Designing an agile, cost-effective distribution facility requires deep knowledge of software, hardware, and automation vendors—especially in a market crowded with “turnkey” providers that may not fully meet your unique business needs. We at SCT often see early adopters of automation projects for their organizations approach the projects tactically without thinking about the broader impacts and opportunities across their network. Therefore, we begin with an automation assessment exercise which can focus on the initial facility, but also consider a broader set of requirements so that longer term needs can be incorporated into the initial design and selection processes for automation providers.
At SCT Advisory, our approach begins with evaluating your distribution strategy, followed by detailed assessments of order profiles, business processes, and throughput requirements. We develop scalable, flexible facility designs that leverage the latest automation technologies. From design through implementation and ramp-up, SCT provides end-to-end oversight to ensure your facility operates at peak performance.
Our Approach
We facilitate workshops with sales and operations leadership to challenge assumptions about distribution channels and needs, delivering a shared vision for immediate requirements and longer-term roadmap possibilities.
Using order profiles and slotting logic, we perform data gathering, interviews, and site visits to develop a set of assumptions incorporating templatized requirements for facility groupings and automation opportunities provide an impact assessment based on data collected and provide recommendations based on fit and scale for further due diligence.
Segmenting site/channel volumes alongside automation concepts and complexity assessments into a high level prioritization matrix, we will shortlist key areas of opportunity for automation adoption considering impact and complexity, and develop extended business case justification as needed.
Whether your operations involve high-volume centralized DCs favoring turnkey solutions or broader networks requiring agile vendor relationships, SCT designs flexible system architectures and defines WMS/WES/WCS integration requirements. This ensures agility over the lifecycle
Partnering closely with Procurement, SCT identifies critical success factors for vendor selection, documents requirements, evaluates proposals, and helps select providers capable of delivering best-in-class solutions tailored to your facility.
After real estate selection, SCT provides program planning and oversight—ensuring timely delivery and installation of equipment and systems, quality standards are met, associates are trained, and inventory levels support a smooth ramp-up to meet customer demand.
