Fine Plus Achieves Approximately 2.3x Increase in Picking Productivity with Introduction of AMR "PEER 100"

GROUND Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hirotomo Miyata; hereinafter referred to as "GROUND"), a leader in Japanese LogiTech®, is pleased to announce the introduction of the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) "PEER 100" at the logistics center of Fine Plus Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Narita City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director: Tomohiro Yokota; hereinafter referred to as "Fine Plus"), a 3PL provider (located within Prologis Park Narita).

Fine Plus began test operations of "PEER 100" in December 2024, utilizing the national "Subsidy for Advanced Demonstration Projects for Logistics Efficiency," and commenced full-scale operation in January 2025.

As a result, despite being in the early stages of operation, picking productivity achieved 145 lines/hour, an increase from the pre-introduction KPI of 62.5 lines/hour. The total labor hours for picking operations have been reduced by approximately 44% compared to the previous figures.

This introduction serves as an advanced model case for logistics efficiency improvement, realizing dramatic productivity gains through a "highly effective investment" that pursues cost-effectiveness, addressing the challenges of labor shortages and shipping congestion in apparel logistics, which are increasingly characterized by small-lot, high-mix products.

Background of Introduction: "Increased Walking Distance" and "Difficulty Securing Labor" due to Small-Lot, High-Mix Products

With the "2024 Logistics Problem" in full swing, labor shortages and rising logistics costs have become nationwide challenges, making the establishment of sustainable operations an urgent issue.

For the products of the cap apparel brands handled by Fine Plus, changes in recent consumption styles have led to a shift towards small-lot, high-mix products. Shipments to stores have also become more frequent and smaller in lot size, evolving towards a form similar to e-commerce operations. This has significantly increased the walking distance for pickers and has become a factor in shipping congestion.

Additionally, there were challenges unique to its location near the airport. While labor was temporarily secured during the COVID-19 pandemic, it flowed out as airport activity resumed, making it particularly difficult to secure excellent talent.

During peak seasons, services such as temporary employment were utilized to supplement manpower. However, the educational costs to train workers on the vast number of products and their locations increased significantly, and even with increased personnel, unstable productivity became a serious issue.

In response to these challenges, automated warehouses and GTP (Goods-to-Person) robots, which require investments in the hundreds of millions of yen, were not feasible from a cost and flexibility perspective. Therefore, prioritizing cost-effectiveness (ROI), Fine Plus decided to introduce the AMR "PEER 100" as a "highly effective investment" that could be steadily implemented by leveraging the existing site.

Details of the Autonomous Mobile Robot "PEER":

https://www.groundinc.co.jp/services/robot/peer_series/

Introduction Effects: Achieved 2.3x Picking Productivity, Reduced Total Working Hours by 44%

With the introduction of "PEER 100," the following quantitative effects have been confirmed, even in the early stages of operation:

1. Dramatic Improvement in Picker Productivity

Before introduction...