As a result of the world turns into additional interconnected, the need for sturdy processes to find out and effectively deal with rising supply-chain risks has become paramount. Stellium, a administration consulting company with a strong world presence in America, Asia and Europe, provides tailored suppliers to cope with the distinctive desires of the apparel sector in present chain, manufacturing and logistics. Stellium assists firms in deploying Net of Points (IoT) devices equal to sensors, RFID tags and GPS trackers all through their present chain infrastructure. These IoT devices seize real-time info on product location, temperature, humidity and totally different associated parameters, providing visibility and traceability all by way of the availability chain.
By superior info analytics and visualisation devices, Stellium permits firms to analyse big volumes of present chain info, extracting actionable insights and visualising key effectivity indicators, developments and patterns. Its revolutionary in-house assemble choices – Superior Warehouse Analytics (AWA) and Superior Transportation Administration Analytics (ATMA) – exemplify this technique. Moreover, Stellium develops personalized present chain platforms and choices tailored to the actual desires of each shopper. These platforms permit seamless collaboration and communication amongst present chain stakeholders, facilitate real-time info sharing and provide end-to-end visibility into present chain operations, guaranteeing traceability and transparency all through all of the ecosystem. The company moreover specialises throughout the implementation of superior choices in warehousing providing full transparency, inventory visibility and monitoring of merchandise contained in the warehouse.
Stellium initiated its first Generative AI automation mission with a North American purchaser, and regardless of the commerce, throughout the context of present chain administration, Gen AI automation can revolutionise operations by streamlining processes, optimising helpful useful resource allocation and bettering willpower making. Stellium’s future roadmap accommodates the mix of Blockchain know-how and Digital Twin development to foster transparency contained in the present chain.
In an distinctive interview with Apparel Sources, James Jaichander, SVP Purchaser Success (India, APAC & ME) and World Pre-Product sales, Stellium sheds light on the company’s strategies for present chain digitisation and transparency enhancement, along with highlighting success tales, sustainability integration efforts and approaches to mitigate future risks.
AR: Share with us successful story or case study illustrating how Stellium has helped apparel firms overcome challenges, drive innovation, decrease costs or get hold of necessary operational enhancements?
James Jaichander: Utterly! On the subject of our shopper portfolio, we’ve had the privilege of working with some major avid gamers like Pantaloons (Aditya Birla Fashions Retail Ltd), BESTSELLER, GMG (Gulf Promoting and advertising and marketing Group throughout the ME Space), Welspun, merely to name quite a few. Now we’ve helped embark on a digital transformation journey with necessary course of enhancements throughout the warehousing operations. For instance, with Pantaloons, with its in depth group of over 100 retailers nationwide, we launched into an in depth course of to configure SAP EWM for warehouses in Bengaluru and three totally different cities. This involved using regular functionalities of SAP EWM whereas guaranteeing compatibility with their present Infor WMS utilized in third-party warehouses.
The implementation involved a combination of flow-through and pure cross-dock operations for the same allocation line merchandise. We fine-tuned processes to permit adjustment of allotted stock primarily based totally on explicit retailer requirements. Furthermore, we utilized strategies for the consolidation of stock contained in the an identical bin, catering to every frequent and e-commerce stock, with clear differentiation between ROD (Frequent Orderable Demand) and AFS (On the market For Sale) stock for enhanced inventory administration.
To handle accuracy and integrity, we established protocols for regular annual bodily inventory, every single day cycle counting and the seamless add of rely outcomes from exterior methods. Furthermore, our system was designed to robotically set off the bodily inventory course of in case of discrepancies all through deciding on, guaranteeing fast choice of any factors. The receiving course of was streamlined using RF (Radio Frequency) know-how, facilitating the creation of blended pallets and enabling rely verification by way of scanning. Our efforts resulted in improved effectivity all through deciding on, putaway and interior warehouse actions. We achieved a 15 per cent enhance in cross-dock share, facilitating faster inventory turnover, fewer touches and heightened responsiveness to retailer requirements.
One different worthwhile collaboration was with BESTSELLER, a worldwide, family-owned pattern agency with over 20 explicit particular person pattern producers. In a bid to spice up buyer assist, BESTSELLER decided to consolidate quite a few smaller Distribution Services (DCs) proper right into a Single Central DC spanning 200,000 sq. toes. This consolidation effort was coupled with the configuration and deployment of SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Administration). The deliberate DC aimed for automation and complex processes, leveraging regular functionalities to minimise customisations whereas maximising effectivity. Nonetheless, challenges endured, notably regarding stock visibility post-unloading, necessitating scanning and Objects Receipt Observe (GRN) completion. Furthermore, the need arose to bifurcate processes on the order diploma for every on-line and in-store orders to facilitate surroundings pleasant order administration. With a give consideration to automation, along with sorters and conveyorised actions, the company sought to streamline B2C order processing, notably in coping with e-commerce returns. No matter these efforts, challenges in order deciding on endured, with single-delivery SKUs picked at a time, leading to longer turnaround situations and impacting helpful useful resource allocation and effectivity.
Nonetheless, we utilized quite a few measures to cope with these factors, along with the adoption of EWM choices equal to Dock Appointment Scheduling, Warehouse Superior Analytics and Cross-docking, resulting in increased visibility, administration and necessary enhancements in On-Time In Full (OTIF) effectivity. Moreover, scalable automation conditions have been launched, integrating conveyors and Determine-to-Mild (PTL) methods for supplies movement and monitoring, whereas merging strategies have been employed to maximise amount per case and minimise consolidation efforts. Direct integration with conveyors and system-guided duties extra optimised helpful useful resource utilisation contained in the DC.
AR: Sustainability is a rising concern throughout the apparel commerce. How does Stellium mix sustainability practices into its operations?
James Jaichander: We recognise the rising significance of sustainability throughout the apparel commerce and mix sustainable practices and points into our consulting suppliers for purchasers in quite a few strategies. Firstly, in present chain optimisation, we give consideration to minimising environmental affect. We assist purchasers in streamlining their present chains to reduce their carbon footprint, whether or not or not that’s by way of optimising transportation routes, implementing energy-efficient manufacturing processes or sourcing provides from sustainable and ethical suppliers. One different important facet is supplier collaboration. We think about in fostering partnerships between apparel firms and their suppliers to promote sustainability all by way of the availability chain. It will doubtless comprise working with suppliers to implement eco-friendly manufacturing methods, in the reduction of waste and improve working circumstances for staff. Moreover, we leverage know-how choices equal to IoT and knowledge analytics to spice up transparency and traceability throughout the present chain, enabling purchasers to hint the sustainability credentials of their merchandise from raw supplies sourcing to the tip consumer.
AR: Wanting ahead, what are some rising developments or areas of focus that will kind the way in which ahead for the availability chain?
James Jaichander: To start out with, I think about sustainability and ethical sourcing have become paramount. Rising consumer consciousness and regulatory pressures are driving apparel firms to undertake sustainable and ethical practices all through their present chains. The adoption of digital utilized sciences equal to IoT, AI and blockchain could be reworking the apparel commerce, enabling real-time visibility, predictive analytics and course of automation. Moreover, the rise of e-commerce and omnichannel retailing is reshaping present chain administration and purchaser interactions. Furthermore, agile and responsive manufacturing strategies have gotten necessary for apparel firms in search of to stay aggressive in a rapidly altering market. With rising globalisation and interconnectedness, present chain disruptions are moreover becoming additional frequent and excessive.