With New Distribution Center, OMG, Inc. is
Ready for Business in the 21st Century
 |
 |
| OMG's new Interlake adjustable steel pallet racking system |
OMG, Inc. of Agawam, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer and supplier of fasteners and fastening systems for the construction industry. This successful company recently faced the fact that they had outgrown their distribution warehouse in Westfield, MA. Low (20-foot) ceilings prevented them from making any further use of the footprint of their current warehouse, forcing them to store some finished product elsewhere – a real inconvenience in terms of shipping orders.
OMG concluded that the best solution to their storage problem was to build an entirely new distribution center. In so doing, their goal was to double their storage capacity. This would be accomplished with a 40-foot-high ceiling, rather than with a larger building footprint. Maybury Material Handling was selected early-on in the project to supply the pallet rack. OMG's Vice President Bob Murphy says, "We chose Maybury based on their excellent reputation in the region. They also came highly recommended by our general contractor."
Maybury's input included identifying floor loads and necessary reinforcements, based on rack weight, with consideration for the implications of rack and product placement on worker safety. John Maybury, President, says, "Right from the start, we utilized the architectural drawings to plan the optimum location of all the rack. We worked as a team with OMG's contractor, Associated Builders, to develop this configuration. Then, once the rack was planned, lighting, utilities and structural columns were planned around it."
 |
|
| Serco state-of-the-art dock equipment provides lift truck operators with a solid, secure platform for loading trailers with OMG product. |
|
In order to ensure the best possible use of every bit of available storage space, Maybury worked with information on OMG's total product line, including the quantity of each individual Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) that they planned to store and the pick faces required. Maybury then determined which SKUs would be stored on single-deep rack and which on double-deep and calculated the correct amount of both types of pallet rack. Lanes were designed to move packaged product to the shrinkwrapping section and then on to the shipping area. The logistics of all operations were designed for maximum efficiency.
Roundtable discussions between Maybury's people and OMG's personnel facilitated the whole planning process. As Bob Murphy puts it,"The Maybury team brought more to the table than the typical material handling company. They really understood what we were trying to do – they didn't want to just sell us rack. They took a holistic approach, assessing what we store, our inventory turns, our growth ambitions, etc. They acted as our material handling partner and really took our vision to the next level."
Maybury recommended that an Interlake adjustable steel pallet racking system be used. Based on Maybury's experience, this product provided the best answer to OMG's need for strength and durability. Wire decking was also recommended, and chosen by OMG, for all pallet beam levels. Not only would this provide extra structural support, but it would also increase safety by helping to prevent product from falling from one level to another. In addition, the system required some cantilever rack to store tubes of 57- to 72-pound,10-foot aluminum extrusions.
The next phase of the project, installation of the rack, was performed by Maybury's factory-trained personnel. Installation was completed within the 3-week timeframe that OMG requested. Our workers adhered to OMG's strict safety code, wearing safety glasses, hard hats and safety shoes in the middle of summer.
|
 |
| OMG's new Crown RDS5220-30 Rider Reach Truck |
To move product around within this new workflow system, Maybury recommended the Crown RDS5220-30 Rider Reach Truck. It is designed specifically for narrow-aisle applications such as OMG's and would provide the maneuverability required to access any part of the new rack system, for efficient product storage and retrieval. With its side-stance design and five-point positioning, this model afforded the safety and operator comfort that OMG was looking for. Maybury supplied OMG with two of these trucks, which perform both reach and forklift functions.
Plans for OMG's state-of-the art distribution center included 12 docks with shelters, levelers and truck restraints. Keeping in mind OMG's focus on safety, Maybury was confident that Serco dock equipment would be an excellent choice for the new facility. Maybury furnished the docks with Serco rigid steel frame shelters, to provide both durability and access to trailers of a wide variety of sizes. Dock levelers, some mechanical and some hydraulic, were also installed. This equipment met OMG's standards for safety, strength and durability, while being easy to operate and maintain.
One final safety solution provided by Maybury was Serco's PitBull™ Safety-Loc® vehicle restraints. These addressed OMG's need to provide lift truck operators with a solid, secure platform for loading trailers with OMG product. Another advantage of installing the Serco equipment is the fact that, for each dock, levelers, restraints and lights are controlled by one push-button control panel.
Now that OMG's new central distribution facility is up and running, "The effect of the new system on the company is far reaching," states Bob Murphy. "It positions OMG very well for the future. We can now fit more in a smaller space – it increased our pallet locations by more than 50%, giving us the growth we needed. It also moves us into the 21st century. We sell a high-quality, U.S.-made product that is manufactured in a high-quality facility. Maybury helped us to create a distribution center that we are proud to show our customers. Thanks to Maybury, our customers are doing business with a supplier on the cutting edge."
Maybury would be pleased to help your company be better-equipped to do business in the 21st century as well. We are ready and waiting to listen to your material handling needs.
Return to Case Studies & Satisfied Customers |
