Wegmans needed to ensure continuous sales in the high-volume dairy section while upgrading eight walk-around cases. Typically, during such updates, all products must be removed and stored in a chiller room at the back of the store. Then, the existing cases can be decommissioned, removed, and replaced with new ones.
Based on design project data from Abbey Design Associates it was estimated that the decommissioning and removal of eight cases would take approximately six hours, not accounting for the time required for de-merchandizing. The installation, commissioning, and remerchandising of the new cases would add another 26 hours of work. Consequently, executing this project overnight was not feasible.
To keep products available on the sales floor, simplify the project, and reduce the labor required for merchandizing, temporary Lowe cases were utilized. The products were directly shifted from the removed cases into the Lowe cases. This approach allowed the project to be completed either overnight or during the day, as appropriate. This accelerated the project and minimized the number of merchandise movements from the back storage area, simultaneously creating more space in the receiving area.
Once the new cases were fully commissioned, the products were easily transferred from the Lowe cases back to the newly commissioned cases.