Coca-Cola saves £1.7m using simulation software

Video simulations and models highlight areas where efficiency can be improved

Coca-Cola plans to use Lanner's software for a site extension next year

Coca-Cola Enterprises has increased the volume of bulk products moving through its Northampton distribution centre by 18 per cent as a result of deploying simulation software, called Witness, provided by Lanner.

The simulation models created by the software looked at variables such as traffic flows, shift patterns, time of day and different truck load configurations.

Having examined the simulations, Coca-Cola was able to create the optimum mix of lanes, bays and parking spaces for the centre to cope with extra volume.

The software has also saved the company £1.7m in costs.

Coca-Cola said in a release that it is looking to double revenue from £2bn to £4bn by 2014, and this meant that it needs to increase its throughput and turnaround time in the distribution centre.

An internal project team was set up by Coca-Cola to work with Lanner’s consultants, who use the simulation software to create models and video simulations that analyse areas where efficiency could be improved.

Danny Clark, a manager on the Lanner project, described how simulation was essential for the business’s strategy and said Coca-Cola will use the software again in the future.

“We did try to work out how to maximise throughput efficiency ourselves, but found using information from other sites we own was not relevant to the specifics of this location,” he said.

"Lanner spent around five months with us from start to finish. The software took all the live data from the previous year and was able to look at how the site was running hour by hour every day. This allowed us to accurately assess where we could make things more efficient.

“We have started to make plans to extend the site next year and will definitely use the simulation again.”