“We’ve achieved a higher pallet density per square metre in the frozen storage area”
About HAVI
HAVI manages and optimises the supply chains of leading brands worldwide. In Portugal, its major clients include McDonald’s and Portugália Restauração. HAVI thoroughly monitors its partners’ goods, respecting their appropriate preservation conditions. By using automated storage systems and Easy WMS software, the company maintains the cold chain and has increased its energy efficiency.
Mecalux sits down with Luis Ferreira, General Manager of HAVI Portugal, to see how the company supplies clients nationwide through warehouse automation and digitalisation, even at subzero temperatures.
How important is the logistics centre in Azambuja for HAVI Portugal?
We have two distribution centres in Portugal, which we use to supply our clients. We prepare orders and distribute them to our partners’ delivery points as efficiently as possible. HAVI has more than 140 DCs worldwide. The two in Portugal are located in Azambuja, Lisbon district, and Canelas, Porto district. The Azambuja DC is located in Portugal’s logistics epicentre. From there, we can distribute a significant portion of our business volume to the southern part of the country.
The effects of working at negative temperatures — 24 °C in our case — can also be mitigated with the help of AS/RS
What are the benefits of having an automated warehouse?
There are multiple benefits. Operational excellence is one of the pillars of our strategy. So, the potential efficiency that automated storage and retrieval systems could offer us was one of the reasons we installed them. At HAVI, people’s welfare is a priority, with ergonomics being a constant concern. Our employees carry out manual tasks requiring a lot of physical effort. Therefore, we’ve implemented a series of initiatives to enhance their current and future well-being, even as they age. Moreover, the effects of working at negative temperatures — 24 °C in our case — can be mitigated with the help of AS/RS.
On the other hand, at HAVI, we care about the growth and development of individuals, and the new technologies installed are at the forefront of knowledge. We want to train and develop our employees’ skills to ensure they’re up-to-date with the best practices in the sector. These factors were decisive in our decision to build this DC.
How has this DC changed your operations?
Our DC is divided into areas with different temperatures to meet our clients’ demands effectively. The range of items we manage can be kept at ambient, refrigerated or frozen temperatures. Every day at the DC, we receive goods, store them, process orders and ship them. The Mecalux storage solutions have allowed us to stock a higher density of pallets per square metre in the frozen storage area. And this has dramatically reduced our energy consumption. In terms of the software, Easy WMS enables us to manage the AS/RS and organise products while taking into account their turnover and shelf life. It also helps us enhance efficiency in processes involving movements of goods.
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“We chose Mecalux because we knew we could rely on its support from beginning to end” How does automation contribute to maintaining the cold chain and traceability?
To safeguard the cold chain in our warehouse, we have various sensors operating 24/7 that send alerts if a temperature variation is anticipated. Traceability is a legal requirement; as such, it must always be a part of what we do. With Easy WMS, we can track a product at any time, obtaining information about when and where it was shipped, in what quantities and its expiry date.
Why did you choose Mecalux as your provider for this project?
We had worked together previously, equipping conventional warehouses in addition to implementing the first AS/RS in other locations. We chose Mecalux to collaboratively come up with a solution tailored to the Azambuja DC. The solution had to be more efficient for our operations and for the clients we serve, and it needed to align with the product volumes we handle.
Another reason we chose Mecalux is because we knew we could rely on its support from beginning to end, including maintenance and day-to-day assistance. This service is essential for us because we can’t afford any downtime. Our clients’ requirements are constantly changing, so we needed a partner that would be by our side and respond quickly to any questions we had. We’re thrilled with these solutions. They keep our operations running smoothly and ensure the satisfaction of our clients and users.