McKesson debuts state-of-the-art distribution center in Ohio
McKesson has opened a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical distribution center in Jeffersonville, Ohio, centrally located between Cincinnati and Columbus.
The new facility will distribute pharmaceutical, over-the-counter and home healthcare products as well as consumer packaged goods to customers across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
It's the largest in McKesson’s distribution network and the first to house an improved suite of automated technologies to increase efficiencies, reduce repetitive tasks and improve the employee experience.
“We have invested in new state-of-the-art automation that will make the operational processes less labor intensive and more efficient to better serve our customers and their patients,” Ammie McAsey, senior vice president of distribution operations at McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical, said. “The cutting-edge technology in this new distribution center demonstrates the evolution of how McKesson will pick, pack and ship in the future. It’s central to our mission to improve care in every setting – one product, one partner, one patient at a time.”
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“I am ecstatic that McKesson decided to build their newest distribution center in Fayette County," Senator Bob Peterson said. "The facility features cutting-edge sustainability and automation technology that support a safe and productive work environment. McKesson’s continued investment here brings tremendous economic development to the county and Ohio.”
Set on approximately 40 acres, the 475,000-square-foot facility houses the most advanced automation in supply chain technology that will optimize efficiency and productivity to provide exceptional service to customers, McKesson said.
The Central Ohio distribution center can process double the amount of volume compared to McKesson’s current largest distribution center. Strategically located to serve customers across the region, the facility is fitted with automated putaway, replenishment and order filling processes as well as a tote washer and robotic palletizer to handle volume increases and growth over time.
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By automating redundancies and labor-intensive tasks, McKesson employees are able to focus on more fulfilling tasks that have a more direct impact on customer orders. The space also was thoughtfully designed with employee wellness in mind, featuring high-bay windows for natural light, increased capacity for training rooms and a walking trail around the property’s pond, McKesson noted.
In addition to distribution technologies and efficiencies, this center also includes several sustainability attributes, such as:
- Roof structure designed to accommodate future solar panels;
- Electric car charging stations;
- LED lighting inside and outside;
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures; and
- Motion sensors to reduce unnecessary water and electricity usage.