Case Study: Christopher & Banks achieves 50% faster turn‑time, 160% higher shipping productivity and 99.9% accuracy with Honeywell Intelligrated

DC retrofit meets Christopher & Banks’ growth needs for flexible supply chain

Christopher & Banks, a specialty women’s apparel retailer with 789 stores in 46 states, relied on a 200,000 sq. ft. distribution center running an aging, inflexible conveyor system and paper-based picking. Growing just-in-time replenishment and a shift to increased repacking put chronic strain on capacity, raised transportation costs, and created safety, maintenance and efficiency challenges that required a capital retrofit.

Intelligrated and Cardinal Materials Flow delivered a phased retrofit with semi-automated pick-to-light lines, a two-level MDR accumulation conveyor, automated sealing/weighing/labeling and an overhead empty-carton return — all installed while the DC remained live. The upgrade cut turn-time 50%, energy use 25% and transportation costs ~40%, raised shipping productivity 160% and packing productivity 200%, achieved 99.9% accuracy, reduced labor ~45% and paid back the investment in about 10 months while improving ergonomics and safety.

Christopher & Banks

Mike Tripp

Vice President