Dunkin' Donuts Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center implements software to maintain high service levels, reduce costs
Princeton, NJ — August 17, 2004 — Dunkin' Donuts Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center, the logistics supplier to Dunkin' Donuts franchisees in eight states, has deployed Voxware Inc.'s VoiceLogistics solution.
"Today we support 1,400 locations, and our challenge is to keep up with the addition of new stores and new franchise chains to our operation," said Craig Setter, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Dunkin' Donuts Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center. "We leverage technology to maintain our high service levels, and VoiceLogistics is enabling us to increase productivity, reduce cost and boost velocity — so we are very happy with the results we are getting."
Warren Engard, director of Distribution Operations, said the new software is giving the distribution center almost 100 percent accuracy, which has enabled them to eliminate order-checking positions. "We've also realized cost benefits in reduced training time: It used to take up to eight weeks for a new worker to reach our standard performance level, but with VoiceLogistics someone with little or no warehouse experience can move to standard in half the time it used to take, which is a huge benefit for us," he added.
Warren reported that the accuracy gains are out-of-the-box with VoiceLogistics, so training time concentrates on learning the floor and getting up to speed physically. "Most new hires have to get into shape in order to lift 50-pound bags and reach our performance standard of 200 picks per hour," he said.
The initial deployment was in the dry section of the Dunkin' Donuts Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center in Swedesboro, N.J. The company is currently moving to an expanded 300,000 square foot facility in Westampton, N.J., where VoiceLogistics will be used in freezer, cooler and dry zones. The impetus for the move was the company's commitment to Dunkin' Donuts' parent company, Allied Domecq, to begin distribution for its mid-Atlantic Baskin-Robbins and Togo's Sandwiches franchisees in September.
