As a service technician and substitute team leader, I keep the distribution center of a large supermarket chain running. My team’s responsible for making sure the technical part of the overall logistics process runs smoothly. From unloading goods to reloading these goods to deliver them to supermarkets. As I walk through the distribution center, I log in to the various systems to detect errors in processes. Data that’s out of sync can cause major disruptions when storing and moving goods. This can have a massive impact, especially when trucks are already waiting outside for a load. When this happens, you have to run, fly and jump to solve the problem as quickly as possible to ensure that all the connections are fixed as quickly as possible.
It may sound weird, but I love it whenever something goes wrong. I enjoy the challenge of solving a major problem with our systems in under two hours. Pallets with products are placed on the racks using automated cranes, sometimes up to 30 meters high. If this isn’t done properly, you can be sure of a big mess and a lot of damage. It is extremely important to ensure that the systems continue to function optimally every day so that the 200,000 parcels that enter the distribution center also leave it in good condition. The final rolling containers are like a Tetris puzzle, where all the blocks have to fit together perfectly.
Upon arrival, all pallets receive a unique number that guides the rest of the process. What’s more, all products receive their own ID number, so our entire process is data-driven down to the last detail. Ultimately, all of the products end up in our High Dynamic Storage unit. This is where the magic happens. A specialized computer program determines the order in which the products must enter the containers. This ensures that the products are already in the correct order for unpacking onto the store shelves. And that the rolling containers arrive at the loading docks in the correct order. There’s no other distribution center in Europe that comes close to ours; our processes are truly state of the art.
Yes! I would like to become better at solving more complex data disruptions. If a fault occurs at point Y, this may already have been caused at point X. The more control you have over the entire process, the fewer problems you’ll encounter. Nowadays, these types of malfunctions are often handled by second-line service employees, but I want to broaden my knowledge in this area. That way, I’ll be able to delve deeper into data to identify and resolve root causes more quickly.
Michael is a service technician and substitute team leader at the Albert Heijn distribution center in Zaandam (NL). He ensures the smooth operation of a the supermarket chain’s distribution center by detecting and resolving technical issues quickly, especially when data disruptions occur. Learn what he enjoys about his job and how it improves his skills in handling complex disruptions.
Continue readingQuality Assurance Specialist Sumeetha Kasulabad praises Vanderlande’s “open and collaborative environment”. It’s a place where everyone is trusted to do their work, “which builds confidence and encourages us to give our best”.
Continue readingAmruta Mhatre was recently promoted to Team Leader in her second stint working for Vanderlande at its Global Capability Centre in Pune, India. The Scada expert enjoys the challenge of delivering solutions on complex international projects. She is also a trailblazer, having been the first female controls engineer from the Pune office to work on site at an airport.
Continue reading