EFFICIENT UNIT LOADS - ECR Community

10.2. Additional Data and Figures
Dimensional proliferation of secondary unit loads
To assess current dimensional proliferation project team
members were asked to provide secondary unit load
length, width and height for every SKU passing
through their system. A selection of the results is given
below. A proliferation of 25% means that on average
four different articles (SKUs) are packaged in secondary
unit loads having the same length, width and height
(see Figure 41).
European versus Industry pallet
Figure 42 shows some of the advantages and
disadvantages of using Industry versus Euro pallets in
replenishment (transportation) and the RDC. The
numbers, based on IGD (Institute of Grocery
Distribution) DPP data, are averages, and are only
indicative as they may differ significantly for different
Figure 41: Proliferation of unit load dimensions
70
Manufacturer
Retailer
products (+ means more advantageous).
In support of some of the percentages in Figure 42:
• Figure 43 shows the impact on travel distance
between picking faces when 1000 mm and 800
mm are respectively presented to the aisle by
Industry and Euro pallets. One figure shows
the theoretical impact and the second that
applicable in a warehouse with racking
columns (These diagrams serve as a thought
provoker – they are examples which may or
may not apply to particular layouts).
• Figure 44 shows that Industry pallets, because
they carry 25% more than Euro pallets, can
have a significant impact on overall stock
levels
• Figure 44 also shows how handling efficiency
can favour either the Industry pallet or the
Euro pallet depending on the handling
method used.
A 1 B 1 C 1 D 2 F 3 G 4 H 4 Average
Active SKUs 143 350 3,622 2,077 174 26 21 1,069
Different lengths 26 4 314 129 19 2 11 84
Different widths 28 4 264 129 25 3 11 77
Different heights 26 48 353 136 57 3 11 106
Different plan dimensions 33 4 738 329 54 3 11 195
Different load dimensions 37 96 958 420 75 4 11 267
Proliferation5 25.8% 27.4% 26.4% 20.2% 43.1% 15.4% 52.4% 25.0%
A B C D F G Average
Active SKUs 10,584 14,140 5,839 13,437 9,542 4,769 9,719
Different lengths 96 112 96 483 517 223 255
Different widths 65 93 65 355 416 186 197
Different heights 133 108 142 499 536 204 270
Different plan dimensions 973 1,762 910 3,800 3,748 1,860 2,176
Different load dimensions 4,204 6,854 2,848 6,329 5,541 3,200 4,829
Proliferation5 39.7% 48.5% 48.8% 47.1% 58.1% 67.1% 49.7%
1) Dry Grocery Food
2) Dry Grocery Non-Food
3) Fresh Food Processed
4) Beverage
5) Proliferation = Number of different pack dimensions x 100%
Number of active SKUs
Source: A.T. Kearney Survey, Efficient Unit Loads project
The Efficient Unit Loads Report