Loaded With Confidence: How a Major Distributor is Leveraging New Technology to Improve Operations
By: Lee Payne, Business Development Manager, Traka
As e-commerce plays an increasingly larger role in how our society sends and receives items, the focus has inevitably turned to the logistics sector. How are retailers ensuring goods are transported in a timely, yet safe fashion to meet growing consumer demand? Distributors need to have the necessary infrastructure to appropriately answer that question, and one company has experienced a clear impact by recently implementing new technology that has universal appeal for a variety of retailers and distributors. It should serve as a case study for how to integrate critical technology that not only promotes safe operations, but also efficient processes.
With more than 60 years’ experience, Boughey Logistics has cemented its legacy as a premier distributor within the ambient grocery sector. Their consistent growth speaks to their operational efficiency, and they recently opened a new distribution center in Newcastle-under-Lyme in central England, which is their largest such facility. An average of 90 loads per day are going in or coming out of there, which adds up to approximately 1900 loads per month. It’s therefore critically important to have the technology in place to make sure each of those loads is secured safely before a driver leaves the premises.
Boughey Logistics recently installed a loading bay safety system from Traka called DockSafe that prohibits the loading bay doors from opening until the lorry is safely secured at the dock. The driver deposits the key in an external box located next to the bay, which is connected to the loading bay door control panel. Once the key is deposited, the bay door can be opened, and the goods can be removed or loaded. The driver’s keys are locked in the external box and cannot be removed until a green light is indicated externally, which means all goods are secured.
This system has significantly improved communication between drivers and loading colleagues. While quite rare, Boughey Logistics did experience previous instances of near-miss driver pull-offs when drivers attempted to leave the bay before all the goods had been secured. This is a dangerous situation, especially if a powered pallet truck driver is attempting to load goods onto the lorry. Since implementing the solution, Boughey Logistics has experienced zero near-misses, as communication is clear when it’s safe to load or unload goods and when a driver is cleared to leave. All key transactions are recorded in a software system, which provides an audit trail of all traffic in and out of the bays. This instills responsibility among all parties, as they know the solution provides a clear account of the proper processes that were followed.
“Safety, including that of our colleagues and visitors, is paramount,” said Boughey Logistics Warehouse Manager Niall Howard. “DockSafe is therefore an essential element in providing the controls and confidence around one of the biggest risks we have.”
As with the introduction of any new technology, success ultimately comes down to the adoption among colleagues. From management to those in the warehouse to administrators, Boughey Logistics colleagues have embraced the new technology. The improvement in communications has been definitive, which has enhanced operations. It has also instilled confidence that goods can be unloaded efficiently without the worry of a lorry driving off unexpectedly. Ultimately, this helps Boughey Logistics serve its customers better.
Boughey Logistics’ adoption of DockSafe is one example of how integrated key and asset management solutions are impacting supply chain and logistics operations. For more information on additional solutions, please visit traka.com.
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