The Right Tool for the Right Job: Upp Technology Delivers Warehouse Management Success to Illinois Tool Works

Client Profile:

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is a highly diversified company with more than 840 small business units, operations in 52 countries, and 60,000 employees. A global diversified industrial manufacturer, ITW manufactures welding, automotive OEM, industrial packaging, food, construction, test and measurement, electronics and other equipment.

When Illinois Tool Works needed to increase efficiency, productivity and visibility in their warehouse, they turned to Upp Technology’s proven irms|WM™ Warehouse Management system.

Solution:

Upp Technology implemented the irms|WM system for ITW’s Paslode Division, which designs and manufactures pneumatic and cordless tools, nailing and stapling systems for construction, remodeling and industrial applications. Long-time innovators, Paslode introduced the first pneumatic tool (a light-duty upholstery tacker), the first commercially-accepted pneumatic nail gun, and the first cordless power framing nailer – all contributing to increased efficiency and productivity in the construction industry.

Following our 5-phase implementation methodology, informed by PMI PMBOK, Upp Technology deployed irms|WM in six regional Paslode warehouse and distribution facilities. irms|WM was implemented first as a pilot project in Pennsylvania, and owing to its success expanded to an additional five U.S.-based facilities in just ten months with the entire effort coming in on time and budget. The subsequent roll-out was streamlined, completed in record time using lessons learned from the pilot engagement.

irms|WM implementation for Paslode included interfacing with third-party enterprise systems, including a Host system, a Shipping system, and their existing Business Intelligence solution. irms|WM is also integrated with their Material Handling systems (RFID-driven conveyors) and for vendor communications using EDI. At Paslode, the system facilitates inbound, outbound and inventory management enterprise-wide, managing SKUs from innumerable vendors and processing thousands of multi-line orders per day.

Following the Paslode success, irms|WM was rolled out to ITW Construction Products of Canada. ITW Construction Products manufactures leading fasteners and power fastening systems under the industry-leading names such as Buildex, Ramset Red Head, and Duo-Fast.

At ITW Construction Products, Upp Technology implemented irms|WM at a new facility dedicated to their new client, Canadian Tire Corporation. Using cross-docking and direct-to-retailer shipping, the warehouse fulfills orders exclusively for Canadian Tire purchases from the ITW fastener line of products comprised of nearly 2,000 SKUs.

Multisite irms|WM implementation at ITW includes enterprise mobility using RF technology for the fastest, most efficient and most accurate data capture with real-time update to the central database. On a daily basis, the irms|WM solution supports order fulfillment of nearly 400 orders, averaging 76 lines each.

Business Value:

In turning to Upp Technology and irms|WM, Illinois Tool Works has increased productivity in their warehouse operations, increased inventory accuracy to 99%+, significantly reduced the incidence of error with automated data capture, and improved customer service with the implementation of EDI ASN for visibility.