Skechers shared that its new distribution centre which is in Minato City, Tokyo, Japan, uses Hai's automated goods-to-person system.
The company explained that Hai's solution was chosen for its ability to streamline storage and reduce the required real estate needed, and for its flexibility in adjusting to fluctuating demand. It was also chosen to resolve labour shortage issues and support long-term business growth.
The HaiPick System by Hai Robotics is said to be dense, adaptable to changes in consumer demand, and easily expandable as operations grow. Skechers noted that it seamlessly integrated with other technologies in the facility to help Skechers quickly respond to customer orders.
How does the tech work?
Skechers pointed out that within its facility, the HaiPick System covers 139,705 square feet and is operated by 69 HaiPick Autonomous Case-handling Mobile Robots (ACRs), which are integrated with Manhattan Associates' cloud-native warehouse management system (WMS).
The company added that ACRs are highly intelligent, tall pieces of equipment that autonomously navigate narrow aisles of an ASRS constructed of almost any industry-standard racking or shelving with a vertical reach extending up to 32 feet.
Skechers said the robots pick containers off the shelving — transporting up to eight at any given time for maximum order-batching efficiency — and deliver them to human-operated workstations.
Skechers' HaiPick System contains eight ergonomic workstations where operators receive clear instructions on a screen of the product and quantity to be picked to fulfill an order. The product is then scanned, and the system confirms order accuracy before the operator can proceed to the following order.
The company claimed the HaiPick System is a vital part of its operational success at the new distribution facility, helping Skechers maintain the high level of service and satisfaction of their customers.
Sophie Houtmeyers, vice president of distribution operations at Skechers, and Michael Pitt, MHE Solutions, said: "The Hai ACR system facilitated creative application to maximise both utilisation of the warehouse floor space and hard-to-reach vertical storage space in a challenging Japanese warehousing design caused by strict fire codes. It has additionally provided productivity gains that are key to the growth of Skechers in the Japan market."
Hai Robotics US chief revenue officer Brian Reinhart added: "We are grateful for the trust that MHE and Skechers have placed in us and thrilled with the success seen so far. We will continue to work closely with MHE Solutions and Skechers to further support their warehouse automation journey and help them go above and beyond in their operational efficiency goals."
According to GlobalData's ‘Robotics in Retail and Apparel‘ report, robotics can help address the various challenges apparel retailers face from profiling customers and achieving greater personalisation to understanding market trends and improving operational efficiency.
