DCS helps organizations improve distribution operations, plan facilities, optimize networks, evaluate automation and prepare for growth. Our consultants are independent and brand-agnostic — every recommendation is built around your data, your operation and your goals, not a predetermined technology.
Package Handling
DCS’s design and engineering team has more than 40 years of experience creating unique parcel handling systems for diverse customer applications. With installations including semi-automated handling in small city distribution centers and fully automated, integrated hubs with advanced conveyor and sorter equipment, DCS routinely thinks outside the box.
E-Commerce and Multi-Channel Fulfillment
DCS designs and implements end-to-end warehouse automation solutions for e-commerce and multi-channel retailers that address numerous workflow challenges. This includes solutions for receiving, putaway, storage, replenishment, order fulfillment, picking, packing, sortation, and outbound shipping. Our custom integrated warehouse, distribution, and fulfillment systems draw from a deep pool of conventional, semi-automated, and automated material handling technologies.
Various Distribution Applications
Whether an operation is considering the construction of a new distribution or fulfillment center, or a retrofit or expansion of an existing facility, it’s important to create a solution that fits the overarching supply chain strategy. DCS has four decades of experience designing and integrating comprehensive, end-to-end material handling solutions that meet a multitude of operational goals. Whether conventional, semi-automated, or fully automated, DCS can help your organization implement a custom solution that meets its goals while maximizing return on investment (ROI).
Supply Chain Consulting
The DCS Supply Chain Consulting team offers a range of services to help your operations address the challenges it faces. Working in partnership with you, DCS consultants analyze your business data- existing workforce, workflow processes, inventory, order data, operations, and more- to determine a strategy that addresses your unique needs. Whether you need an operations assessment, process improvement recommendations, or distribution design services, DCS consultants will help guide you to the material handling system or operational solution that best meets your current and future needs, as well as your budget.
Distribution Center Design Consulting
DCS provides distribution center design and warehouse design consulting for new facilities, expansions, and existing warehouse retrofits. Using operational data, the DCS consulting team develops facility layouts, processes, material handling strategies, and automation concepts based on the unique requirements of each operation.
Warehouse Automation Consulting
DCS provides warehouse automation consulting to help distribution and fulfillment operations determine where automation makes sense, what level of automation is appropriate, and how potential solutions align with operational and financial goals.
Operations Assessment & Optimization Consulting
DCS provides warehouse and distribution center operations with assessment and optimization consulting to help identify inefficiencies, improve productivity, and develop a clear path toward better performance.
Supply Chain Strategy & Optimization Consulting
DCS provides supply chain strategy and optimization consulting to help organizations define how their distribution operations should evolve to support broader business goals.
Warehouse Technology & Software Consulting
DCS provides warehouse technology and software consulting to help organizations assess existing systems, define requirements, and develop a technology strategy aligned with their operational needs and future goals.
Supply Chain Network Design & Optimization Consulting
DCS provides supply chain network design and optimization consulting to help organizations determine how facilities, inventory, transportation, and fulfillment should work together across their distribution network.
Customer Support
Keeping your warehouse operations and material handling systems running smoothly and at the peak of productivity are the goals of DCS’ Customer Service Team. By partnering with DCS, your warehouse automation solution is supported from commissioning to end of life. You’ll receive comprehensive in-house training of your personnel, including specialized training of your designated internal system expert. Plus, DCS offers a complete package of spare parts and expert system troubleshooting support from qualified engineers dedicated to your installation.
System Design & Integration
DCS offers a broad range of material handling equipment and automated system design, installation, and integration services for a multitude of projects. These include retrofits, expansions, upgrades, and more. While every project is unique, our system design and execution processes are the same, encompassing meticulous attention to detail, frequent communication, and a dedicated partnership with our clients.
Lifecycle Services
Stop reactive repairs. Lifecycle Services provides expert preventive maintenance and 24/7 technical support to protect your automation and MHE availability.
Retail Distribution
Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) engineers retail distribution center automation, warehouse execution software and material handling systems that keep stores stocked and orders moving through every channel and season.
Pet Care
Pet food distribution operations are anything but standard. From bulky kibble bags to delicate fish tanks, stock keeping unit (SKU) complexity and fulfillment pressure are always on the rise. Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) partners with leading pet retailers to design and engineer automation, software, and material handling systems that keep operations agile, accurate, and ready for what’s next.
