O'Reilly Automotive : O’Reilly Auto Parts Opens New Distribution Center in Springfield, Missouri
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Hometown Investment: O'Reilly Auto Parts Opens New Distribution Center in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Oct. 11, 2024) - Just across the street from its first-ever distribution center, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., ("O'Reilly") (Nasdaq: ORLY) has cut the ribbon on its newest, most high-tech auto parts warehouse.
The new distribution center (DC) is located at 330 S. Patterson Ave. in Springfield, Missouri, a site known to many as the old Convoy of Hope warehouse and headquarters. O'Reilly revitalized the facility's structure with improvements like reinforced flooring to accommodate the latest in robotic sorting and pulling technology.
"The new automated storage and retrieval system enables us to keep the same amount of product in a quarter of the space," said Bryan DeLong, vice president of O'Reilly Distribution Operations - Western Division. "The robots travel on tracks across and through a dense storage grid, quickly picking parts in a cube-like structure."
Along with increasing efficiency, the robotic system should also mean even greater order accuracy. As each tote delivers parts, O'Reilly team members validate that what's on their screen matches what's been pulled. "It's been a lot of fun for team members to learn and use," said Joe Cockell, vice president of O'Reilly Distribution Operations. "We've found that once they work with the robot, they're kind of hooked."
The automatic system increases the need for skilled workers. Engineers will service and support the unit, and quality assurance team members will reconcile the inventory each day.
Automation is just one part of the new DC, which also features traditional shelving, forklifts, conveyor belts and manual order pulling. Potentially hazardous material is kept in a separate area. "Safety is baked into everything we do," said Jeff Loafman, O'Reilly senior vice president of Distribution Operations. "We want to protect our team members and the community. Each of our DCs has a 'red room' where we store any products that are highly flammable or could pose an environmental hazard if spilled in large amounts. In the event of an emergency, we can quickly seal off those rooms and contain what's inside."
As O'Reilly Auto Parts has grown, its distribution network has expanded from one DC on Patterson Avenue in Springfield to 32 large regional centers across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, including one in Puerto Rico. Work is underway on two other new O'Reilly DCs - one in Buford, Georgia, and one in Stafford, Virginia. An expansion is underway at the DC in Lakeland, Florida.
"With all the growth that's happened since our company's founding in 1957, what's so exciting to me is that most of our growth is still ahead of us," said Brad Beckham, O'Reilly CEO. "Our distribution network is the key to getting the right parts to our customers when and where they need them, so we can continue to provide the best service to more people in more places. I hope the community joins us in taking pride in our hometown company that's gone international."
*Photo caption: Larry O'Reilly, Charlie O'Reilly, David O'Reilly, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, Tom Rogers, Brad Beckham, Jeff Loafman, Jason Gillespie, Amber Womack, Mike Weaver and Hugo Sanchez.
About O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Since 1957, O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., has grown from a family-owned company to a leader in the automotive replacement parts industry. It supplies equipment, tools, parts, and accessories to professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. With more than 6,200 store locations and growing, the O'Reilly Professional Parts People deliver excellent customer service, knowledge and value to the communities they serve.
233 South Patterson Ave. Springfield, MO 65802 • 888-876-6759 (ORLY) • www.OReillyAuto.com
Disclaimer
O'Reilly Automotive Inc. published this content on October 11, 2024, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on October 11, 2024 at 20:06:31.251.