Caudron Meunerie manages up to 275 tons of flour

Caudron Meunerie, a logistics provider specializing in flour, has implemented Easy WMS in its warehouse in France to monitor inventory. The company manages the daily distribution of 275 tons of flour to bakers nationwide.

Caudron Meunerie: Leader in flour management

Caudron Meunerie is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in raw material for bakeries. Since 2020, it has been part of the MOUSSET-JETRANSPORTE group, a transportation company with over 60 years of experience in France. The 3PL provider supplies 4 in 10 bakers nationwide, supporting the daily production of 11 million baguettes enjoyed by 22 million French people. Caudron Meunerie has a team of over 420 employees and a fleet of 360 vehicles with tipping tanks for bulk flour, tailored to the characteristics and needs of its clients.

CHALLENGES

Manage flour from 13 mills and deliver it to bakers starting at 2:00 a.m.
Oversee warehouse inventory until its distribution to 4 out of 10 bakeries in France’s major cities.

SOLUTIONS

Easy WMS warehouse management system.
Pallet racks.

BENEFITS

Fulfillment and shipment of 275 tons of flour daily for 40% of bakers in France.
Traceability of over 8,800 tons of high-turnover product.

Logistics service provider Caudron Meunerie stores more than 8,800 tons of flour in its distribution center (DC) in Bondoufle (France). “We consolidated two warehouses into a single 2.1-acre facility to meet growing demand in the French market. Our new DC provides more storage capacity and flexibility for handling pallets,” says Logistics Manager Abdesslam Laoukili. “We work safely thanks to wider aisles and a height-optimized storage system from Mecalux.”

The 3PL provider has installed Easy WMS software to ensure inventory traceability and boost all warehouse operations. These span from the arrival of flour from the mills to its delivery to 40% of France’s bakeries. “The Mecalux software has modernized our logistics processes and enabled us to adapt them to consumers’ changing needs,” says Laoukili.

Caudron Meunerie organizes flour from 13 mills

Integration and communication with carriers

One of Easy WMS’s key features is its ability to integrate with other computer systems. This has streamlined supply chain management for Caudron Meunerie.

“We were looking for software that could communicate with our clients to exchange information regarding product handling,” says Laoukili. Bakers notify Caudron Meunerie about the type and quantity of flour they need so that Easy WMS can coordinate order fulfillment.

The Mecalux software has also been integrated with the company’s AxioRoute transportation management system (TMS), which plans and organizes delivery routes across the country. “The connection between Easy WMS and our TMS minimizes distribution errors and guarantees all shipments have the required documentation,” says Laoukili.

The Mecalux system directs fulfillment. Once completed, it strategically arranges the placement of orders within each truck based on delivery routes. This way, Caudron Meunerie avoids making incorrect deliveries that could negatively impact its customer service.

Easy WMS installed autonomously

Caudron Meunerie’s parent company, the MOUSSET-JETRANSPORTE group, had already been using Easy WMS in some of its warehouses, so the company was familiar with the system. With the experience and know-how gained from previous implementations, Caudron Meunerie took the initiative to deploy Easy WMS independently in the Bondoufle DC. Mecalux’s technical team remained remotely connected solely to guarantee a smooth and issue-free start of production.

The 3PL used Easy S, a digital tool that allowed it to configure and customize the software. Caudron Meunerie carried out four processes:

Warehouse configuration. This stage consisted of entering the storage racks, available item types, and work areas into the software. The initial configuration was crucial for maximizing the warehouse management system’s efficiency and accuracy.
Software parameterization. The business determined the criteria for assigning each item a location and distributing tasks among associates. With these data, the system now operates optimally and is tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the DC.
Staff training. Associates, area managers, and key users gained proficiency in the main software tools and features to manage the warehouse’s daily operations.
Go-live. This stage involved activating the software and running tests to ensure the proper implementation of all processes and functionalities. Final adjustments were made, with system availability guaranteed at all times.

Efficient flour management

The DC stands out for its high work pace. Every day, it receives flour from 13 mills and ships 275 tons to 40% of France’s bakeries.

“Our products have a high turnover. They’re distributed in less than a month, especially wheat flours, which are the most widely used and consumed,” says Laoukili. The software sends instructions to associates. Assisted by exoskeletons, they handle and transport 55 lb flour sacks with agility.

“We’ve gone from working with pen and paper to automatically connecting with our customers to know their needs and ship products in record time,” says Laoukili. Orders are fulfilled every afternoon and shipped as soon as possible for delivery starting at 2:00 a.m., when bakers need the raw materials to begin preparing their products.

Speedier service

Easy WMS has represented a major step forward in inventory traceability and the modernization of Caudron Meunerie’s logistics processes. With this digital tool, the company manages orders more efficiently and accurately, delivering the best bread to tables across France.

The Mecalux software has modernized our logistics processes and enabled us to adapt them to consumers’ changing needs.

Abdesslam LaoukiliLogistics Manager, Caudron Meunerie