Page 15 - Linkline Spring 2017

Behind the Scenes at Supermarket Giant Aldi
A guided tour of the German retailer’s regional distribution centre in Cork provided members with an impressive display of efficiency and state of the art technology.
In January CILT’s Southern Section toured Aldi’s regional distribution centre in Mitchelstown in Cork. The well attended event was a chance for people to see up close the inner
workings of the retailer’s supply chain system.
The county Cork site spans 13 hectares. Opened in 2013, Aldi’s second distribution centre generated 160 jobs and was part of the group’s three-year expansion programme, which saw 20 new stores open around the country. The site serves over 100 shops in not only the Munster region but also Mayo, Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny.
On arrival at the centre Institute members were welcomed by transport and logistics manager Andre Du Plessis who explained the history of the centre and its important role in Aldi’s expansion in Ireland. After a health and safety briefing, the group was brought through into the main section of the distribution centre where they were walked through the ambient, chill and freezer warehouses. Energy saving automatic lighting lit a path as the group made their way through the 60,000sq m low rise facility. An economical element, this lighting is also positioned carefully to optimise assembly performance and vehicle loads utilisation.
As the tour progressed Andre, discussed the operational procedures and practices of the site and answered any questions people had. The work of the order pickers, in particular, proved to be of much interest to Institute members. These staff members travel through the facility on state of the art assembly trucks which use voice activation to gather orders accurately and efficiently. Once collected these orders are then transferred to one of the 70 vehicle loading bays on site. From there the goods are shipped to their respective stores by Aldi’s preferred transport partners.
Andre explained that vehicle utilisation is one of many key performance indicators monitored by Aldi’s transport
department and every effort is made to ensure no vehicle leaves the site without its full complement of pallets. In addition, the accuracy of voice directed picking enables Aldi stores to check receipts by simply counting the number of pallets, an action which greatly improves vehicle turnaround at locations.
Moving into the final parts of the facility, members observed orders being assembled for the night’s dispatch in the chill warehouse before the temperature dropped to -25 C in the freezer warehouse, the place where Aldi keep all their frozen food before transportation.
Back in the warmer part of the centre there was the chance to heat up with a cup of tea and ask some final questions before CILT Southern Section Chair, Grainne Lynch, thanked Aldi and our guide Andre du Plessis for a very informative evening.
The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport 15
CILT ALDI VISIT