Thirty years ago, a 650,000-square-foot building opened in North Vernon, Indiana. It would become Lowe's first automated Regional Distribution Center (RDC), where various products are picked, packed, and shipped to stores around the area. The then-new building and operation evolved into a vital link in the organization's supply chain. In those 30 years, the site underwent major renovations; expanded to two buildings and to 1.3 million square feet; processing systems went from using a single mainframe and paper and pen to fully digital; seven miles of conveyor belts in the main building were added and most recently the ability to ship product direct to customers. These supply chain innovations have been key to keeping stores well stocked and customers' carts full of the products they want.
Among all those changes, some of the first people to set foot in the RDC in 1994 still work there today. In celebration of RDC 992's 30th anniversary, the people who were there from the beginning are sharing their journeys and experiences at Lowe's.
Rodney Ochs was the first resume ever received for a job opening in 1994; at the time, he had a one-year-old and was looking to be closer to family. Now, Rodney, a grandfather, has moved up within the transportation department and remembers the eyes-wide, start-up-style days of the RDC.
It was the first automated facility; it was one of these things where Lowe's knew that that was the future and knew that to sustain the growth and to take market share, they had to get to a reliable supply chain, but it was kind of a new experience for them and I think that in a lot of aspects, it was 'learn by the seat of your pants.' You had to be very nimble and ready for anything.
Rodney shares that while innovation and technology make logistics and transportation an ever-changing and exciting space to work in, it's the people who have been the backbone of the RDC since the beginning.
You just do life with people over those 30 years. You really get a close-knit family-type atmosphere, and working with the people has made it easy to stay.
Monica Grider, who works in the receiving office, says she's seen a lot since starting at the Regional Distribution Center 30 years ago. Still, she says Lowe's work-life balance and close family proximity make keeping tenure at the company a no-brainer.
Steve Fletcher shares that he started at the RDC when just 20 to 25 employees were shipping products to a handful of stores. Now, it houses over 525 associates and ships to 115 stores across eight states.
There's that pride in watching something grow and the changes made because those changes are improvements.
Tory Collins started at the Regional Distribution Center in North Vernon when he was 23 years old, and after 30 years with Lowe's what makes him stick around is pretty simple...
Good people, good management and it's close to home.
Lowe's wishes Regional Distribution Center 992 a happy 30th anniversary and kudos to the leadership and associates who have contributed to its success.
