Renault’s Robotic Logistics Hub Thrives After Successful Launch
By integrating modern robots into its Villeroy warehouse, Renault Group is improving working conditions for its teams and positioning itself at the cutting edge of logistics innovation to provide a tailor-made response to its customers' needs and requirements.
Renault Group’s mission, through its Parts and Accessories Logistics Division (DLPA) mission, is to guarantee the timely supply and delivery of parts and accessories to delivery centers and dealerships, as close as possible to Renault’s customers. DLPA currently delivers 290,000 SKU part numbers from 25 warehouses worldwide.
Renault decided to start innovating to modernize and optimize its parts delivery activities. Here's an example from the Villeroy warehouse in France, where the Group is working to automate its supply chain and logistics workflows.
Warehouse robots for strategic and tech collaboration
In an ever-changing environment, where logistics performance is essential to meet growing customer expectations, warehouse automation offers many advantages. Since the end of last year, Renault Group has been working with several logistics partners to modernize its Villeroy warehouse, the Group's largest in the world with a surface area of 152,000 m2 (1,600,000 sq. ft.). This project, internally called ReVA (Renault Villeroy Automatisation), was based on integrating 191 ‘highly-skilled’ warehouse robots, which ensured the orchestration of the workflows of parts from receiving to shipping. This warehouse automation project was a first and marks a new stage in Renault Group's technological and digital transformation. Since its implementation, the automation project has resulted in numerous work benefits for operators, the Group, and many of its customers.
After a ramp-up phase in January, the ReVA logistics solution can now process up to 4,000 order lines per hour. On June 19, it delivered its millionth order line. The Villeroy site celebrated this symbolic milestone with an internal event.
Automated logistics, numerous benefits for all stakeholders
Automating the logistics activities has improved working conditions for all employees in the warehouse, by virtually eliminating having to walk large distances to perform such tasks as picking, replenishing, and checking inventory, before the automation system. All tasks are now performed at ergonomic heights and parts are ‘delivered’ to operators without the risk of getting injured. It's no longer the operator who fetches the part, but the part that now presents itself to the operator, in a robotic solution called "goods to person" (GTP).
Renault’s new parts logistics has seen significant productivity improvements. The robotic system can now process up to 4,000 order lines per hour at peak times while reducing order processing time by a factor of six. The automation system has enabled Renault to increase its overall daily parts output activity by 25% while ensuring growth in its workforce.
Several green sustainable benefits have resulted from the automation, as the new warehouse robots have cut the site's energy consumption by 30%. The use of 65,000 recycled plastic bins for parts storage at the facility also contributes to the Group's objective of reducing its impact on natural resources.
The integration of the robotic system has had a direct impact on customer satisfaction. By centralizing more than 80% of its French business in a single warehouse, Renault Group has significantly reduced order processing times and guaranteed faster parts deliveries. Parts ordered by 5:30 p.m. are now dispatched for delivery by 8:00 a.m. the following morning. This processing speed and accuracy in order management optimizes the customer service rates, as well as increases overall satisfaction levels.
Préparations et mise en peinture d'un sol de l'usine Renault à Villeroy (89) sur 2000 m2 - INOVIA LAMBERT
By equipping our supply chain with mdern warehouse robots, we are positioning our after-sales logistics, and our Villeroy site in particular, at the cutting edge of innovation. Thanks to this solution and the teams in place, we will be able to increase the number of orders served by 25%, and reinforce our commitment to customer satisfaction, which remains a priority for all of us.
XAVIER LHORS - After-Sales Logistics Director, Renault Group
The Skypod® system is an elegant automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) that utilizes robotics to offer the best performance on the market while remaining fully flexible to our customer’s needs.vIt enables you to keep up with ever-changing supply chain demands and can be deployed in months, not years.
