Are you ready for peak season? Optimize your facilities now for the fast-paced winter months.

Summer is finally here! For those of us in the materials handling world that means one thing- peak season is right around the corner.

Peak season is the highlight of the year — where the pace is fast, the sales are high, and we’re all wiped out by the New Year. But we love it. In fact, 40% of retail businesses say that half of their annual sales come during peak season. Summer is the perfect time to begin planning for the fourth quarter rush. The earlier we prepare, the easier distribution will flow during the holiday season.

To help you get ahead of the curve, we’ve put together a few tips for you. This article will help you hit peak season right in stride, so you can make the most of it and call Q4 a big win!

1. Start With An Assessment

The first step is to analyze what you already have, what you need, and what your budget will be for the year. Begin your peak season preparations with a clear understanding of what your facility is capable of. 

• How much volume of products do you move out of your facility on a normal basis?
• How much more volume do you anticipate during busy months? 

One thing that may slip through the cracks in your assessment is scanning percentage. It is so critical to make sure your scanners are reading at a high percentage before peak happens. As orders increase during busy times, you’ll be running at high speeds and moving more products. This is not the time to find out that your scanners aren’t capable of higher volumes. 

Another important factor of your assessment should be supplier relationships. Examine your supplier relationships now to determine whether you have a clear line of communication with them. As you go into peak season, you’ll want to be confident that your needs will be met if you get into a pinch.

2. System Maintenance + Stock Up Now.

Imagine you’re right in the middle of peak season and one of your key machines breaks down. The horror.

This is why updating systems and preventative maintenance is where you will find the most benefit from early planning. Now is the time to update your system and perform any needed maintenance — not in the middle of a holiday surge. 

One easy, but absolutely critical, thing to do is make sure you have plenty of spare devices. Lead times are still out of control, so it’s best to stock up for what you might need right now. Manufacturers are under immense pressure due to equipment shortages and with current lead times you cannot afford to have long periods of downtime — especially during peak season. If suppliers cannot guarantee to get the parts to you in a timely manner, place your order now. It’s best to be at the top of the list in this case!
Be sure to conduct a proper analysis of your entire system. We suggest you really look for small details like loose equipment, or seemingly insignificant parts like greasing components. It really is better to be safe than sorry!

3. Incorporate Automation To Fill Gaps.

For many businesses, it makes sense to add more shifts or hire seasonal temporary employees. But in some areas, adding more workers during the holiday rush just doesn’t make sense. So another way to add extra help in areas that are too small for more bodies is automation. This can be a huge help, as automated systems can run continuously, and generally without the human error element. 

Automation upgrades can cost a significant investment, but overall, the labor savings and simplification of your distribution process pays for itself end over end.

4. Consider Your Picking Strategies.

Different seasons call for different demands, and thus different strategies. 

For example, when approaching Halloween, customers may order several different types of candy as well as a myriad of decorations and costumes. This season leads to an increase in multi-line order fulfillment. 

In contrast, many retail facilities will promote a specific product for a period of time, creating a single line order spike. 

Consider the upcoming demand, so you can choose the appropriate picking strategy. Picking is sometimes one of the biggest cost factors, so it would be wise to develop a cost analysis that calculates whether it is more cost effective to ship items individually or consolidate items. Make sure your facility has the flexibility in place to ensure that all types of orders can flow without disruptions.

5. Learn From Last Year and Be Flexible.

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s to always expect the unexpected. We’ve learned (some the hard way) that adaptability is a key survival component in 2021 and beyond — across every industry. 

Last year, there was a massive increase in ecommerce and retail sales, and 2021 seems to be following that same trend. 

So, what can you learn from last year?

• What went right? 
• What could you have done better?
• Did you develop an emergency plan that you can build on?  

Maybe you just rolled with the punches last year and got away with it unscathed. Or maybe your equipment wasn’t up to speed with the new demand, and you struggled to keep up. Whatever the case, look back on 2020 and take notes. You want to be in a better position this year.

Rush season is going to be intense, there’s no doubt about it. The final quarter can make or break your business. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for peak season, the main takeaway is this: plan, plan, and then plan some more.

If you need help getting ready for peak season, give us a call. At Lafayette Engineering, we specialize in helping e-commerce companies move more products more efficiently, and we’re happy to help you move into the most important season of the year with supreme confidence.

---

(Which Option is Right for Your Facility?)

Upgrading your facility is a big investment for any company.

Whether to recondition an existing conveyor system or invest in a brand new one is not an easy decision to make, but in the materials handling industry, it’s an inescapable choice you’re faced with at some point. 

There isn’t a broad, clear cut answer, as there are benefits and disadvantages associated with either option.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know, so you can make the right decision for your warehouse or facility, and ultimately, your business.

Reconditioning An Existing Conveyor Systems

BENEFITS :

Quick system Turnaround. Conveyor manufacturing lead times are longer than ever. Manufacturers have been under strain since the global pandemic started. Constantly changing protocols have posed new challenges to the shipping industry and have caused many delays getting products to their destination. 