Home Improvement
When your distribution center handles everything from hammers to hot tubs, operational complexity isn’t a challenge—it’s your daily reality. Home improvement retailers face intense pressure to meet rising consumer expectations across multiple channels—from in-store pickups to last-mile delivery. At Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS), we specialize in engineering material handling and automation solutions that help home improvement distribution centers keep pace, reduce cost, and drive accuracy at scale.
Sporting Goods
Navigating the unique demands of the sporting goods retail industry requires a distribution strategy that’s both agile and precise. From handling seasonal surges to managing a diverse range of products—from bulky equipment to small accessories—your warehouse operations are the key to a seamless customer experience. Our expertise helps sporting goods retailers streamline their distribution warehouses, improving order accuracy, boosting productivity, and ensuring your team can efficiently move products from the receiving dock to the final customer, no matter the season.
Footwear
In the fast-paced world of footwear retail requires a distribution strategy that can handle a vast array of styles, sizes, and seasonal trends with precision and speed. From managing a high volume of SKUs to ensuring accurate order fulfillment and returns processing, your distribution center is the engine that drives customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Our expertise helps footwear retailers streamline their distribution centers, improving inventory management, accelerating order processing, and ensuring your team can efficiently move products from the receiving dock to the final customer, no matter the season.
Life Science & Healthcare
Pharmaceutical, healthcare, and life science companies face mounting pressure from evolving regulatory requirements, rising fulfillment costs, and intensifying accuracy demands. In this environment, automation isn’t optional—it’s essential. Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) helps distributors of these critical products stay compliant and competitive.
Wholesale & Industrial Distribution
Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) partners with wholesale, industrial, and electronics distributors to design efficient, optimized fulfillment solutions. Every operation DCS designs streamlines end-to-end functional processes—from inbound receiving and putaway to picking, packing, and shipping. Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) partners with wholesale, industrial, and electronics distributors to design efficient, optimized fulfillment solutions. Every operation DCS designs streamlines end-to-end functional processes—from inbound receiving and putaway to picking, packing, and shipping.
About Us
Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS) has 40 years of experience serving major clients in multiple industries by providing material handling, full-scale warehouse operations, and conveyor design solutions that are custom crafted for their needs. DCS does not sell ready-made conveyor systems but builds relationships that empower collaboration to craft custom warehouse designs together. DCS utilizes consulting, engineering design, project management, installation services, and client support to ensure our customers can keep their promises to deliver on time.
Projects
With more than 40 years of experience providing automated system design, installation, and integration services, DCS has created solutions for companies throughout the United States in a broad range of industries and markets. We’ve completed more than 1500 projects ranging from greenfield facilities with completely new systems to expansions and retrofits of existing operations.
Upcoming Events
Designed Conveyor Systems values building strong relationships with our clients. Join us at our upcoming events to collaborate and discover how we can design a custom warehouse solution tailored to your unique needs.
Independent, Data-Driven Supply Chain & Warehouse Consulting
Consulting Hub
— About DCS Consulting
Data-driven insights and strategic recommendations to keep your operations moving.
From a single operations assessment to a full network redesign, DCS consulting covers seven areas of expertise. With the acquisition of Waller Consulting, DCS pairs dedicated supply chain consultants with more than four decades of material handling design and integration experience — so the team that builds the plan can help deliver it. Explore each service below.
Our Consulting Services
Seven areas of expertise to plan, design and optimize your distribution operation:
Network Optimization / Network Design
Facility locations, capacity and inventory positioning.
Operations Assessments & Optimization
Process, labor, layout and equipment improvements.
Warehouse Automation Consulting
Where automation makes sense — based on throughput and ROI.
Supply Chain Strategy / Optimization
A future-state strategy and prioritized roadmap.
Warehouse Technology Consulting
WMS, WES and WCS gap and fit assessments.
Simulation & Analysis
Validate designs before you invest.
— Where It Starts
Operations Assessments & Process Improvement
We take a full view of your operation — then recommend process and solution types, not specific equipment. Many improvements need far less lead time and investment than automation: using LEAN principles, we separate value-added steps from the rest. Remove five steps from a 20-step process and you’ve gained 25% in efficiency.
Processes · Equipment · Software · Layout · Personnel · Inventory · Handling Practices
- Prioritized recommendations for your top issues
- A sequenced improvement roadmap
- Metrics to measure results
Why DCS Consulting
Brand-Agnostic
We don’t sell off-the-shelf systems. Recommendations are based on your requirements — never a predetermined technology.
