New Project in the Clothing Industry: Swisslog optimizes international distribution for DIM-underwear and hosiery

The largest French producer of women's and men's undergarments, DIM, has commissioned logistics expert Swisslog to modernize their warehouse management system at their facility in Autun, France. DIM ships its brand-name products DIM, Chesterfield, Chantal Thomass, etc. from the Autun distribution center to specialized dealers and department stores throughout Europe. Swisslog's job is to replace the present software that is outdated both in functionality and performance with an application that meets the current demands of DIM's distribution. To meet these requirements, Swisslog will implement WarehouseManager as well as AutomationManager within a one-year period and adapt existing hardware to the new warehouse management system. Swisslog will also integrate a radio frequency identification functionality in the distribution solution at Autun.

Clothing company DIM, a subsidiary of the SaraLee group, stores and does its order picking of sporty and elegant underwear for men and women as well as hosiery to markets in Europe at the facility in Autun, France. Around 2500 orders are picked automatically every day in Autun and shipped to retailers. 18 truckloads with an average of 5,900 boxes leave the automated distribution center located 50 kilometers west of Beaune in Burgundy daily.

DIM reached the performance limits of their previous warehouse management system with their high workload and ever more complex order-picking tasks. Purchased and implemented almost ten years ago, the existing system is not only technically outdated, but also does no longer meet the distribution requirements in Autun. Moreover, the special requirements of the industry that lives on fashion trends and is dependent on distinct seasonal business made the introduction of a new distribution solution unavoidable for DIM.

"Due to their years of experience with international distribution processes of consumer goods manufacturers, we decided on Swisslog as the partner to realize a new warehouse management system in Autun," explained Franois Mercier, DIM manager responsible for European logistics. "The implementation of the new solution is a real challenge since the project work can only be executed in stages on weekends so that our two-shift operations are not interrupted."

The core of the new distribution solution in Autun is Swisslog's WarehouseManager. Furthermore Swisslog's AutomationManager acts as an interface between the warehouse management software and the control system of the automation technology. Part of the old hardware structure comprising 18 servers will be replaced by one server that provides DIM users with the computing performance required for the new system. Together with a partner Swisslog will implement goods identification by means of radio frequency as additionally requested by DIM.