Background
In the supply chain industry, a “last mile” business is one that handles the final stages of product transport. One long-standing delivery company noticed how much e-commerce and internet sales were changing their last mile jobs, especially the types of products retail customers were ordering.
The Problem
Many of these products were floor-loaded and unpalletized, which required employees to manually handle every box and package. Oftentimes, moving one box would cause others to fall. It was a hazardous and inefficient process. Management and employees wanted a better way to handle unpalletized products, but some worried that pursuing new technology might displace workers.
The Solution
When their Distribution Center General Manager discovered the Destuff-it™ Portable Ergonomic Conveyor, he knew it was the right balance of technology and manpower. A single Destuff-it™ machine was purchased, a training program was developed, and reports were created that would track the new machine’s impact.
Before the Destuff-it™ was implemented, it took three employees about two and a half hours to unload a truck of unpalletized products. With the Destuff-it™ machine, two employees could do the work in an hour and a half. Employees were thrilled with how easy the machine was to operate, while management was impressed by the efficiency. Within six months, the Destuff-it™ paid itself off and another was ordered.
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