Design – From Single Zone to Full Four-Walls

solution_design_mapKiva's design process starts with understanding your business challenges and the context for possible solutions.  This sometimes leads to a small Kiva split-case pick zone tied into an existing print-and-apply outbound solution, or sometimes to a greenfield full-four-wall design covering receiving, picking, and shipping across pallets, cases, eaches, and outbound containers.  If we determine that our current solution capabilities are not a fit for your particular situation,  we are not afraid to tell you so.

Our Sales and Solutions professionals are industry experts having sold, designed or operated major distribution facilities throughout their career.  We've been in your shoes, we care about your problems and appreciate the pressures that operations executives deal with everyday - we're helping you design the system we wish we had!

services_design_chartKiva designers study all aspects of your operations including:

  • SKU movement, cubic velocity, dimensional storage
  • Order profiles, lines, eaches, family group affinities
  • Packing requirements, box handling, gift wrapping, value-added services
  • Seasonal, weekly, and intraday demand patterns, peak-to-mean strategy
  • Staffing schedules, shift strategies, labor productivity

services_design_podcatalogWe get into the details to deliver maximum ROI:

  • Outbound requirements, cutoff times, transportation schedule
  • Inbound inventory arrival patterns, building inventory carrying levels
  • Tote, container recirculation flows
  • Returns processing, inventory control requirements and procedures
  • Trash handling requirements
  • Current operating costs and economics

We develop the best application of our mobile-robotic fulfillment approach to meet your specific challenges - using only 2 design rules. First, the design should never starve an operator for something to do. And, second, it should function with the least amount of Kiva equipment possible.

Our designers employ sophisticated analysis tools to create a comprehensive solution that fits your business requirements and environment.  Solution design packages include:

soultion_design_mezz

  • Material flow diagrams
  • Client specific workstations and workflows
  • Storage solutions, reserve inventory, forward pick locations
  • Daily operating plans, staffing schedules, capacity plans
  • Inventory pod designs to match client merchandise
  • Building layouts, Kiva floor maps, electrical installation diagrams
  • Future expansion or move options
  • ROI analysis, costs savings, capital outlay models