It’s for this reason that there’s an advantage to buying an existing conveyor system — lead times for buying reconditioned systems are usually very short because the existing inventory is readily available. Often, the system is already fully equipped and ready to install.

Reconditioned systems can deliver higher ROI. The cost of buying an existing system is often significantly less than building a new system. If you buy a used system for half of the price of a new one and still achieve the same level of output, the return on your investment will be much higher. What you do with those savings is up to you!

DISADVANTAGES :

Time lost retrofitting an existing system. When you implement an existing system, you are purchasing a system that was designed specifically for the facility it was previously in, not yours. 

Retrofitting the conveyor to fit your own warehouse or facility could become quite time-consuming, as well as expensive. Unforeseen issues such as purchasing new material or building codes can arise quickly — and slow you down tremendously. 

No warranty. When you buy used, there is usually no warranty left on the system, which means any faulty components will need to be replaced out of pocket and you’ll likely have to troubleshoot issues on your own.

If buying an existing system seems out of the equation for your company, don’t stress. There are many advantages of building a new conveyor system.

---

Building a New Conveyor System

BENEFITS :

Get a system designed to your facility’s specifications. Choosing to build a new conveyor system from the ground up gives you ergonomic flexibility you will not get with retrofitting. Your brand new system will be designed specifically to fit your warehouse or facility. It will also be purposely constructed to operate with the product and materials your company handles. When you construct a brand new system, you don’t have to make compromises — you can build the system exactly the way you want it.

Shorter learning curve for your team.  One significant advantage of fabricating a system for yourself is that your team will already know the ins and outs of each piece of the system. An installation company will work alongside your team from the very beginning when building the system. This will simplify upkeep, leading to less interruptions during production, and more intelligent troubleshooting when something goes wrong. The planning of the system will ensure that it is compliant with current building codes, and maintenance teams will know what to anticipate for preservation. 

There’s a warranty. With a new system, all parts will still have warranties. If a component within the system is faulty, there is still the security of being under warranty. This will reduce out-of-pocket costs in the future for routine maintenance as well as any unanticipated difficulties.

Up to date technology. Fabricating a new system can ensure that your system will be at the forefront of the newest technologies within your industry. All components within your conveyor system will be built with these new technologies in mind. Newer models will require fewer updates, less often, and will already be functional for any materials and products you handle from the start. A recycled system may be antiquated and will thus require more effort to bring the system up to date.

DISADVANTAGES :

Longer supply chain lead times. During our nation’s current situation with the pandemic, manufacturer shipping periods have been slowed significantly.  Scheduling to have materials delivered within optimal windows of time may prove to be more challenging than ever. Some companies are listing manufacturing and transport times up to 12 months in advance. So if you are counting on a system anytime soon, waiting on materials could cause you to lose a large period of productivity while you wait for supplies. 

Overall higher cost. The most important factor to consider when building a new conveyor system is the overall cost. Purchasing a new system is quite expensive and you must factor in the additional costs of preparation and installation. The final tally here can be daunting for any company, and your business will need to establish your ultimate budget and determine if the ROI makes sense.

There are many other individual factors to consider when selecting which is best for your facility or distribution center. However, in the end it will depend on three things, your time, your needs, and your budget. 

If you are unsure which option is best for you, give us a call. Our experienced team will guide you in the right direction with your current situation, your future goals, and how we can help long term. Call to get started at (844) 845-7580 or send us an email at info@lafayette-engineering.com.

“Distributors struggle to increase their productivity levels. We design and install conveyor systems programmed to increase productivity and move your products more efficiently.”

At Lafayette Engineering, we design and install conveyor system controls for e-commerce distribution facilities, helping them move more products more efficiently. 

With the help of our partner companies, Southern Conveyor Inc. and Century Conveyor Systems, we are able to offer full services for every part of your project life cycle. From concept and design to engineering and fabrication, we can handle anything related to conveyor systems, offering turnkey innovations for Industrial Conveyor Integration. We can help you with Mechanical Engineering, Controls Design & Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Installation, Human Machine Interference, and more.

And, we’re proud to share our warehouse control system, Conveyor Works, with you. Conveyor Works is a software application that acts as a regulator for your warehouse, ensuring that each individual piece of material handling equipment runs smoothly, performs with precision, and maximizes your entire plant’s efficiency.  

As a full-service provider, we keep everything in-house, which means we have tremendous control over the quality of every phase of our work. It also means that you save time sorting through quotes, get more flexible lead times, more savings, and faster installation. 

LaFayette Engineering Inc. was founded in 1989 by Bruce and Beth Robbins in Danville, Kentucky. Now, with locations in Ontario, California, South Plainfield, and New Jersey, we employ many of the top engineers in the country, and we’re ready to help you create the custom solution you need to scale your business. From East to West and everywhere in between, we want to be your first choice for industrial conveyor system integration.

We proudly provide our clients with the high-performing quality you may expect from very large engineering firms, while still maintaining the flexibility, adaptability, and affordable personal service that only a small engineering firm can provide. 

Manufacturing lead times are longer than ever, don’t wait to update your system!

Call today for a Project Quote or Facility Consultation.