Northern Logistics Hub: All Shades Of Innovation, Automation & Digitalization

Jonas Karlsson, Northern Hub Logistics Manager, Finished Products, in Ljungby, prepared expert material. Here he talks about a warehousing project that has been successfully implemented in the Logistics Hubs.

It is a very amazing story from which you will learn the nuances of digital transformation and operational excellence. Besides, you'll see an example of what results from continuous improvement. Finally, you will learn the notion of the OnE approach. What is a warehouse in the understanding of a simple layman? Right you are! It is a kind of room where food, household appliances, and other goods are stored. 

They are stored on racks and moved by human-operated forklifts. However, the Nordic Logistics Center in Ljungby, Sweden, offers an innovative approach to warehousing! The racks here move automatically, and the products/goods from them are selected autonomously! This approach contributes to strengthening operational excellence and increases the level of security. At the same time, productivity and throughput increase.

The latest successful pioneering project has invested in a dynamic shelving system. Thus, a solution serves to rationalize the use of the warehouse premises. The innovative installation made it possible to expand the loading area to ensure the safety of the personnel. 

Also, thanks to innovations, the storage capacity has increased by almost 75%! The essence of the project was to put the racks familiar to everyone on wheels and move them along the rails. Naturally, the process is controlled by the operator using a remote control.

Thanks to this, we can now refuse to store products and goods in third-party warehouses. This setup pays off! In the future, hubs of other companies and large factories will also evaluate it. 

We could not but mention an autonomous warehouse crane at the Northern Hub, which has an increased capacity (3100+ cars). Thus, there is an autonomous movement of goods, and at the same time, their optimal storage is organized.

In addition, we were able to organize the storage of small accessories properly. To do this, we have implemented the idea of a vertical warehouse! At the same time, each unit of goods, regardless of its location, has a digital barcode that helps track its movement. It's a unique digital data stream that helps us every step of the way, from the moment a customer places an order to the second the item is shipped and billed. 

The warehouse staff also compiles a digital picking list. This list is then integrated into forklift tablets. After the labels for each product are printed, the forklift will deliver them to us at the right time. 9 operators are involved in the work, and they work in 2 shifts. It is how manufacturing organizations are served, which subsequently deliver food, drinks, and other goods around the world.

Kristoffer Georgsson (Northern Hub Warehouse & Distribution Manager, Finished Products) is proud of his team! He says that each of its members is an indispensable employee, thanks to which customer service never stops. It was these people who helped to achieve success in modernizing the warehouse.

Let's emphasize that regardless of the type of goods (food, laundry equipment, chemicals, drinks, etc.), they are stored in the same category of premises. Moreover, their system and operational return are also the same. The flow of goods and foodstuffs for the Scandinavian countries is organized in the same way. 

The main ideas of the OnE approach can be successfully applied to the organization of other activities carried out in logistics centers. The Northern Logistics Hub team is ready to share their experience! It is the place where new opportunities open up, and there is a continuous search for new ideas for modernizing and improving automation. We realize that innovative ideas and digitalization are the keys to the success of any business enterprise!