Getting on Board With Data-Driven Culture
Challenge
We work with a US company that is always searching for ways to boost operational efficiency while better serving customers. As a long-time partner, we collaborated to help it use a data-driven approach to optimise warehouse production.
Outcome
As we began work, it became clear that partner wasn't making data-driven decision-making a regular part of its operations. So, our team set out to create a data dashboard populated with metrics relevant to worker performance and throughput. As we worked more with the partner, we learned more about the most relevant throughput metrics and incorporated them into future iterations of the platform.
Seeing the full picture
At the project’s outset, the client asked us to help design and develop a more robust warehouse platform that leverages existing systems with new applications to provide greater system-driven enhancements to warehouse operations. But as the team began the rebuilding process, they noticed the current system lacked visibility of any real-time production progress.
Realizing how vital warehouse productivity statistics would be to the platform overhaul, our team set out to develop a solution. A customizable data dashboard with distinct throughput metrics able to integrate within a facility’s operating system and clearly articulate warehouse efficiency.
A collaborative creation
We initially built a worker-based performance dashboard focused on task assignment and completion at one of the client’s warehouses. Our team intentionally omitted throughput stats from the early dashboard, instead opting to survey company staff and managers to better understand the KPIs they prioritized.
Through that input, we were able to understand the client’s definition of throughput and collaborated on a branded, customizable dashboard.
Soon, the board was updated with insights on:
- Trucks (e.g., expected arrival/departure time, deliveries per day, etc.)
- Warehouse Bays (what went in/out of each, time stamps, etc.)
- Inventory (e.g., damaged pallets, pallet load/order number, etc.)
Those business intelligence findings, coupled with worker-performance stats, provided the client with a comprehensive warehouse overview that it could always reference. The incorporation of throughput data also won over internal stakeholders, prompting the client to assign product owners to the dashboard.
We always welcomed people to present ideas for making the dashboard more visual and interactive. Through those interactions and work sessions, the client's imagination came through to make it really special.
Taylor Thrasher
Data Architect, Endava
Shining a light on challenges
The dashboard is now integral to the client’s day-to-day operations and appears on monitors installed around the warehouse, keeping everyone on every level abreast of the progress in their facility.
It's also led to improvements in:
- Predicting turn times
- On-floor progress tracking
- Forecasting of staffing need
- Monitoring warehouse energy usage and maintenance
A well-oiled, efficient warehouse remains the client’s top priority — and a culture of data is now in place to give them the visibility to attain that goal.
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Supply Chain and Logistics
Deploy logistics and supply chain systems that get goods on their way promptly, safely and sustainably.
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