Renault Group expands Exotec warehouse automation across France and Germany

World automotive firm Renault Group has partnered with Exotec to automate its spare components operation throughout its warehouses in France.

Due to the implementation of a fleet of Exotec’s Skypod robots, Renault has efficiently decreased its order processing time from two hours to only quarter-hour, making an enormous distinction to effectivity and buyer satisfaction.

The problem

Previous to the partnership, Renault Group struggled to effectively handle the supply and distribution of alternative automobile components in Europe.

Its system was fragmented, and its warehouses have been organised by half varieties fairly than by geographic areas or markets.

It additionally lacked a regional distribution warehouse for France, which accounts for 37 p.c of Renault’s components and equipment enterprise, whereas the corporate relied closely on outdated methods to deal with operations, This severely restricted Renault Group’s capability to satisfy nationwide demand.

The answer

As a part of a big overhaul of its operations, Renault Group totally reorganised its spare components warehouses. This concerned closing its older Cergy website to make manner for a brand new facility in Puiseux devoted to serving European and worldwide markets, and the specialisation of the Flins-sur-Seine warehouse to give attention to heavy and hulking components.

Exotec was referred to as upon to assist rework and modernise Renault Group’s Villeroy warehouse. This meant putting in Exotec’s Skypod system, which hosts 167 Skypod robots, 14 choosing stations, two replenishment stations and 67,000 storage bins, processing 4,130 bins an hour with a rack top of 10.8 metres – enabling the storage and choosing of over 1.6 million objects.

The outcomes

Customer support

• Customer support satisfaction price now exceeds 99.7 p.c, demonstrating a excessive customary of reliability.
• The flexibility to dispatch all components ordered as much as 5:30pm for next-day supply by 8:00am, guaranteeing swift and well timed fulfilment.
• Consolidating over 80 p.c of French enterprise right into a single warehouse, considerably decreasing order processing occasions and streamlining logistics.
• Renault Group has built-in over 15,000 product references, with a long-term goal of 20,000, guaranteeing a broad and numerous collection of obtainable components.

Prices discount and productiveness will increase

A discount so as processing time from 120 minutes to only quarter-hour, considerably enhancing effectivity and buyer satisfaction.

A productiveness enchancment throughout the ReVA perimeter by an element of 4, aiming to deal with 20,000 order strains per day and dramatically reducing buyer order processing occasions.

Stabilised and decreased reliance on momentary employees, leading to a extra constant and dependable workforce.

Finish-to-end Integration of specialized machines

Built-in a variety of specialized machines in tandem with the Skypod system, together with two carton forming machines, two closing machines, three packing listing printers, two RFID transport label printers, a wrapping machine, and 30 ergonomic grippers, enhancing operational effectivity.

Merged vendor label printers with Exotec choosing stations to enhance stock traceability and inventory administration.

Included a garbage assortment system immediately into the injection stations, optimising waste administration processes and sustaining a clear and orderly workspace.

In response to Renault Group, “Preserving to the schedule and attaining our ramp-up curve have been main challenges that we’ve struggled with prior to now. We’re glad with the outcomes achieved following our partnership with Exotec, and are getting ready to finalise the organisational transformation round our new facility.”

Romain Moulin, CEO of Exotec, added, “We sit up for persevering with our journey with Renault Group because it continues to reinforce its spare components operation. The preliminary outcomes following the set up of Skypod at Renault’s Villeroy website are very promising, and we plan to proceed this momentum as we increase our relationship.”

Exotec and Renault Group have since expanded their partnership to Germany, the place 89 Skypod robots are being deployed at Renault Deutschland AG’s new automated warehouse in Brühl to provide automotive sellers throughout the nation with spare components – marking the primary time Renault has used an automatic warehouse in Germany.