3 Steps to Operational Readiness | FORTNA

Blog

3 Steps to Operational Readiness

Organizations need to be operationally ready to ride the automation wave successfully in their distribution operations. This preparedness translates to a smooth transition for the entire organization. In this FORTNA blog, we’ll explore the key components of operational readiness and how to foster change acceptance at all levels.

by Tim Johnson

Rising customer expectations for speedy and flawless online ordering are pushing warehouses to new limits, requiring faster fulfillment times, improved accuracy, and higher-than-ever throughput. Automation solutions are becoming a top priority for organizations facing these pressures. The recent 2024 MHI Annual Industry Report1 underscores this trend: 55% of supply chain leaders are ramping up investments in technology and innovation, with a staggering 88% of that group planning to allocate over $1 million in investments. Artificial intelligence, inventory, network optimization tools, and robotics are leading the charge in this automation revolution.

Organizations need to be operationally ready to ride the automation wave successfully in their distribution operations. This preparedness translates to a smooth transition for the entire organization. In this FORTNA blog, we’ll explore the key components of operational readiness and how to foster change acceptance at all levels.

Operational Readiness Approach

Plan

A former colleague offered a simple yet powerful insight on project approaches: over plan vs. under plan.

The first involves meticulous planning, stakeholder engagement, and granular detail definition. The second prioritizes immediate action. I’ve witnessed both play out across projects.

Organizations that prioritize thorough planning experience fewer change orders, on-time delivery, and a more satisfying outcome. Conversely, those rushing into projects face unforeseen challenges that lead to delays and cost overruns.

Operational Readiness Step 1

Assess

Lay the groundwork for success: Before implementing changes, a thorough assessment is crucial. This involves understanding areas of the warehouse, such as infrastructure, processes, and workforce capabilities. While internal teams can conduct this assessment, partnering with a supply chain expert like FORTNA provides an objective perspective. The FORTNA assessment, coupled with their expertise, can uncover hidden obstacles and opportunities often missed by those immersed in daily operations.

The assessment delves into key areas:

  • Physical Infrastructure: This includes identifying bottlenecks, capacity limitations, and the facility’s suitability for automation or robotics.
  • IT Infrastructure: Examining network capabilities, connectivity, and software compatibility is essential for planning development and customization needs.
  • Project Roadmap: The assessment creates a collaborative checklist of tasks for the organization and its supply chain partner. This checklist then translates into a clear project timeline displayed in a Gantt chart.
  • Workflow Analysis: Existing workflows are mapped and analyzed to understand their impact on upstream and downstream operations. This helps identify labor-intensive tasks for automation and eliminate costly bottlenecks.
  • Skill Gap Analysis: Automation will require new skills and responsibilities for your workforce. This analysis allows for targeted recruitment or upskilling programs to ensure a smooth transition.

Operational Readiness Step 2

Design

Leveraging insights from the assessment phase, the operational design goes beyond the physical layout. It crafts the processes, automates solutions, and identifies resource needs for a seamless operation. Partnering with an operational design team like FORTNA unlocks these key benefits:

  • Future-proof flexibility: Your operation adapts to market shifts and unexpected disruptions. Scalability ensures the smooth handling of seasonal peaks and promotional surges.
  • Streamlined integration: A data-driven design, meticulously crafted from the assessment, fosters a smooth integration plan for on-time delivery.
  • Empowering change management: The operational design equips your organization to understand and effectively communicate the new operation’s processes to staff and stakeholders.

Operational Readiness Step 3

Implement

The planning is complete! Let’s roll up our sleeves and bring this project to life. The delivery phase focuses on executing the plan and achieving the desired outcome. Here’s how we’ll ensure success:

  • Constant monitoring and open communication: We’ll work closely with the project team and partners, continuously measuring progress and keeping everyone informed.
  • Proactive roadblock management: Unexpected challenges are inevitable. But by identifying and tackling them as a team, we can minimize their impact.
  • Meticulous checklist completion: By diligently completing all tasks, we’ll avoid delays and unnecessary costs, setting the stage for a smooth transition.
fortna
Operational readiness is crucial for a successful and satisfying automation journey. Understanding these steps is the key to a seamless transformation from manual processes to an optimized, automated system.

FORTNA Can Help

When taking the first step on your automation journey, it is vital to partner with a supply chain expert who can assess your goals and needs and create a business case for your operation. The FORTNA team of experienced designers, data scientists, project leaders and integrators can help turn your warehouse operation into a competitive advantage now and in the future.

About the Author

Tim Johnson

Vice President, Systems

Tim Johnson is a seasoned supply chain leader with over 25 years of experience in delivering results across the entire supply chain spectrum. He possesses a deep understanding of the industry and a strong track record of optimizing warehouses, driving operational efficiency, and achieving customers business case realization. Tim is recognized as a solutions subject matter expert, skilled in building and leading high-performing teams and bringing a pragmatic perspective to complex supply chain challenges. He is a member of WERC and CSCMP.