Industrial/Cold Logistics Planning, Construction Case Study
Weber Logistics Cold Chain
Challenge
Weber Logistics is a 3rd/4th party logistics company servicing the Western United States. They support food, beverage, confection, chemical, retail and consumer goods. For Hershey's and other companies with temperature sensitive goods, cold storage and logistics is serious business. Even a 2-degree variation in temperature can result in lost inventory. As Weber has grown its business, they needed a reliable string of cold distribution facilities throughout Southern and Northern California Contracts already in place with Hershey’s and others dictated that the string come online as fast as possible, and the fixed price contracts dictated that the solutions be as cost effective as possible.
Solution
Weber hired Jack Kozakar for a series of cold logistics infrastructure projects in Santa Fe Springs, Stockton, and Rancho Cucamonga where the most complicated of the projects required a service upgrade to accommodate 80,000 square feet of additional cold storage. The existing distribution facility in Ranch Cucamonga had no cold docks, insulation, refrigeration, fast doors, or any the other technology needed. Weber had acquired their refrigerated warehouse facilities over time, leading to no common refrigerant, cooling system, insulated docks, fast door or insulation systems. In order to meet tight schedule requirements, jack created a multi-phase project and solved the initial cold storage challenge with temporary cooling equipment and electrical generators. To reduce costs, Jack transported, refurbished and recommissioned used refrigeration equipment from Central California to Southern California. Jack streamlined and expedited the upgraded service planning with Southern California Edison and permitted high pile storage at all locations.
Results
Jack exceeded Weber Logistics' expectations and allowed them to take on long running contracts and grow their business. Jack was able to simultaneously take on short term and critical solutions while working on long term planning and construction. Jack’s analytical abilities were appreciated as Jack was able to show Weber many different investment and cost options for each facility. This allowed Weber’s Business and Operational Leaders to agree on what strategies to pursue relative to pay back analysis. Jack was able to save Weber Distribution almost 2 million dollars in Lease and Contract Negotiations and Support, Value Engineering, Risk Mitigation and Cost Avoidance.