iGraphics is always looking for ways to improve efficiency, streamline the supply chain and provide cost saving ideas for our clients. One way we do this is by offering Kitting Services.

Upon reviewing the needs of our client Sports Attack, a sports equipment manufacturer who designs and builds pitching and throwing machines for ball related sports, we found the perfect candidate to benefit from Kitting.

Previously, Sports Attack bought, inventoried, picked and attached individual labels to their products. Each label was stored in its own bin and assembly team members were tasked with keeping purchasing informed of the inventory levels for each part. Stock shortages were common, causing shutdowns on the manufacturing floor and delays in shipment. There were also quality issues, when labels weren’t picked and applied to the products—a grave concern if perhaps a warning label was missed.

The experienced team at iGraphics suggested label kitting the control panel overlays to consolidate all the labels on a single sheet so that Sports Attack could go from managing multiple labels per model to just one. This meant one part number in their system, one part in inventory and one part to pick. The issue of missing an important warning label virtually disappeared (if there is still a label on the liner, that means it isn’t on the equipment, so it’s easy to catch).

The results were worth their weight in gold. Pre-packaging, pre-labeling and combining components increased efficiency, decreased quality escapes, reduced part numbers and assembly time. Production costs decreased due to less set-up costs and better material utilization with savings as high as 20% or more.

If you think Kitting could benefit your business, we’d love to help. Please contact us.