SimPlan supports HUGO BOSS in planning a new distribution centre
HUGO BOSS, an international lifestyle group and global market leader in the premium and luxury segments, commissioned SimPlan to simulate its new distribution centre for footwear and loungewear.
Initial situation: Concept phase for a new bedding and footwear warehouse
During the concept phase, SimPlan modelled the basic process variants for the planned warehouse in a simulation model. The task comprised:
- Support with concept development, layout and analysis of potential implementation
- Comparison of supplier concepts and evaluation of the respective supplier simulations
The key focus was on the order-start strategy, determining the required storage and handling capacity, and establishing the necessary buffer levels.
Objective: To compare picking strategies and warehousing techniques
The aim was:
- To compare single-stage and two-stage picking strategies
- To define the required material-handling technology, warehouse capacity and staffing requirements
- To analyse bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement both in the client’s own planning and in the suppliers’ proposals
Solution: From conceptual to detailed simulation
On behalf of HUGO BOSS, SimPlan simulated various supplier concepts, ranging from conceptual to detailed simulations, in order to evaluate their performance. Various warehousing technologies were modelled, including an automated small parts warehouse (AKL) and a shuttle system. The major advantage of this approach lay in its comparability: all variants were examined under exactly the same conditions and using identical performance metrics.
Results: System concept validated, well-founded supplier selection
The simulation validated the system concept and provided the basis for supplier selection. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed concepts could be clearly identified, providing an important basis for HUGO BOSS’s decision-making. The results and insights from the concept simulation also served as key input parameters for planning the specific technical concept and formed the basis for the tender process.
Simulation enables comparison between competing supplier concepts
The case study demonstrates how HUGO BOSS was able to use a simulation to objectively compare several supplier concepts under identical conditions and make an informed decision on the most suitable warehouse technology.
