The DLC added flow racks and invested in a beer overstock , special and keg areas to free up space .

tem . New box trucks replace decades-old trucks with new features such as refrigeration and GPS integration for tracking the truck ’ s route and speed . Sixteen new trucks were purchased , and the program will eventually replace all 40 trucks .

Before the changes , when a special order came in , Zeltner says it was physically handled an average of five times . Along with its other trucks , DLC brought in a six-wheeler with a conveyor belt , which lessened the physical impact on the employees , and decreased the amount of times handled to 2.5 times .

The DLC added flow racks ( a $ 500,000 investment ) to increase efficiency and store inventory . An additional $ 130,000 was invested in the beer overstock area , beer special area and beer keg area .

Zeltner says the addition of racking has benefited the warehouse operations greatly , and has given the warehouse workers significantly more space to work with .

“ It was all about the people , process , technology , money and equipment ,” Zeltner says . “ We had to have the people thinking right and the processes in place . Technology is going to mirror processes .” •

The VABC ’ s warehouse moves $ 52 million a month in product during its peak season .

BEST DISTRIBUTION INNOVATION Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

At that time , the company was struggling to ship 19,500 cases a day - well below its desired rate - with 58 full-time and 47 part-time employees .

As Virginia ABC ’ s Director of Logistics , Dunham oversees a

BY ALEX VAN ABBEMA

292,285 square-foot warehouse and the $ 52 million ( at peak season ) of distilled spirits , Virginia wine and non-alcoholic mixers that move through it .

In spring 2017 , Dunham started making major changes , starting with tackling the lack of training with his employees . Dunham says he wanted to build trust with his new staff , and get their input on issues within the warehouse .

He started by offering formalized training for his supervisors in the form of a seven-month-long program provided by ABC ’ s human resources staff . He says his main goal was to get supervisors as comfortable as they could with their position , which meant introducing daily inspections in the warehouse , new processes , guidelines and standards .

Additionally , Dunham introduced monthly employee meet-

StateWays | www . stateways . com | September / October 2018 17