Designed Conveyor Systems

EXPERTS IN MATERIAL HANDLING

S U P P LY I N G SUPERIOR SOLUTIONS Designed Conveyor Systems continues to deliver unique, customized material handling solutions and fulfillment automation that leverages the latest technology and equipment. We find out more with Seth Taylor, Executive Vice President of Operations Writer: Ed Budds | Project Manager: Scarlett Burke

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DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS SUPPLY CHAIN

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DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS SUPPLY CHAIN

D

esigned Conveyor Systems (DCS) has expertly garnered 40 years of experience serving major clients in multiple industries by providing material handling, full-scale warehouse operations, and conveyor design solutions that are customcrafted for their needs.

The company does not sell readymade conveyor systems, but instead builds relationships that empower the collaboration to craft custom warehouse designs. Furthermore, DCS utilizes consulting, engineering design, project management, installation services, and client support to ensure its customers can keep their promises to deliver on time.

Founded in 1982, DCS now draws on a plethora of experience in the

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supply chain industry, serving its customers in the e-commerce and multi-channel fulfillment segments as well as the parcel handling and transportation arenas.

“We provide a full breadth of services, including network and operational consulting, systems design solutions, material handling equipment (MHE) engineering, integration services, 24/7 support, and full-scale warehouse operations,” introduces Seth Taylor, Executive Vice President of Operations at DCS. “We grew from a small shop in Franklin, Tennessee, into a nationwide leader in the industry.

While our headquarters has always been located in Franklin, we have expanded to host over 300

employees in every region of the country,” he enthuses.

Taylor leads his team with nearly 25 years of experience in the material handling industry and oversees the entire operations team of DCS, which includes all project delivery and support efforts.

MAINTAINING ORGANIC GROWTH During the last five years, DCS has prioritized organic growth within its established client base.

Despite achieving impressive yearover-year revenue increases of over 50 percent, the company recognized that maintaining this expansion rate was unsustainable and contrary to its principle of responsible growth.

LEADERS IN INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SOLUTIONS “Looking for a reliable partner to meet all your industrial needs?

Look no further than All Systems. Our team of experts has years of experience providing exceptional services to help our customers achieve their goals. Whether you need electrical installation, mechanical installation, system programming, engineering services, production, or system maintenance and repair, we’ve got you covered.

CAPABILITIES • Nationwide industrial controls (Electrical & Mechanical) conveyor installation team for new installations, retrofits, and system expansions • Electrical Automated Control System Engineering and Programming • World-Class UL508A Motor Control Panel design and fabrication for automated applications • Custom design and manufacturing of UL50 enclosures, UL 891 switch gear and power distribution panels, UL 1008 emergency power connection panels, and UL 67 panel boards • Industry-leading 24/7 system repair and preventive maintenance program, featuring a rapid response team and remote support

916-652-8560 | sales@allsystems.us | www.allsystems.us

1203 W. Sunset Blvd.

Rocklin, CA 95765

DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS SUPPLY CHAIN

“The ongoing pressure on our internal resources was also becoming untenable. Consequently, we shifted our focus to external expansion strategies,” recalls Taylor.

In 2021, DCS pinpointed two key areas for growth that resonated with its specific values and expertise: mergers and acquisitions (M&As), and product development.

“Our venture into M&As began a little over a year ago, stemming from what was initially a simple networking call with a former subcontractor partner. This interaction unexpectedly evolved into an excellent opportunity to merge two compatible companies,” he continues.

In March 2023, DCS successfully acquired IMI Industrial, a move that significantly enhanced its service capabilities to a crucial customer and marked a new chapter in the company’s history. This acquisition not only served as a horizontal integration within the supply chain, but also opened doors for vertical integration, a prospect DCS plans to pursue further.

NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK: DO YOU PARTAKE IN ANY CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICES? Seth Taylor, Executive Vice President of Operations: “Corporate responsibility is core to the DCS team. Convey Hope is the inherent function within an organization that helps us honor those responsibilities every day.

