The logistics center of KAMAZ, a part of the Rostec state corporation, and Daimler AG have finished a joint project aimed at building a new storehouse to keep components for the assembly of new cabs.

The new Storehouse 58801, the construction of which kicked off four years ago, is located on the premises of a vehicle assembly plant. Thanks to the new system, experts can promptly respond to changing requirements and predict problems at the stage of stock planning. Besides, the four-year period was enough to commence direct deliveries to the vehicle assembly plant. Entries are registered right at the storehouse, instead of some off-site logistics center, to cut the paperwork in half.

There are two ways of moving components from the stock shelf to the conveyor. The first is the JIS model (just-in-sequence) that entails installing components in special carts in a sequence needed for the assembly of a certain cab. The second is the so-called Kanban method, which entails sending components to the plant on demand. A Kanban card returned to the storehouse informs the warehouse personnel that a given number of items should be replenished. Components are transported to the assembly line by a supply truck train.

The new storehouse uses all up-to-date control strategies, such as the SAP Warehouse Management system (WMS), addressed storage, FIFO, and barcoding. The upper floors are designated for the storage of trade stock, while the lower floors are for packing. A total of 350 to 400 cab kits are accepted for storage at the site every month. According to Mikhail Suranovich, the director of the logistics center, the assembly of vehicles with Daimler components will be kicked into high gear in 2017. “We are searching for solutions to process 550 cab kits through the storehouse on a monthly basis: accept, unpack, display, then pack, and distribute them. Though it’s a rather challenging task, I’m sure we will handle it,” he added.