Cavewood Transport Ltd

Since its foundation in 1962, Cavewood Transport has grown to become one of Europe's leading specialist transport companies providing services between the UK and all major industrial centres across the European continent. In addition to it's transport business, Cavewood provide storage, order picking and inventory control for UK exporters. High priority is placed on personal customer contact and ensuring that the company's services respond to the individual needs of each customer.

Tight control is vital to any transport company to ensure efficiency and a consistently high quality of service. As part of a project to improve pan European integration among the many distribution centres, Cavewood decided to bar code goods as a method of tracking all items through the chain of distribution.

Cavewood had previously relied on a system of dockets and counterfoil labels which were cumbersome and prone to human error. Labels were produced using impact printers on part paper. This method was seen as slow and inefficient as the print quality was poor and not suited to bar coding. As Cavewood had never used Bar Codes they hired the international consultants Deloitte and Touche to investigate the market and steer the company through the initial phase of the project.

WHY ADC BarCode?
Having been given the report on equipment and preferred suppliers, project implementation was given to Andrew Goodall, Quality and Systems Manager at Cavewood HQ (High Wycombe). "We were looking for a supplier who could integrate to our AS400 mainframe. While the price of the actual printers offered by ADC was similar to those of other Zebra suppliers, ADC was the only one who could supply the complete solution without using a protocol converter. This meant that we found the other suppliers overall quotations more expensive. During negotiations ADC were able to demonstrate their solutions using a Zebra Stripe 500 label printer. Their ability to run the printers without the use of the protocol converter allowed Cavewood to make substantial savings on the printers.

MEDIA COMBINATION
As well as the printers, ADC supply Cavewood with the correct combination of labels and ribbon to guarantee the best possible print quality. During implementation of the system, ADC were also on hand to ensure print speed and font type compatibility. Cavewood now operate a completely integrated labelling system utilising Zebra 105S printers. All incoming shipments are now automatically issued with the exact amount of labels required. These carry all necessary information in a human readable and bar coded format. On top of tracking, the bar codes have also been used to improve warehouse efficiency through automatic product location and simplified order fulfilment. The system operates in real time providing information on the location of all goods and warehouse control. The standard Cavewood labels can be used on all Zebra XiII printers without any reprogramming. This gives Cavewood greater flexibility for future upgrades.

BENEFITS
The printed labels produced on the 105S are easy to scan due to the high print quality. As they are produced on a roll rather than a sheet, operators find them easier to handle. Bar code labelling is now an integral part in Cavewood's drive for efficiency throughput its European operation. The thermal transfer printers are seen as the key to the systems success. Further plans for upgrades include faster print speeds. This would allow Cavewood to bar code each item on a pallet giving greater stock visibility and product tractability.

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