Special Edition ROI Focus Newsletter

As 2011 is quickly disappearing from our calendars and plans are being made for 2012, the Special Edition of the TriFactor ROI Focus newsletter has been released. The information and distribution tips included have been composed over the past year by TriFactor's team of engineers, specifically for industry leading companies. The Special Edition is a composite of our 2011 newsletters, jam-packed with material handling information to help make your facility run a little smoother.

• White Papers: Building Your Distribution Center with Vision and a Solid Foundation; The Rules for Automated Material Handling Project Justification Have Changed; Fat Paybacks on Lean Logistics; The 5 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a DC
• President's Messages: Are Your Customers Happy?; Are You Ready to Increase Market Share?; See the Forest through the Trees
• Frequently Asked Questions: Storage Systems; How's Business?; Why use a Systems Integrator?
• Featured Products: Carton Flow; Pallet Flow; TriFactor C3™ WCS; Sorters
• Community Involvement: Helping the Elderly with VISTE; ProMat 2011 with ALAN
• Tip Off Columns: 5 Ways to Make Your Customer Happy; 5 Ways to Eliminate Waste in Your Distribution Center; 5 Things Your Busy Season Can Teach You

DC Velocity Featuring TriFactor White Paper

Industry-leading magazine DC Velocity showcased one of TriFactor's white papers on distribution center planning. View the article or print the PDF of "DC Planning: Sorting through some lessons learned."

Typically, a product's final stop prior to reaching the customer is a distribution center; providing the opportunity to successfully deliver as promised or...not. This white paper provides a guide to avoiding costly mistakes when planning a distribution center for decision makers at companies large and small. Today's economic climate demands maximum efficiency in every facet of a distribution center leaving no room for negligence.

TriFactor Presents to the Sarasota Economic Development Corporation

TriFactor was honored to present to the Sarasota Economic Development Corporation. The event was hosted by Tervis Tumbler at their facility in Venice, FL. TriFactor shared its unique process and material handling knowledge with those in attendance.

New Material Handling System Senior Project Engineer

TriFactor of Jacksonville, FL, has named James Jeunelot as a new Senior Project Engineer. Jeunelot has joined TriFactor's Jacksonville engineering team to develop integrated solutions for warehouses and distribution centers nationwide.

The new Senior Project Engineer will help TriFactor accommodate growth as the demand for automated material handling systems continues to increase. Jeunelot will perform the complex engineering work required to conceptualize, design, estimate, final engineer, install, and turnover automated conveyor systems and storage solutions. In making the announcement, J.J. Phelan, the company's Chief Operating Officer, said "With the knowledge and experience James brings to the team, I’m confident in his ability to provide engineered solutions that will create lean and efficient operations for our customers. We’re happy to have James on our team as TriFactor continues to grow."

Jeunelot and his family are new residents of Jacksonville, FL. James graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Industrial Technology and has over fifteen years of experience in material handling design and implementation. For more information, visit www.trifactor.com or call 800-282-8468.

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Stay up to date on the latest news, products, and services available throught TriFactor's LinkedIn profile.

Connect with our team of professionals on the networking site as well!

Tervis and TriFactor Announce Partnership in Distribution Center Planning & Implementation

What keeps hot drinks hot, cold drinks cold and has survived the recession with flying colors? If you answered Tervis Tumbler, you’re correct. Despite the economic complications most companies have faced in the past few years, the insulated drinkware giant Tervis has experienced unprecedented growth.

To accommodate the growth in the number of tumblers produced and the growth in the number of outbound cases shipped, Tervis commissioned TriFactor Systems to conduct an engineering analysis of the shipping functions from each manufacturing cell to a consolidated shipping area. This vital analysis provided a well thought out, jointly developed concept, budgetary estimates for capital planning, and a detailed project schedule for implementation. As a result, Tervis used this information to calculate the return on investment, which proved satisfactory, and have now contracted with TriFactor to provide and install the material handling equipment and software systems.

TriFactor offers one-of-a-kind engineered solutions for manufacturing and distribution facilities. The project will give Tervis the manufacturing and distribution capacity needed for their current and future demand requirements. The plan boasts a lean facility using state of the art equipment to increase throughput and decrease wasted labor and materials.

ROI Focus Newsletter: Distribution News

The ROI Focus newsletter is designed to provide you with material handling news and information to give you an edge over the competition.

Inside this issue:

•Are You Ready to Increase Your Market Share?
•FAQs: How's Business?
•Featured Product: Sorters
•The Rules for Automated Project Justification Have Changed
•Industrial & Packaging Supplies
•Community Involvement: ProMat 2011 with ALAN
•Tip Off: 5 Ways to Eliminate Waste in Your Distribution Center

Read the ROI Focus on our website.

TriFactor Job Opening: Sr. Project Engineer, Project Manager

Job Description
This position is currently located in Jacksonville, Florida.

POSITION SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

Senior level engineer who, under the guidance of the VP of Operations, performs complex engineering work required to concept, design, estimate, final engineer, install and turnover automated conveyor and storage solutions. Reviews findings and recommendations with the Engineering Manager in areas of unusual or difficult problems. Receives limited supervision on routine or moderately difficult aspects of assignments. For training and developmental purposes, assignments may include some work that is typical of a higher level.

To View the full job listing, please visit TriFactor's website or Linked In posting.

TriFactor is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pricing Notice: Spare Parts & Some Conveyor Models

As the economy continues to recover, there has been an unfortunate side effect - inflation - that is driving up operating costs for many businesses at all points in the supply chain.

