MEATing POINT Magazine: #12 / 2017

CASE STUDY
AUTOMATED SYSTEM BOOSTS
PERFORMANCE
A
Dutch manufacturer of pre-packed
meat products has automated its
in-house logistics using an IT solution
from CSB-Automation and CSB-System. The
new system is helping ProMessa BV meet the
needs of its customers more efficiently, with
a delivery performance of over 99 percent,
and therefore enhance its market position.
With the CSB solution, the entire materials
flow at ProMessa has been automated – from
packaging following production, to storage
and picking, and loading onto trucks. In
the past, goods and crates were moved
manually, whereas today, state-of-the-art
robotic technology, conveyor systems, sorters
and the CSB software work seamlessly
together to get the job done.
The software organises and monitors a
network of machines, including two automatic
crate storages, robot units, four automatic
weigh labelling lines with connected sorters,
a dispatch warehouse and a conveyor
system. Integrated production scheduling
ensures precise tuning of workflows in terms
of time and quantity. Any important details,
such as up-to-date order, production and
inventory data, are captured and processed
in real time. This high degree of networking
facilitates fast and error-free processes and
enormous productivity.
“We deliver a vast range of products to about
1,200 supermarkets,” explains ProMessa’s
Managing Director Harold Rouweler. “The
issue 12 | www.meatingpoint-mag.com
logistics system helps us to pick and deliver
even small quantities in an efficient manner.
Our customers can order any item even
on short notice. Everyone who places their
orders in time usually will receive the goods
on the very same day.
“We have nearly doubled our output –
sometimes to more than 100,000 packages
per day,” he continues. “We would never
have achieved such growth rates without the
new logistics system, which was established
in the existing buildings without any major
staff increase.”
In accordance with the company’s FIFO
policy (first in, first out), the software from
CSB-System constantly reorganises the
warehouse by re-stacking the plastic storage
containers. Next, it groups together order
data, products and containers, before
supplying them to the picking lines for
weigh labelling. It also calculates quantities
and volumes, necessary material flows
and optimal conveyor tracks for loading
the trucks. At special CSB-Racks, staff can
easily see which order is being processed,
which products and quantities belong to
what order, and which labels need to be
attached.
“Our staff at the sorters can handle
numerous orders in parallel without any
errors, and pick items directly for the
dispatch crates,” says Harold Rouweler.
“The work stations have an ergonomic
design, avoiding unnecessary motion. As
a result, we can process our large variety of
products in an efficient manner, irrespective
of the quantities ordered by our customers.
The order quantity virtually has no effect
anymore on the logistics costs.”
The entire intralogistics system was designed
to offer a high level of productivity and
flexibility. For example, the high-performance
despatch warehouse secures optimal picking
of customer orders with the CSB-System
generating individual sub-orders, depending
on the availability of the goods. The four
weigh labelling lines are capable of compiling
between 5,000 and 7,500 packages per
hour in mixed containers, depending on the
order structure.
ProMessa can now also respond even quicker
to reorders without having to build up large
stocks. Daily deliveries to customers can
be realised even with very short order lead
times. The delivery performance is currently
over 99 percent.
“This project has demonstrated the importance
of choosing the right partners for the technical
advancement of our production facilities,”
concludes Harold Rouweler. “CSB-System
and CSB-Automation are valuable partners
for us because they always contribute new
ideas and develop innovative, practical
solutions that enhance our competitiveness
sustainably.”
www.csb.com
15