Distribution Resources Focuses On The Details To Win

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Distribution Resources, Inc

Distribution Resources, Inc. (DRI), a Seattle-based third party logistics provider (3PL), has developed a success niche in pick and pack operations and value added services for the apparel industry. It takes hands-on projects that most other warehouses would turn away.

Todays warehouses are affected by the immediacy that characterizes the modern consumer. Customers want it now. Theres an expectation of short order cycle times, quick deliveries and a high degree of accuracy. Order picking and value added services are hard to deliver with so much pressure to deliver with speed and precision.

Distribution Resources business is almost entirely based on the apparel industry. Its customers manufacture and distribute clothes ranging from high end to items youd find in any shopping mall. Handling garments requires open-box picking and a variety of value added services including hanging, folding, applying and/or removing price tags and packaging.

DRI has handled product flowing through Seattle for more than twenty years. Prusi said the companys attention to detail is the reason theyve been successful. We take on projects most other warehouses wont do. They are high touch projects where were open-case picking and providing value-add services like tagging and packaging. You have to really know what youre doing to make money with these projects, he said.

Order picking and value added services can account for as much as 60% of a projects operating costs. Generating profit from these type of projects is difficult says DRI owner Paul Prusi. You have to know a lot about the project and what the customer wants to achieve. What type of product is it? How many transactions are we doing? Whats level of quality is needed? The planning and setup is critical, said Prusi.

A 3PL has to deliver orders with a high degree of accuracy and quality often with a short cycle time. Orders are placed and shipments need to go out quickly. Prusi said the hardest part of a project is dealing with variable order levels. Some days are very busy and other days are slow. Staffing these types of projects is tough because of the amount of orders on a given day. I might get one or two days notice for a large shipping day. I have to staff the project with quality people immediately, he said.

Productivity within a piece pick warehouse is generally defined as the number of items you can pick per hour. Warehouses using case picking and pallet picking will typically measure cases per hour, and pallets per hour, respectively. Accuracy is a function of how many picks are done correctly. Setting up projects the right way in advance of the pick creates more accuracy. Cycle time is how long it takes to complete the job. Warehouses are concerned with how long it takes to order pick or complete a value added task.

We focus on productivity, accuracy and cycle time with each of our projects, Prusi said. Over the years weve learned our metrics and know where we should be to deliver a quality job to our apparel customer.

Seattle has historically had a vibrant clothing and textile industry with brands such as Union Bay and Tommy Bahama dominating the local industry. DRI has provided 3PL services to many successful apparel companies in Seattle. DRI is positioned to continue providing services to the large clothing manufacturers and distributors.

by: Mark Jensen

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