Through their dedication to delivering exceptional services and driving innovation, Intech has grown into a global leader in orthopedic contract-manufacturing. One of nine global facilities, the Intech contract manufacturing facility in Athens, Alabama specializes in the meticulous manufacturing of complex medical device instrumentation essential for orthopedics, from complex hip and knee robotics devices to expandable spinal implants.

To support this endeavor, Intech Athens boasts a 100,000 square foot facility including a robust production area with over 70 CNC machines. Amidst the rapid growth at Intech Athens a new challenge became increasingly evident: the intricacies of inventory management. As the business expanded and the facility dove further into sophisticated manufacturing, inventory complexities multiplied. Each piece of CNC machinery has its own ecosystem: what appears as a single manufactured component is a culmination of 100+ manufacturing tools, gages and supplies.

Using a traditional approach to manage inventory, cabinets were grid-organized for less valuable smaller items while standard industrial shelving held larger items like fixtures and vices. Items were cataloged on clipboards, checked out manually, and staff was expected to return them after use. But as is often the challenge with manual systems, reliance on individual discipline and manual organization proved to be unreliable. 

The Solution

Stepping into the future of inventory management, they implemented two state-of-the-art Vertical Lift Module Kardex Shuttles. Working in harmony with the ZOLLER TMS software, this complete solution provided better inventory control while delivering significant space savings and increased manufacturing productivity.

"From cutting tools to collars, vise jaws to sandpaper, and even deadblow hammers, we store them in the Kardex Shuttles. Through the ZOLLER TMS software, we've cataloged over 10,000 part numbers. We now have unwavering clarity on our inventory—knowing precisely what we have and, more crucially, its exact location," said Joseph Forsyth, the Director of Advanced Manufacturing at Intech.

By integrating Kardex Shuttles with ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions Software, Intech Athens has taken a monumental leap in streamlining inventory management processes, resulting in better inventory control, recovered floor space and improved manufacturing productivity - positioning them at the forefront of efficiency and precision in their industry.

	2 Vertical Lift Module Kardex Shuttles
	Kardex JMIF integrated with ZOLLER TMS
	Pick-to-light Display