Southern Wine & Spirits Case Study, Washington | Beverage Distribution

Within 5 months, SWS jumps to 30,000+ cases shipped per night

Southern Wine & Spirits of America is the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States with operations in 35 states. Southern Wine & Spirits turned to Bastian Solutions for their newest distribution center in Puyallup, WA to improve picking operations and throughput.

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Business Objectives

Be the first privatized spirits distributor in Washington State
Provide next-day delivery to customers throughout Washington
Double system capacity to include distilled spirits in addition to wine
Improve system throughput and accuracy without additional labor costs
Fully integrated and installed system in 4 months

Fully Integrated and Installed System

Key Technologies

Human Machine Interface from Bastian Controls
Voice-directed picking in split case pick module
Carton flow rack
Trash conveyor line
Scan stations
Zero pressure accumulation conveyor
11:1 merge
Hytrol ProSort 400 shoe sorter with electronic switches
Accumulating vertical spirals from Bastian Automation Engineering
Trailer loading conveyor

ORDER WAVE AND RELEASE

Results

30,000 cartons shipped each night
Single facility services the entire state of Washington while providing next-day delivery
The state-run facility for spirits operated with about 900 employees. SWS is distributing wine plus the amount of spirits distributed by the state facility with about 300 people.
System functional within a four-month period allowing SWS to take advantage of new liquor laws in Washington

FULL LAYER PALLETS