Hong Kong-headquartered Crystal International is operating a smart warehouse solution at its denim factory in Vietnam, after a year of construction and system development.

With the enhanced capacity and automation, the 26-metre-high smart warehouse, occupying 4,272 square metres and operating 24/7, enables the factory to store four million yards of fabrics and two million of finished garments in order to cope with production growth.

With the installation of six stacker cranes for the unit-load automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), the factory is setting up 24 sets of racks with double deep arrangements for increased storage and higher productivity.

Different conveyors have been built to optimise the inbound and outbound movements of the fabrics and finished goods. The advanced technology and the latest AS/RS of smart warehousing links with the factory’s internal warehouse management system, providing accurate supply chain data in one easily accessible platform.

In addition to the flexible 24/7 operation and increased storage volume, the automated warehousing system and the enhancement of logistics flow will minimise labour constraints and reduce manpower by 50%.

“Since the warehouse data is all stored in one system, the factory can have a better tracking of fabrics and finished goods inventory to bring additional value to customers – the movement of materials is boosted and manufacturing processes are also streamlined,” said Wendy Li, general manager of corporate logistics of Crystal International.

Crystal International has around 20 production facilities spanning five countries – Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

www.crystalgroup.com