“We know our success isn’t only our doing – it’s a blessing.

We believe that we are privileged to do what we do every day, and we show our gratitude by giving back to our community.

“In 2023, our teams volunteered 751 hours to numerous causes, including Thistle Farms, One Generation Away, Nashville Diaper Connection, Adopt-A-Senior, and the Cooper Trooper Foundation.

“In addition to our time and standard charitable support, we donated almost $40,000 in special requests thanks to fellow DCS employees speaking up about organizations and opportunities to support our community during crises and emergencies. This included Disaster Relief Support, Change Today, Change Tomorrow, Welcome Home Ministries, Extra Life, and the Carl Perkins Center.

We know our success is a privilege, and it’s important to us that we show our appreciation by sharing our time, treasure, and talent with others.”

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DATUM for picking

Moving forward, another strategic focus is product development, driven by clients’ need for more than just a standard MHE integrator. Recognizing a demand for a next-generation software platform, DCS has developed Datum, a toolset offering robust integration middleware that is original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agnostic.

“This development prevents our clients from being limited by proprietary systems and addresses a significant gap in the business software market.”

Datum was built on three core principles, the first of which is to address client problems directly, ensuring that the software is designed from the ground up with client needs in mind.

Safety and Quality is the key to our success

Services: • Conveyor installations • Welding and equipment cut-ins

J&J Installation Services

Industrial machinery manufacturing

(682) 226-4011

DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS SUPPLY CHAIN

Second, DCS emphasized the openness of data and algorithms, ensuring its standards are collaborative and integrate seamlessly with existing client enterprise tools.

Lastly, the company is committed to delivering optimized software solutions without high risk or cost, prioritizing quality over speed in the development process.

INTEGRATION AND ADAPTATION Over the past decade, the vast supply chain industry has undergone significant consolidation, merging multiple integrators, manufacturers, software companies, and service providers.

This dynamic shift has led to what Taylor refers to as the “disappearance of the project middle-class.”

After this extensive merging, only a few large companies and numerous small, family-owned businesses remain. Therefore, in this landscape, DCS stands out as a unique entity.

“We are among the few remaining true design-build systems integrators, boasting the capability

Semi auto bulk sorter

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“ TO P R OV I D E T H E B E S TIN-INDUSTRY E X P E R I E N C E TO OUR TEAMS, WE H AV E C H O S E N T O B E A C U LT U R E F O R WA R D C O M PA N Y ” – S E T H TAY L O R , E X E C U T I V E VICE PRESIDENT OF O P E R AT I O N S , D E S I G N E D C O N V E YO R SYS T E M S

to handle a wide range of projects while maintaining a close, familial relationship with our clients,” he shares.

Furthermore, as a true integrator, DCS is committed to unbiased decision-making when providing solutions to customers.

“We aren’t tied to promoting specific technologies within a

corporate portfolio, allowing us to deliver high-value, cost-effective solutions without the constraint of filling internal resource quotas.”

Interestingly, aside from its talented team, DCS holds few physical assets.

This raises the question of how a true integrator keeps its customers satisfied.

The answer lies in DCS’ strong relationships with partners and suppliers.

To nurture these crucial relationships, DCS has established a dedicated supplier development team with the sole purpose of maintaining and enhancing its supplier partnerships. Their role involves a delicate balance of seeking value, ensuring fairness, distributing work evenly, and forging new connections, while continuously engaging in communication.

Elsewhere, the team’s responsibility extends to understanding the capacities and capabilities of DCS’ suppliers and acting as an internal consultant to align these resources with business and project needs.

DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS SUPPLY CHAIN

At the forefront of material handling installation Contacts: Ben Broy President 540-532-5720 bbroy@dminstallers.com Jeremy Ahrendt Vice President (507) 920-5527 jahrendt@dminstallers.com Braxton Gaither (859) 351-5050 bgaither@deintegrators.com Brian Gilley (317) 403-3635 bgilley@deintegrators.com

Designed Mechanical Integrators, known in the industry as DMI, along with their sister company, Designed Electrical Integrators (DEI), are excited to be at the forefront of material handling installation.

