Information Management: WMS supports rapid growth for bicycle parts distributor
Double-digit increases in inventory accuracy lead to 20% savings on returns and reprocessing.
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) is one of the largest wholesale distributors of bicycle parts and accessories to the cycling industry, serving more than 5,000 independent bike dealers. Since implementing a warehouse management system (WMS), the company has increased accuracy, efficiency and sustainability while decreasing error rates.
Today, approximately 200 concurrent QBP employees use the system to ship 21,000 boxes and 139,000 lines per week across three distribution centers. Picking is faster and more accurate, allowing later order cutoffs. Inventory control reports make the slotting and reporting of inventory much easier, and the real-time visibility dashboards provide immediate metrics for managers to monitor efficiency and productivity. Additionally, QBP estimates energy savings of 10% due to increased efficiencies.
With the WMS’s open architecture, the company has been able to perform configurations on its own, including custom user interfaces, process and layout changes, and workflows for specialty items. As the company grew from a single site to a multi-site distribution network, it used the WMS to implement a waveless order processing system that enhanced its outbound processes and improved throughput on the conveyor systems.
“The WMS has certainly helped us manage our growth over the years, including doubling our inventory,” says Steve Flagg, founder and president. “We look forward to the addition of our fourth distribution center later this year.”
In 10 years using the WMS, QBP estimates an inventory accuracy increase of 15%, an order cycle time decrease of 10% and an order error rate decrease of 20%. In addition, increased accuracy has contributed to a 20% savings on returns and reprocessing.
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