Carolina Handling, the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s Central time zone territory, partnered with The Salvation Army of Greenville staff to reorganize and standardize operations inside the food pantry located on the Social Service Campus at 417 Rutherford Street in Greenville, S.C. The results were significant:
• 53% reduced packing time
• 2x increase in production
• 62% decreased walking distance
• 100% reduction in motion
The partnership with The Salvation Army of Greenville aligned with Carolina Handling’s yearlong philanthropic focus on supporting the homeless population and people in need.
During a multi-day intralogistics lean assessment at The Salvation Army of Greenville food pantry, the Continuous Improvement team reviewed inventory storage and organization methods, as well as processes for picking, packing, and volunteer engagement. Using current-state data, the team designed a customized roadmap that prioritized impactful change and equipped staff with the knowledge and tools needed to sustain improvements long after implementation.
“They walked with me and asked me how I wanted it to look. It made a huge impact to know that somebody cared about what we needed to have in here to make it more efficient for anyone that comes in here, volunteer-wise or other staff-wise. They can come in here now and say, ‘I know what to do,’” said Kelly Holzer, Assistant Director of Social Services at The Salvation Army of Greenville, Pickens and Oconee Counties.
To support long-term sustainability, the Continuous Improvement Department conducted Lean Basics Training with Salvation Army staff, and donated equipment and visual management tools to support the new environment.
“Lean is for any organization that wants to work smarter or serve better. Every business has a process that can be simplified,” said Louise Preston, Continuous Improvement Lead at Carolina Handling.