Panasonic Operational Excellence announced on September 4th that it has opened the "Domestic Logistics Operations Center Kansai No. 9," the world's largest logistics base within the Panasonic Group, in Kyotanabe City, Kyoto Prefecture.
<Exterior view of the Kansai No. 1 Domestic Logistics Operations Center>
The Domestic Logistics Operations Center Kansai No. 9 will serve as the first group-shared warehouse in Japan, playing a central role in the Kansai area's logistics network. This is achieved by integrating nine logistics warehouses that were scattered throughout the Kansai region, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness of the Panasonic Group and addressing the challenges facing Japanese logistics.
Based on Panasonic Group's "Panasonic Transformation (PX)," a corporate transformation initiative that accelerates the speed of operations and management through the use of digital technology, the company standardized logistics systems that previously differed from one business company to another, and achieved the creation of an optimal logistics environment across the entire group.
As a result, we have collaborated with customers and partner companies to reduce delivery routes by 10%, and improved storage efficiency by 27% by effectively utilizing mobile shelving to cope with the increased amount of stored goods due to warehouse consolidation, thus advancing the overhaul of our logistics-related business processes.
Furthermore, standardization of in-warehouse operations for multiple product categories and the introduction of paperless operations using PDAs (personal digital assistants) have resulted in a 26% improvement in operational productivity, contributing to strengthening the overall competitiveness of the group.
In accordance with the "Act on the Efficiency Improvement of Distribution of Goods" (Comprehensive Logistics Efficiency Improvement Act), which came into effect in April, we are promoting the standardization of pallets used in groups, which were previously operated separately at each factory and warehouse location, as well as the visualization of transportation and delivery processes and the creation of a more comfortable working environment.
■ Overview of the Domestic Logistics Operations Center, Kansai No. 1
Address: 100 Fujinoki, Osumi, Kyotanabe City, Kyoto Prefecture
Warehouse area: 111,688m2
Storage volume: Lighting fixtures, lamps and other lamp-related products, door phones, etc. from 1.2 million cubic feet (33,400 m³), household air conditioners, heat pump water heaters, etc. from 1 million cubic feet (27,800 m³).
A "banzai" is a cube with sides of 1 shaku (1 cubic shaku; 1 shaku = approximately 30.3 cm).
Number of product numbers handled: 12,000 or more
Automation equipment: Mobile shelving (already installed), automated warehouse (scheduled for installation in FY2026)
