Case Study

MSI Boosts Inventory Management with Corvus One™ Drones

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Faster Cycle Counting

$

Labor Reallocation

$

Recovered Lost Inventory

%

Inventory Accuracy

The Challenges

  • Fulfillment speed: Lost or misplaced inventory delayed customer deliveries, causing dissatisfaction, returns, and unmet expectations.

  • Inefficient use of labor: Dedicated 2-4 warehouse associates to manually scan inventory for auditing.

  • Productivity: Labor pulled from fulfillment tasks to locate material or vice versa, impacting operational productivity.

The Corvus Solution

  • Implemented Corvus One™ Autonomous Inventory Management System to more accurately and efficiently track material across MSI's four national distribution centers.

  • No more yearly, wall-to-wall physical inventory checks: the Corvus One™ drones perform daily cycle counting flights, providing MSI with accurate, real-time inventory data. 

  • Labor Reallocation: Associates no longer need to perform cycle counts, or search for missing material. Now dedicated to picking and replenishment. 

We used to dedicate labor resources to do inventory audits. Now we have drones, which saves us a ton of time and allows us to reallocate our resources to more value-adding tasks like picking or replenishment.

Reggy Soenarso headshotReggy S.
SVP, Operations

 

A comparison graph showing performance metrics from MSI before and after implementing Corvus One drones.
A Corvus One Drone flying at MSI Surfaces warehouse in California.

Equipped with obstacle detection, MSI has missions scheduled during operating hours without disrupting workflow or blocking aisles. Corvus One™ drones fly fully autonomously without reflectors, associates, or Wi-Fi.

Corvus One flying and scanning pallet positions.

No modifications were made to MSI's existing infrastructure, including racking or labeling. Corvus One™ drones read any barcode symbology in any orientation placed anywhere on the front of cartons or pallets.

The Impact

  • Zero Operational Disruptions: Smooth integration with no interruptions to daily operations.

  • Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Faster and more accurate order fulfillment.

  • Increased Labor Productivity: More efficient operations with actionable inventory data.

  • Prevention of Future Errors: Corrections made to workflows and processes to avoid repeat mistakes.

Where are we now?

After its first successful deployment in California, MSI implemented Corvus One drones in its four largest and busiest distribution centers across the U.S., including Texas, Georgia, and New Jersey. 

 

Drop Us a Line

  • MSI Surfaces is the largest independent source in North America for countertops, flooring, wall tile, and hardscaping surfaces.

  • Founded in 1975, MSI has grown to nearly $3B in annual revenue with over 400,000 global employees.