Cutter & Buck’s new DC implements carton flow beds

When Cutter & Buck decided to add a new DC in Canada, company leaders set out to create a fast, efficient and technologically savvy facility to service its Canadian customers.

“We wanted something fresh and innovative because that’s the type of brand we are,” says Mark Alexander, operations manager at Cutter & Buck, Canada.

The Brampton, Ontario-based center opened in October 2017, fully equipped with state-of-the-art systems that allow a lean staff to pick from 1 million stock keeping units (SKUs) across 25,000 distinct pick locations.

To help ensure the high-tech operation remains wrinkle-free, more than 4,000 SpanTrack carton flow wheel beds are used, as they’re located in 42,000 square feet of the DC. An additional 33,000 square feet is slated for the company’s future business growth.

“The wheel beds maximize our warehouse space and give us lots of flexibility,” Alexander says. “In fact, with the wheel beds and our other efficient systems, we could double our business without having to double the space footprint.”

Whether the Cutter & Buck team is adding new products or replenishing existing ones, Alexander adds that the wheel beds help keep the operation flowing.

“It’s easy to replenish products from the back side. And when we do inventory, we don’t have to shut down the operations twice a year,” he explains. “Everything is well organized and easy to count, so we can keep track of inventory on a daily basis without disrupting the pick.”

Cutter & Buck was founded in 1989 in Seattle, Wash. Like the current Seattle location, the Brampton operation must compete with several major DCs for employees, such as Coca-Cola and Amazon.

“Recruiting an exceptional staff can be a challenge,” Alexander adds. “We want to attract great team members and keep them for the long term. Anything we can do to improve the work experience will help us compete for talent.”

Due to state-of-the-art systems, including a highly advanced order-picking truck, Cutter & Buck will remain a great place to work.

“The [SpanTrack developer] helps us create a more efficient, accurate and safer pick environment than a traditional setting,” Alexander says. “New employees see that, and it gives us a competitive advantage.”

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