Adams Rite Manufacturing Co. was tasked by management with relocating their Pomona, California facility to Phoenix, Arizona with only a 5 month lead time for planning and execution of the move. Assa Abloy had excess space in a larger building in Phoenix, and their intention was to consolidate operations and lessen some real estate expense.
SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. August 28, 2012 Case Study #1: Adams Rite Manufacturing Co., an Assa Abloy Company
View press release regarding this case study here
Since American Relocation had handled the previous Adams Rite relocation from the City of Industry to Pomona, 12 years ago, project manager George Burge stated that it was an easy decision to turn to Great American Logistics this time around.
Mr. Burge added, “Because the previous relocation was handled in such a professional and highly efficient manner, it was very easy to partner with Great American Logistics in this newest project although the extreme distance made this project a more daunting task this time around.”
Adams Rite has always operated with the philosophy of “build to order” with very short lead times, therefore there was a need to have their production lines stay operational as long as possible, relocate the production areas as fast as possible, and get them back up and producing as quickly as possible.
During numerous meetings with department heads, Corporate Relocations Manager Craig Fulmer was able to ascertain which areas could be moved without disruption to production, which areas could be moved with minimal disruption to production, and lastly which areas needed to stay untouched until production was completed for the week. Great American Logistics was able to prep some high density areas in the week prior to the main move. This allowed several truckloads of infrastructure to be moved and set up early while allowing the actual production components/inventory to stay in place and be accessible for the Adams Rite staff.
The movement of raw materials and some finished goods were started on Monday of the move week. As in the production areas, determinations had to be made on what commodities could be moved earlier rather than later in the week. In addition to not wanting to disrupt production in Pomona, consideration had to be made for limited access in Phoenix (Phoenix had production lines in place where Pomona was going to “occupy”), and not to overwhelm the Phoenix receiving doors. With this concept in mind, Great American Logistics was able to sequence 14 loads of palletized goods starting Monday morning and concluding early afternoon Wednesday.
With the vast majority of the “bulk” product out of the way, Great American Logistics and Adams Rite were able to focus their attention on the critical elements of their production lines. By early afternoon Thursday, Adams Rite completed production for the week and was able to shut down their assembly lines. Great American Logistics began the load, transport and set up of eight “color coded” assembly areas, the goal was to have all areas moved and set up for Monday production in Phoenix. The last of thirteen loads (all 53’ semi trucks) delivered into Phoenix late Saturday afternoon. The following Monday, Adams Rite was back in business, and in production 380 miles away!
According to Craig Fulmer, “Ultimately, the success of the project boiled down to the collective abilities of the Adams Rite’ staff and Great American Logistics personnel to understand each other’s needs and the constraints that each operation was facing; with that understanding in place, the project became a success.”
Adams Rite is a leader in the door design, production and manufacturing market serving the commercial, industrial and institutional building construction industry. Adams Rite has been in business for over 100 years.
About Great American Logistics
Great American Logistics is one of the Southland’s finest household, office and industrial moving companies. The company provides disassembly of modular furniture, shelving reconfiguration, furniture repair and liquidation services as well as computerized, bar-coded warehousing services. Great American Logistics professionals expertly handle all aspects of moves, including moving individuals’ household goods, products and equipment or entire companies’ around the corner or around the globe using specialized equipment and computerized shipment tracking.
Great American Logistics is located at 13565 Larwin Circle, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., 90670. Telephone: (562) 229-3600. Facsimile: (562) 926-6151. Website: www.american-moving.com.
Media Contact:
Donna St. Jean Conti, APR
St. Conti Communications
(949) 290-0622
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