Through their partnerships with leading integrators, they have quickly established the Designed Integrator family as the premier installation solutions group in the USA. Innovating at every possible step of the installation process, their customers are continually impressed with their unique With the rapidly evolving landscape of material handling, why waste time ability to install large, complicated systems with installation solutions that require tedious micromanagement, eyewith minimal delays or costly change orders. popping change orders, and constant schedule delays?

You pay good money to design a solution that will leave your customers Founded on the principal that a company’s thrilled. When it comes to taking that design to reality, don’t risk a lowsuccess is based on who they have, NOT what they do, and continuing to build teams quality installation. Use the best, most proven solutions provider. Reach of the most exceptionally talented installers out today and experience the new leading edge of exceptional quality in installation. For all your mechanical or electrical installation needs, use the in the country, they excel at going above Designed Integrators family of companies, and experience a level of ease and beyond their customers expectations you never thought possible. at every opportunity.

Innovators | Proven solutions providers | Minimal delays | Exceptional quality

A U T O M A T I N G YOUR FUTURE As a turnkey controls and electrical integrator for automated applications, we ensure on-time, budget-friendly delivery of material handling solutions through fabrication and installation.

Control System Programming | SCADA Development | Control Panel Design | Power Distribution | Panel Fabrication | Electrical Installation | Onsite Commissioning

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DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS SUPPLY CHAIN

WE PUT YOU IN CONTROL

Whether it’s a PLC Program for a Distribution Center, an innovative cutting edge controls architecture, or the latest in operator interface technology everything we do at MCS Automation is designed to be more intuitive, more efficient, and deliver more value.

From hardware to software, from programming to implementation, at MCS Automation you know you’re getting the most sophisticated technology, expertly executed.

MCS Automation provides a range of solutions including: - PLC based warehouse and parcel control systems - Electrical & Controls design services - Project Management - Turn-Key electrical Installation

- UL508A panel fabrication - SCADA/HMI systems - Package Sortation Control - Print and Apply Systems - Check-weigh Systems - RFID tracking systems

866-343-5197 | mcs-automation.com

This specialist unit plays a crucial role in addressing any project-related concerns and offering guidance and constructive feedback to suppliers.

This approach also means that DCS doesn’t always opt for the most immediately profitable decisions.

“Instead, we are committed to a strategy of long-term success and sustainability,” Taylor assures.

A CULTURE-FORWARD COMPANY DCS’ overarching company mission is to deliver the best customer and employee experience in the industry.

“To provide the best-in-industry experience to our teams, we have chosen to be a culture-forward company. When we ask our employees why they choose to work at DCS - and we know they have a lot of choices - the overwhelming answer is the culture,” shares Taylor.

In this way, culture is at the core of all DCS’ discussions, decisions,

and engagements. The positive and welcoming working environment is a key differentiator for the company in the marketplace.

“During our 2023 Leadership Conference in November last year, we had Echelon Front, a top leadership consulting company, come in and provide an entire day of training under the topic of extreme ownership.”

The themes of empowerment and autonomy in the workplace rose to the top of discussion points and provided an enlightening understanding of all sides’ views of autonomy and how to ensure growth for the entire company and its people.

Furthermore, the DCS executive leadership team considers the autonomy of its employees and teams to be critically important to the success of the company, as it believes that trust is the key.

Employees must feel trusted by leadership and know they are empowered to make decisions. The

other side of that trust comes from the team members thinking critically and taking ownership of those decisions.

“Autonomy allows us to grow both the people and the organization,” he finishes.

Moving into a bright future for the company, DCS is continuing to expand through three specific lenses - diversification, product creation, and M&As. These categories, along with the maintenance and expansion of its culture, are at the top of a list of priorities for the coming year.

DESIGNED CONVEYOR SYSTEMS www.designedconveyor.com North America Outlook Issue 21 | 11

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