The Power of Automation to Boost Intralogistics Capabilities

An initiative under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 blueprint, the Healthcare Sector Transformation Program is underway to provide the Kingdom with better healthcare services. In March 2022, Nahdi Medical Company launched the first state-of-the-art fully automated pharmaceutical distribution center (IMDAD) to support its supply chain and logistics network. The advanced facility is capable of handling 200 million units of SKUs per year with temperature-controlled systems and automated fulfillment.

Warehouse Automation Using Leading-Edge Technology

IMDAD smart distribution center handles the storage and retrieval of goods and all logistics functions in the facility through intelligent logistics software and systems. With a well-designed material flow process, inventory movements and speed are agile and optimized.

Medical Security in Accordance With the Latest International and Local Standards

To ensure that IMDAD’s medical security is in accordance with the latest international standards & Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) best practice regulations, the facility was developed in cooperation with Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON). As the first smart distribution center in the region’s retail sector, IMDAD is capable of handling close to 100,000 orders daily with automated solutions.

Staying Ahead of Competition Using Intelligent Logistics Software – WAMAS®

Thanks to the warehouse management software, WAMAS®, predictive analysis on consumer behavior can be implemented within the facility with existing data captured for fulfillment processes. With transparent material flow, work can now be done more efficiently. By leveraging the historical data trends as well as the future forecasts, the inventory data is able to suggest items to be re-located within the warehouse or co-located with items typically ordered together. This would increase efficiency at which these items can be picked and thus giving a higher throughput. The visibility of material flow helped Al-Nahdi to stay competitive.

Significant Milestone to Reaffirm Al Nahdi’s Commitment to Serve Customers

“Our facility here at IMDAD had to devise a concrete plan to cope with the increasing demands and challenges by prioritizing space utilization, improving cost effectiveness and most importantly customer satisfaction. We chose SSI SCHAEFER because of their right profile for design and consultancy with extensive experience of over 18,000 project references within the pharmaceutical industry.”

Eng. Abdelwahid H. Ahmed, Senior Supply Chain Excellence Department Manager
Nahdi Medical Company

ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION TO HANDLE 200M UNITS OF PHARMA GOODS ANNUALLY

With WAMAS® playing a huge role in optimizing order fulfillment, operations beginning from decanting, storage, picking, sortation, and shipping are streamlined for a faster and leaner workflow process. This leads to an increase in satisfied customers as they can get direct access to health and wellness products through on-time order delivery.

PROJECT GOALS:

Incorporate smart solutions to handle 200 million units of goods annually.
Ensure faster order fulfillment for customers.
Utilize fully automated storage system for over 30,000 goods packed in containers and cartons.
Integrate WAMAS® into its existing cloud computing software to combine intralogistics components all-in-one.
Designate 5,540 pick faces and 64 picking stations with order fulfillment technology to increase accuracy.

A-i45 Webinar Series: Manual to Rack Clad Automated Warehouse

Rack clad warehouses or Silos are solutions designed to offer lower construction costs and significant operational benefits in the long term. How do you know if your business operation is suitable for such infrastructure? Find out more from our webinar recording here.

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