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Case Studies - OSRAM SYLVANIA - Lista Intl Corp. Official Site - Stock Room, Parts Crib
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Brilliant storage solution from Lista enlightens OSRAM SYLVANIA
Company
OSRAM SYLVANIA, Hillsboro, NH. Automotive lighting division of the world’s largest provider of automotive light sources.
Problem
When considering new manufacturing equipment for its 250,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, OSRAM SYLVANIA decided to acquire space from the tool/spare parts stockroom to accommodate the manufacturing department.
Objective
The size of the stockroom would be reduced to 1,500 sq. ft. – less than half the original size. It was vital that the stockroom store more parts in less space.
“The number of items stored in the stockroom would not be reduced. On the contrary, due to the increase in manufacturing, additional items were to be stored. We sought a storage solution that would house more items in less space.”
Solution
Lista had outfitted OSRAM’S original stockroom with its modular drawer storage cabinets and provided additional cabinets for over 30 years.
“We have been working with Lista for over three decades and have been extremely satisfied with their products. When I learned we needed to downsize the stockroom, I didn’t hesitate to call them. I knew they could get the job done.”
OSRAM had been storing approximately half of their parts inventory – specifically their fastest-moving parts – in existing Lista cabinets. The remaining half was kept in a mix of commercial shelves, racks, pegboards, and even on the floor. To consolidate their expanded parts storage, OSRAM took full advantage of the facility’s ceiling height by building a custom mezzanine system comprised of Lista modular drawer storage and shelf cabinets.
OSRAM recycled its older Lista drawer cabinets and shelf cabinets for cost-efficiency reasons, and transferred them to Level II of the mezzanine system. These older cabinets, purchased at different times to meet changing needs, varied in height – making them unsuitable to serve as the ground floor of a mezzanine. This rearrangement of cabinets took advantage of the stockroom’s ceiling height, increasing available parts storage.
To avoid downtime, Lista retrofitted the new Level I cabinet housings with fully-loaded drawers from the original cabinets, resulting in major cost-savings, as the drawers are the most costly components of the cabinets. The ability to move drawers without unloading the parts provided additional value to OSRAM, as it did not interrupt daily operations or decrease productivity. The fully-loaded drawers offered easy access to parts during the construction phase of the system.
“The fact that we were able to retrofit old and new Lista storage systems together is a testament to the durability and flexibility of the 30-year-old Lista storage equipment. Even though our stockroom became outdated, the Lista storage cabinets did not. Recycling the old Lista cabinets was a tremendous cost and time savings for us. Lista’s solution not only compensates for the loss of floor space in the stockroom, but also allows us to utilize the cabinets we already had.”
Benefits
In addition to improving space utilization and organization, the new Lista mezzanine system enables OSRAM to better manage its inventory. All drawers are labeled for convenience and accessibility; all parts inventory is maintained in a computer database. As a result, OSRAM can locate a tool or part with ease.
Moreover, the Lista system streamlines order fulfillment. Lista designed the mezzanine system to incorporate an adjacent parts counter. Parts and items are extremely organized and accessible within arm’s reach, resulting in time-savings and improved productivity.
“We have used Lista cabinets for 30 years and have never had a problem. They are quality-built with flexibility and growth in mind. The fact that they could recycle and retrofit the cabinets sets them far above anyone else in the industry. Lista’s ability to custom-design storage solutions was integral to the success of this project. They were the only choice for us. We’ll see them in another 30 years when we need more cabinets!”