Manifatture del Nord Increases Picking Speed and Grows eCommerce

Case Summary

Manifatture del Nord specializes in designing and manufacturing women’s apparel, including shirts, coats, jackets, skirts, knitwear, pants, tops, bags, and shoes. With a global customer base, the company relies on accurate product picking and competitive shipping times to meet its clients’ needs. Located in Reggio Emilia, Italy, the company’s raw materials warehouse houses a diverse range of components and accessories with high turnover rates. To improve picking speed and accuracy and meet increasing demand, the company purchased a total of nine Modula Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs).

The Challenge

In the company’s warehouse, which manages fabrics, accessories, and intricate details, pickers previously had to search through shelves and pallets to locate the small components required for each shipment. This process was not only time-consuming but also physically demanding, with workers frequently bending and standing throughout the day to locate and transport items. Given the nature of the fashion and textile industry, Manifatture del Nord required a solution that would streamline item organization and enable operators to pick with higher speed and precision.

The Solution

In 2000, the first three Modula VLMs were installed within the raw material warehouse in Reggio, Emilia. Immediately, the employees noticed an improvement in the cleanliness of the warehouse.

Today, the automated delivery of trays ensures that materials are presented directly to pickers at ergonomic heights, enhancing picking accuracy. The orders entered into the computer through the WMS software are now automatically retrieved from the Modula VLMs. A bar code reader identifies the correct item, and a label printer generates the label to be added to the boxes ready for shipment.

Manifatture del Nord can now count on a remarkable increase in picking speed, reaching up to 23 rows per hour, equivalent to 900 rows daily, all while saving over 95% of floor space. The VLMs store nearly the entire inventory, creating a clean working environment dedicated to expediting order picking and shipping with greater efficiency and precision.

An operator at the company since 2000, Carmella S. (Modula Operator), remarked on the noticeable difference:

“Before, we had to look for things on pallets, whereas now, they are stored on trays that bring down everything you need. We can pick almost everything from the machines. There’s hardly anything outside of them anymore. Its much more convenient and much quicker, and everything is tidier.”

Benefits of Modula VLMs for Manifatture del Nord

• 4 MC25, 2 MX25, 1 ML50D stores 90% of inventory and saves over 95% of floor space
• Easy integration of Modula WMS software changed picking process from “person-to-goods” to “goods-to-person”
• Dual bay delivery system increased picking speed to 23 rows per hour or 900 rows per day
• VLMs led to ergonomic working conditions and a clean environment for employees

Full Quotes

“I came to work here in the year 2000 when there were only three Modula units. Then, in 2009, they bought another Modula unit, and in 2014, two others. The latest three in 2016. Before that, we had to look for things on pallets, whereas now, they are stored on trays that bring down everything you need. It’s better now with seven Modula units instead of just three, and we can pick almost everything from the machines. There’s hardly anything outside of them anymore. It’s much more convenient and much quicker, and everything is tidier.” – Carmela S., Modula Operator