Due to these rising costs, Hytrol will be making price adjustments effective on all new orders placed after July 1, 2011.

All spare parts and some conveyor models will see a 2 - 6% price increase. Take this opportunity as the last chance to save on your facility's maintenance needs!

Allow TriFactor to make this process even easier: all you have to do is submit the Hytrol FO number or serial number located on your conveyor to Anne and she will do the leg work for you!

To reserve your spare parts list or to learn more about parts services offered by TriFactor please contact Anne at ACochran@TriFactor.com or call toll-free at (800) 282-8468.

New Industrial Supplies Division Opens with 3M Tape Promotion

TriFactor announces the new Industrial and Packaging Supplies division, TriSupplies is now open. This product line will allow us to better serve our customers as your one stop shop for packaging, shipping, and industrial supplies for your distribution facility. As part of the introductory sale offer, all 3M - 371 Carton Sealing Tape ships free!

Order today for fast, FREE delivery! To request a catalog, please visit http://trisupplies.net/TriSupplies-Catalog-Request Order online at http://trisupplies.net/ or over the phone 1-888-247-2415. View the TriSupplies Product Line Card.

All 3M model 371 Carton Sealing Tape products are in stock now and available for immediate FREE delivery. This includes 1.9 Mil thickness with 22 pounds per inch width tensile strength polypropylene tape, available in clear or tan, 2" or 3" and rolls from 55 yards to 2,000 yards.

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Our mission remains to benefit our customers with solutions that: reduce their distribution costs; expand their distribution capacity; and improve their distribution quality.

New White Paper and Seminar: “Building Your Distribution Center with Vision and a Solid Foundation”

A seminar focusing on building a strategy and a long term plan for your company’s distribution operation is being sponsored by TriFactor, LLC, a leading provider of integrated material handling systems.

With experience in material handling engineering and project management, TriFactor Chief Operating Officer JJ Phelan, P.E. will be presenting the seminar at two locations; Wednesday, April 13 at the TriFactor Learning Center, Lakeland, FL, and Thursday, April 14 at the Radisson Hotel, Jacksonville, FL. The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Expanding companies experiencing growing pains and looking to increase efficiency in their operations are encouraged to attend. The theme of the seminar is to establish the customer-oriented business Vision and then create a long term plan in order to achieve the Vision. With this theme, Phelan will guide guests through the steps to planning a solid distribution environment by streamlining manual operations and then positioning their businesses to grow using material handling automation. Small to medium businesses with anticipated growth will benefit from Phelan’s interactive presentation.

There is no fee for the seminar but reservations are requested. To reserve a spot please call 1-800-282-8468, or visit www.trifactor.com/Seminar-Information-and-Sign-Up The presenter prepared a white paper to guide the planning process. Read an excerpt from “Building Your Distribution Center with Vision and a Solid Foundation” below.

“For Distribution Center managers, creating the Vision, or at least a rough understanding of the Vision, should not be a daunting task. It first starts with understanding the market that is served and the sales channel used to serve that market. That’s right, the Vision must be customer focused and not internally focused. For example, a customer focused Vision in the health care supply industry using a Direct to Consumer sales channel might include 100% Order Accuracy or Zero-Defect Shipments. On the other hand, a non-customer focused Vision might include 100% Inventory Accuracy, unless of course an improperly accounted inventory negatively affects the customer more than it does the inventory manager (I doubt it). Again, the Vision must be in line with the demands of the market.”

To view the full white paper, please visit http://www.trifactor.com/Material-Handling-White-Papers/Building-with-Vision

Material Handling Multi-Channel Distribution White Paper

One of the many results that the Great Recession has provided most distributors around the country is the requirement to ‘do more with less.’ Since businesses are asking more of their employees, then they are also demanding much more from their Supply Chain. So while the business environment demands change, many companies are being very careful with how they commit their valuable cash reserves to improve their Supply Chain and stay ahead of the ever changing business environment.

Combining the challenging economic climate with the changing face of the American consumer, and then adding the growing E-commerce, or direct-to-consumer sales channel to the existing wholesale or retail store fulfillment channels, distributors are not short on challenges to tackle. Many companies are asking their distribution networks to absorb additional markets and continue exceeding customer satisfaction without adding real estate. The concept of Multi-Channel Distribution under one roof is not new, but the demands to meet the customer service levels while experiencing growth is straining even the best of networks.

What is Multi-Channel Distribution?
While Multiple Channel Distribution often refers to a company’s sales and marketing strategy, we will explore the aspects of Multi-Channel Distribution within the four walls of the warehouse – one critical link in your Supply Chain. To continue growing in today’s challenging economic climate, many companies are looking at new ways to reach their customers or develop new market segments. They look to distribute their products using multiple channels involving: traditional store fronts, mail, phone and electronic mediums (often labeled E-commerce). One of the challenges of developing a multiple channel sales and marketing network is aligning both the external and internal elements of the Supply Chain with the customer service expectations. Traditionally, the warehouse or distribution center operations have been the most overlooked and least understood link in the Supply Chain.

The internet provides the average consumer with more product information than ever before, making the marketplace more competitive. Price is no longer the major consumer influencer; product availability, order accuracy, and delivery time have become equal in the eyes of the consumer.

To view the full white paper by Brad Radcliffe, please visit http://www.trifactor.com/Material-Handling-White-Papers/Multi-Channel-Fulfillment