Case Study: Briggs & Stratton achieves major warehouse labor productivity gains and $1M annual savings with Blue Yonder

JDA helps Briggs & Stratton improve its warehouse labor management

Briggs & Stratton, the world’s largest maker of air‑cooled gasoline engines, ships aftermarket parts from two large facilities handling 70–75K SKUs and roughly 26 million pieces annually. Its Menomonee Falls distribution center had no standardized work methods or reliable productivity measurement, which hindered performance, training and fair associate assessment.

The company deployed JDA Warehouse Labor Management—introducing Preferred Methods, machine‑based standards, time & incentives and SAP integration—after a baseline monitoring period and with union/associate involvement. The result: pick/pack/ship headcount fell by 18% while throughput increased, distribution productivity rose from 67% to 114%, packaging productivity climbed ~20% in two weeks, and labor savings reached about $1M annually (plus ~$300K from incentives), with clearer expectations and fewer quality/safety issues.

Briggs & Stratton

Bill Harlow

Director of Distribution Operations