Data-Driven
Decisions are grounded in your operational data, with simulation available to validate complex designs.
Automation Payoff
We evaluate manual, semi-automated and fully automated options — including projected ROI.
Strategy to Execution
Engineering, project management, software, installation and 24/7 lifecycle support — one team.
— From Strategy to Execution
One Team From First Assessment to Go-Live
A strong plan is only valuable if it can be implemented. Consulting often leads to DCS system design and integration: when you choose to move forward, DCS supports the next phases through engineering, project management, software, installation, commissioning and ongoing lifecycle support. Begin with an operationally driven consulting process and continue — when it makes sense for your business — with a team that already understands the strategy behind the design.
Consulting in Action
DCS consultants have helped healthcare, life science and distribution organizations turn operational data into practical plans. Every engagement delivers:
- Prioritized improvement opportunities
- A supply chain IT gap assessment
- An executive summary report
- A short-, medium- and long-term project plan
- Optional DCS support to implement findings
Agilent Boosts Distribution Efficiency with Strategic Assessment
Problem: Agilent Technologies needed to address inefficiencies across design, operations, and technology at two major distribution centers.
Solution: Waller Consulting and DCS conducted a comprehensive assessment covering space utilization, process flow, labor optimization, and WMS effectiveness—delivering prioritized recommendations, an automation strategy, and an implementation roadmap.
Results: Agilent reduced travel time by up to 20%, increased storage capacity by 25% without expansion, and created a scalable, cost-efficient plan to align with industry best practices.
DCS worked with Bermuda Hospitals Board to evaluate its distribution network and develop a centralized, scalable distribution center designed around its operational needs. The engagement combined network analysis and distribution center design to help BHB build a strategy for its current operation and future requirements.
Consulting FAQs
DCS’ approach to supply chain consulting services follows the same philosophy as its system integration solutions: all DCS consulting engagements are independent and brand-agnostic. That means our consultants analyze your operations and recommend process changes and solution types—not specific equipment brands. Some material handling vendors offer “free” assessments hoping to sell you their products. A DCS consultant provides unbiased recommendations focused entirely on what’s right for your operation and your budget.
Not at all. Process improvement is one of the most valuable insights consulting can offer, and it doesn’t require any capital investment in automation. DCS consultants apply a LEAN methodology to identify which steps in your workflow add value and which don’t. Eliminating even a handful of non-value-added steps can yield meaningful productivity gains. For example, removing 5 steps from a 20-step process immediately represents a 25% improvement in efficiency.
Network optimization and distribution center design consulting are typically the right fit when your current facility is no longer adequate. This could mean you’ve outgrown your footprint, are relocating, or are adding a new location to your network. DCS consultants perform a detailed analysis of your current operations, including data, processes, inventory, and workflows. Your consultant then works with you to develop and evaluate potential facility designs, automation systems, and material handling solutions that meet your storage, handling, and fulfillment needs.
DCS works with operations across a wide range of industries, including e-commerce and multi-channel retail, life science and healthcare distribution, home improvement, sporting goods, footwear, pet food, wholesale, and industrial distribution. With more than 40 years of experience and over 1,500 completed projects, DCS brings proven expertise to both greenfield facility design and retrofits or expansions of existing operations.
Most distribution center designs fall into one of three categories: manual/conventional, semi-automated, or fully automated. The right choice depends on factors including budget, labor availability and cost, throughput requirements, and long-term growth plans. DCS consultants help operations evaluate all three options, along with your respective projected ROI and short-, mid-, and long-term implications, to identify the solution that best fits your organization’s goals. For more complex semi-automated or fully automated designs, DCS can also run simulations to validate the design against different inventory and throughput scenarios before committing to a solution.
Consulting is often the first step in a longer relationship with DCS. Once an assessment identifies the right path forward, we are positioned to help implement our recommendations through its system design and integration services. With nearly 45 years of experience and more than 1,500 completed projects, DCS brings engineering, project management, installation, and ongoing customer support capabilities that allow clients to move from strategy to execution without changing partners. The consulting engagement ensures that any subsequent investment in automation or material handling is grounded in real operational data rather than assumptions.
Connect With DCS
Let’s discuss how DCS consulting can help you plan, design and optimize your distribution operation.