SKUs, SKUs and more SKUs! Everywhere all kinds of distributors are faced with the challenge of handling a product offering inclusive of often ten fold the number of stock keeping units (SKUs) they managed just a few years ago. SKU counts will more than likely continue to grow. In most cases distributors are handling all those SKU’s in a facility that was already taxed prior to the current onslaught of SKU proliferation. Beware, SKUs have huge appetites!
Huge appetites? What do they eat? Time! We all know time is money, lots of money.
Take a look at a representative distributor. Today 381 SKUs, just a few short years ago -83. That increase has a major impact throughout the business. Let’s just look at the effect on material handling:
- Many more inbound shipments as breadth replaces depth and floor space usually remains a constant…….. Happens even if overall volume stays the same
- More staging required prior to stock placements
- 198 more stock locations required
- 198 more placements needed when replenishing
- 198 more picking locations
- More outbound shipments as breadth puts pressure on achieving fill rates
- More staging prior to loading required
- High velocity, low volume SKUs become the norm, not the exception
Dealing with all this makes safe, productive material handling an even greater challenge!
Here at Bluff we have solutions to help manage SKU proliferation that are economical and readily available:
- Yard Ramps offer the ability to quickly, economically and efficiently expand dock capacity
- Edge of Dock Levelers allow for maximum utilization of dock openings. Trailer’s positioned at dock, one movement of the latch assembly and the work begins. Loaded, unloaded trailer pulls out…..that’s it
- Speedy Boards keep lift truck operators in the saddle Dock Board placement’s now unassisted and lightning fast
- Dock Boards and Dock Plates allow for full utilization of the dock
- Safety Rails, Door Track Guards, Pallet Rack Guards and Post Protectors physically protect people, assets and visually contribute to raising everyone’s overall safety awareness.
SKU proliferation may be the biggest challenge distributors have faced in decades. No need to be SKU’d up. Bluff has solutions and the team to help!
