RETROFIT YOUR DC
specialreport
6 steps to a
successful
retrofit
EVEN THE BEST RUN, MOST MODERN, MOST PRODUCTIVE
distribution centers have a life cycle. Equipment ages; newer, faster,
better technology comes along; or the business changes and with
it, the demands on the DC. Eventually the day comes when it
becomes apparent to all concerned that an upgrade is in order
if the operation is going to stay competitive.
Although some companies take that as an opportunity to
move to a newer, more up-to-date facility, that’s not the only
option. Another alternative is to retrofit the existing DC,
replacing older equipment with modernized parts or systems.
But a retrofit can be daunting, with the potential to interrupt business operations. So we asked some experts who
oversee retrofits for a living for tips on getting it done with
minimal disruption. Here’s what they suggested:
Is a DC retrofit in
your future? Here are
some tips from the
experts for keeping
this type of complex
project on track.
▪ Find a partner. Certainly, specialists in DC retrofits have a vested interest in touting their capabilities. But they make a cogent point
in urging clients to find partners who are familiar with the process to
help with design and implementation issues.
Who that partner is depends on the scope and scale of the project, says Seth Taylor, a
director for the consulting and systems integration firm Fortna. “You want to make sure
you partner with the right people, people who do this for a living,” he says. “You want
them providing a thorough analysis of the existing facility and planning how to get the
job done. Not all companies are set up to do retrofits. It is a bit of an art, and mastery
of that art comes from experience.”
▪ Keep the entire business involved. “The facilities I’ve seen be successful take an all-in
approach,” Taylor says. “They bring all facets of the business into the planning and execution. Any part of the business that will be affected needs to have a member on the core
team.” That could include DC management and line personnel, maintenance, engineering, human resources, IT, and sales and marketing.
