that the warehouse should be made more efficient in terms of picking outside the carrousels. We wanted more efficiency and more space. We have actually gone from having only limited storage space to having plenty. So I would say that we have succeeded very well."

Specifications

Number of single shelving: 3

Number of double shelving: 18

Load capacity per bay: 2 350 kg

Load capacity per shelf: 235 kg