case study
Moss Bros
Barking, Essex 104
MAJOR RELOCATION PROJECT
ON TIME - ON BUDGET
BEST IN CLASS EQUIPMENT
FUTURE PROOF
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Key Highlights Moss Bros
The SDI Group Solution for Moss Bros
MAJOR RELOCATION PROJECT: SDI took responsibility for every aspect of the
relocation, preparation and configuration of the warehouse.
ON TIME - ON BUDGET: The solution was delivered on time, on budget and
without any operational disruption for the client.
BEST IN CLASS EQUIPMENT: In addition to the conveyor and hanging garment
storage areas, SDI supplied and installed 336 long-span shelving bays for the
Mos
flat pack areas, racking for up to 255 pallets, a sprinkler system, lighting and
heating.
FUTURE PROOF: The conveyor systems can be upgraded to support automation
and sortation in the future if the business requirement arises.
THE CHALLENGE
Moss Bros’ national distribution centre warehouse team at Moss Bros to ensure
had been in Stratford, East London for “Our selection was based on the everything was exactly as required.
many years but London’s successful bid conviction from SDI that they could
for the 2012 Olympics meant that the manage the project properly and The relocation was completed over two
site was required for development, so a deliver on time and budget. We weekends in the summer of 2006. The
new facility in Barking was chosen. were looking to work with a partner first weekend saw the transfer of retail
where we were comfortable with the stock and the second the hire items. In
The relocation represented an individuals and who could offer the total 400,000 units were moved from
opportunity to install new equipment right design at the right price.” the old building into the new one. The
to support the company’s ongoing Gordon Watts, solution was delivered on time, on
operations. Following a competitive Head of Logistics at Moss Bros. budget and without any operational
tender Moss Bros asked SDI to manage disruption.
the materials handling aspects of the
project. This involved the design and Although the new warehouse will meet
installation of conveyor systems and THE SOLUTION the requirements for Moss Bros for the
associated equipment to meet Moss foreseeable future the company has
Bros’ requirement to handle and store SDI took responsibility for every aspect recognised that the conveyor systems
over 400,000 hire and retail garments of the relocation, preparation and in place could be upgraded to support
destined for customers throughout the configuration of the warehouse. In automation and sortation in the future if
UK. addition to the conveyor and hanging the business requirement arises.
garment storage areas, SDI supplied and
installed 336 long-span shelving bays
for the flat pack areas, racking for up to
255 pallets, a sprinkler system, lighting
and heating. It worked closely with the
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case study
104
s THE SYSTEM
Moss Bros’ old site had utilised conveyors garments on two or three levels of external contractors for the work to
handling garments between four floors hanging rails. be completed. Staff handle garments
but the new warehouse had lower in the storage areas by sliding them
ceilings. Whilst this meant that The conveyor system connects all the on their hangers along the rails to the
operations would need to be principal hanging storage zones on the end nearest the conveyor. From there
consolidated on just two floors - it also mezzanine with goods inwards, buffer they are transferred to the appropriate
offered the prospect of making storage and despatch areas on the conveyor track by hand.
everything simpler and more efficient. ground floor. Everything is transferred
The overall design involved the by the conveyor which has two circuits The ground floor incorporates a storage
installation of a new 55,000 sq ft running in parallel, one for hire items area at the rear half for flat pack items
mezzanine in the 96,000 sq ft shell to and the other retail products. This including boxed garments such as shirts
create a total of 152,000 sq ft of solution allows Moss Bros to manage and accessories including ties, cufflinks
warehouse space with the remaining both operations using a simple, and braces. The front part of the
space occupied by administrative offices. integrated system with a degree of in- ground floor is used for order assembly,
built flexibility. despatch and receipts. Two doors are
One key consideration was that Moss dedicated to hanging garments, one
Bros has separate operations for its retail Hanging retail products arriving at the for despatch and one for receipt, with
and hire business in the warehouse. As warehouse are placed on to the conveyor extendable booms that reach in to the
a result the mezzanine is used solely and transferred to the mezzanine for vehicles to make loading much easier.
for storing hanging garments with storage in one of the zones. Hire items
items split broadly 50/50 between the arriving back at the warehouse are Another two doors are reserved for the
two operations. In addition there are a checked in the “laundry” area before receipt of flat pack items and the final
number of hire and retail storage zones being transferred to similar storage three for flat pack despatch. There is a
dedicated to specific types of garment areas by conveyor. Items that require goods inwards receiving buffer which
which can accommodate a total 232,000 any cleaning or mending are sent to cont.
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“SDI delivered a most effective solution to our requirement. This was fairly straightforward
technically but the real challenge was to design and install the conveyors and other equipment
on time and within budget so that we could move from the old site to the new one on schedule
and without any disruptions to the business.”
Gordon Watts, Head of Logistics at Moss Bros.
ABOUT MOSS BROS ABOUT SDI GROUP
can hold up to 18,000 garments with a The leading retailer of branded suits on SDI Group is a leading specialist in
similar facility on the mezzanine for a the high street, Moss Bros has over 150 the provision of integrated materials
further 17,000 items. stores located throughout the UK. Moss handling solutions for retail, wholesale,
Bros Group plc owns and operates the fulfilment and e-commerce distribution
All items are given a unique and UK franchise for Hugo Boss and Canali. operations.
readily identifiable label on arrival at The company is divided into two trading
the warehouse. This makes it easier units, the Mainstream Division with 116 The Group’s collective experience and
for staff to distinguish between retail
stores which includes Moss, Moss Bros expertise encompasses the entire
and hire products. Picking is managed
Hire, Moss Bros, Savoy Taylors Guild, and spectrum of distribution centre
using conventional printed lists with
factory outlets, and the Fashion Division operation and infrastructure, from
items placed on the inner or outer track
with a total of 35 Cecil Gee, Hugo Boss, consultation, design and building to
depending on whether they are hire or
Canali and Beale & Inman stores. The installation, maintenance and support.
retail items. The conveyor then transfers
company launched its successful Moss As a global systems integrator, the
items to the ground floor despatch
Direct mail order and internet shopping Group designs solutions which improve
and order assembly areas dedicated
operation in October 2005. productivity and retail sales margin
to each operation. There is capacity
while supporting sales growth.
in these areas to hold up to 25,000
hanging garments awaiting loading and
despatch.
Tel: +44 (0)1788 574666
Web: www.sdigroupuk.com Email: sales@sdigroupuk.com
SDI Group UK, 20 Somers Road, Somers Road Industrial Estate, Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7DH UK
A member of the SDI Group
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