ABOUT Logistics Functions

A Logistics Network throughout Japan

We continue to make daily improvements to run a high precision logistics service at a low cost that will deliver products to customers throughout Japan reliably whenever they need them.

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  Hokkaido Branch

  • Sapporo Center
  • Ishikari Center
  • Asahikawa Center
  • Obihiro Center
  • Hokkaido Cosmetic Center
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  Tohoku Branch

  • Akita Center
  • Sendai Center
  • Fukushima Center
  • Kitakami Center
  • Tohoku Cosmetic Center
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  Capital Area Branch

  • Saitama Center
  • Kitakanto Center
  • Chiba Center
  • Tsukuba Center
  • Koshigaya Center
  • Kanagawa Center
  • Yokohama Center
  • Koshinetsu Center
  • Misato Depot
  • Shiraoka Depot
  • Yamanashi Depot
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  Chubu Branch

  • Konan Center
  • Heiwa Center
  • Shizuoka Center
  • Hokuriku Center
  • Chubu Cosmetic Center
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  Kansai Branch

  • Izumi Center
  • Settsu Center
  • Koriyama Center
  • Kansai Cosmetic Center
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  Chushikoku Branch

  • Okayama Center
  • Household Goods Center
  • Hiroshima Center
  • Tottori Center
  • Tokushima Center
  • Takamatsu Center
  • Matsuyama Center
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  Kyushu Branch

  • Kyushu-Kita Center
  • Kyushu-Minami Center
  • Fukuoka Depot
  • Nagasaki Depot
  • Kumamoto Depot

Large-Scale High Performance Logistics Equipment to Cope with Labor Shortages

Automated Pallet Warehouse

Large, heavy cardboard boxes for daily goods are difficult for humans to handle. We have introduced automated pallet warehouses that load these products only industry-standard T11 pallets, then automatically carry out conveying, storage, shipping, and inventory management. The system improves safety, precision, efficiency, and speed. (As of 2019, the system is installed at 11 logistics centers nationwide)

AI Depalletizing Robots

Most inward deliveries from manufacturers’ plants come in whole pallets. However, deliveries from the warehouse to retailers are often made by case. These material handling robots can recognize products using 3D2D cameras, picking the products correctly and placing them on a conveyor. (Robots can process up to 450 cases per hour, and can work through the night.)

AiMAS Picking Cart

Small orders of one or two units are common in the daily goods and cosmetics sector. Scanning the product’s barcode prevents the wrong product from being picked, while weight detection used in conjunction with the scale prevents the wrong quantity from being selected. Moreover, we can prevent any product from being sent to the wrong store based on which scale performs the detection. This system has resulted in ultra-precise shipping operations, with a delivery precision of 99.999%.

AiMAS MOBILE

Used as an auxiliary device during congested periods.
It is also used to prevent items from being inadvertently forgotten.

Collapsible Container Automated Warehouse

After temporarily storing collapsible containers in which separate products picked by AiMAS have been packed, they are quickly dispatched by company, delivery route, and store. This system prevents erroneous shipments to the wrong store and so forth, reduces sorting time, and enables efficient use of space.

Returns Sorting Machine

The daily goods and cosmetics industry experiences product returns due to seasonal factors and so forth. This system sorts products returned from retailers by manufacturer, category, and individual product.

Logistics Initiatives

Announcement of Promoting Better Working Conditions for Drivers

ARATA has agreed with the project for promoting better working conditions for drivers of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. We have submitted a declaration of our commitment to increasing logistics efficiency, reducing truck drivers’ waiting times, and their materials handling hours to the project secretariat.
(The project for promoting better working conditions for drivers is intended to respond to the worsening shortage of truck drivers, secure stable distribution needed for civic life and industry activities, and contribute to economic growth.)

Warehouse Entry Time Reservation System

We introduced a warehouse entry time reservation system developed by TSUNAGUTE Co., Ltd. at some of our sites to reduce wait times for trucks.
We plan to roll-out the system at all sites going forward as an initiative to deal with long working hours, which has been a factor in truck driver shortages.