“John Lewis Partnership: Semi-Automated National Distribution
Centre”
Q-1. With the changing demand patterns, fewer full bins are being required and a
greater pro potion of goods need to be picked at the picking stations. What
alternatives may be considered to accommodate this?
Ans-1. Current working system on the picking stations needs to be changed in order
to match the demand of the orders. More full bins are required to accommodate the
items and the goods should be in great pro potion. To meet the demand they must
change their current system. They should increase the conveyor speed which is used
to transport the bins. Due to the slow speed picker has to wait for another bin to be
deliver at the picking station. This can decrease the efficiency of the picker as well as
time is wasted in this system. The conveyor speed software should be upgraded
without the change in accuracy. This will definitely help to meet the demand. Another
problem of good that has to be picked in greater pro potion should be fixed by
increasing the number of picker at the picking station. This will decrease time in
picking goods or items, which means more good will be picked, which is the current
demand of the business.
Q-2. Should home shopping continue to have its own dedicated area within the
SANDC, with its own inventory and OSR equipment? How flexible is a SANDC to
such changes in demand patterns, and what are likely to be the key implementation
issues for any future operational change?
Ans-2. Home shopping area should be within the SANDC system with its own
equipment s and inventory. This will stop the chances of confusion which may arise
when we work on different orders under one system. This will be very time
consuming for every business if they operate many under one roof. This will increase
delivery time of orders and will be very difficult for pickers to segregate the orders.
Separate storage area will benefit the business in finding the orders that will be
delivered quickly at the point. This will benefit business in building good image.
SANDC is designed to meet the demand expectations in future. Their are many
operations that are carried out in this system. Each one is designed to adjust according
to the intensity of orders. In future if demand increase at some extent, then there will
be chances to adjust that system and to cope with the demand. At some level SANDC
has the ability to adjust and will give the same accuracy and the speed. This system is
operated with the help of technology and workforce. These goes along with each
other, both needed to be updated time to time.
For future operational changes:- some of the key implementation issues such as,
with increase of demand in the future, there should be need of more workforce
allocated at more picking points and at delivery stations. Day by day there is
upgradation in the technology so SANDC system should face the issues related to the
old software and technology. These issues may get arise if there is a change in
operation.
Q-3. Continuous improvement is being sought in all operations. How can the present
SANDC operation be improved still further in terms of efficiency, service levels,
ergonomics and sustainability? What areas may be worthy of examination?
Ans-3. As our world is growing fast in to the future, day by day science has also
coming up with new inventions and upgradation to ease human efforts. We are
nowadays depends upon technology for almost all the needs. More and more
customers are adopting home shopping facility with the help of internet. SANDC
system will also need to be improved with the passage of time for meeting future
demand. Efficiency of this system ought to be increase with the improvement in
operations. Speed of conveyor belt should be increased and the picker should work
according to the need of demand. All machinery should be maintained properly by
servicing them time to time. Proper training should be given to the employees
working in the SANDC. There should be study of working environment of
employees. The environment should be favourable for employees, which will not
create hindrance in the working and operations. SANDC should be designed and
upgraded time to time to make it useful for the future generations. For long use of this
system one should have to work on all area’s of the SANDC system. Such area’s are
ORS, picking station, and stores, they should be maintained well and must be in
favourable condition for working efficiently.
