UK Christmas Decorations Importer Selects 3M to Sustain Continuous Process Improvement and Optimisation

HighJump Warehouse Advantage from 3M chosen for low total cost of ownership, adaptability and value-added support offerings

3M Supply Chain Solutions, the international operating arm of HighJump Software and a division of diversified technology company 3M, has announced that Premier Decorations, a leading UK importer of Christmas decorations, summer outdoor living and Halloween products, has selected HighJump Warehouse Advantage for its Distribution Warehouse in Wrexham. 3M will provide the highest level of support to meet Premiers arrival of incoming products in preparation for the Christmas period.

Ron Athwal, Logistics Operations Manager of Premier Decorations, said, We started the search for a new warehouse management system (WMS ) in March 2007 after deciding we could find a more cost-effective alternative to our 3PL WMS contract. We wanted a system that would enable us to insource our distribution operations as well as meet and build upon the performance parameters expected in our state-of-the-art warehouse and logistics facility. During our evaluation process, HighJump Warehouse Advantage emerged as a clear winner for the lowest total cost of ownership over its lifetime. 3Ms stability was also important as was its long-standing commitment to Microsoft technologies to ensure consistency throughout our supply chain.

Premier Decorations is a small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) selling directly to retailers across a variety of segments. These include high street shops, do-it-yourself stores, garden centres, department stores and wholesalers, as well as mail order companies and specialist outlets in the UK. The 265,000 sq. ft. distribution centre (DC) in Wrexham stocks approximately 8500 products.

The company prides itself on delivering the highest quality products and services to meet the rapidly changing needs and expectations of its customers. This means that the correctly specified product must be delivered to the designated place, at the right time. To ensure this quality management procedure, Premier already utilises an advanced voice-directed operation for picking and replenishment. The use of voice recognition for directing warehouse activities has enabled Premier to boost speed, accuracy and productivity levels in the DC, thus benefiting Premiers customers.

The integration of voice in our WMS makes this an exciting project, said Leo Valentin, General Manager EMEA for 3Ms Supply Chain Solutions division. In the future, Premier plans to further improve and integrate the voice system into new and uncommon voice-directed applications. 3M will be on hand to support these changes as well as the introduction of other sophisticated functionality to warehouse processes in the future.

This project also demonstrates 3Ms ability to scale to meet the needs of fast-growing enterprises. Our WMS is able to give Premier a quick-win route to substantial operating efficiencies and access to a level of service and support often reserved for larger enterprises, continued Leo.

About 3M

3M is a $24.5 billion diversified technology company which, since 1902, has been creating innovative products that help make the world smarter, faster, healthier and safer. Well known 3M brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate and Scotch-Brite.

3M employs 75,000 people worldwide, producing thousands of innovative products for customers in dozens of diverse markets in some 200 countries. Its 40+ technology platforms touch nearly every aspect of modern life - the company has applied its expertise in RFID technology to deliver biometric passports; it is using its understanding of the healthcare industry to provide hospitals with infection prevention and detection solutions; and its digital signage offerings are revolutionising the way businesses communicate with their customers, their employees and the general public.

The UK and Ireland is home to one of the largest 3M subsidiaries outside the USA, employing 3850 people across 17 locations, including 11 manufacturing sites. Products manufactured in the UK include coated abrasives, respirators, adhesive tapes, industrial microbiology products, drug delivery systems, high-performance coatings, secure documents and passport scanners.