Nowadays, businesses are looking for ways to streamline tasks, increase production efficiency, lower costs, and eliminate material waste. Kit assembly is the process that helps businesses keep customers happy and operations efficient.
Kit assembly usually happens side by side, but they are different processes. With unpredictable market shifts and fluctuating demand and supply, many businesses are now outsourcing order fulfillment services. It allows businesses to focus on sales and other operations. In this article, everything about kit assembly is explained, from types to benefits and industries utilizing kitting services.
What is Kit Assembly
Kit assembly is a process where individual components are grouped, organized, and packaged into a single kit for easier distribution or assembly into a final product. These kits contain all the necessary components required to complete a specific task or assembly process, packaged together.
Kitting and assembly are different processes. Kitting refers to the gathering of all the parts required to assemble a component into one kit. It happens before the assembly process. Assembly is the process of assembling the kits to create the final product. Kit assembly simplifies processes for both manufacturers and e-commerce businesses by ensuring all necessary parts are ready for quick assembly or shipping, thereby improving efficiency and reducing delays.
Kit Assembly Process
The kit assembly process involves gathering components and assembling them into a kit to prepare them for shipping. The process involves:
- Identifying all the parts and materials needed for the kit.
- Assigning a new Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) for simplified inventory tracking.
- Assembling the picked components into a box or container.
- Packaging the assembled kit and sticking a clear barcode label for tracking.
- Make quality checks to ensure the kit is complete and correct.
- Keeping the kits in a designated area for storage until they are ready for shipment.
- Ship the kits to fulfill customer orders as they arrive.
Different Types of Kitting
- Product kitting: It involves bundling finished products into a single SKU to be sold together as a new product. It is done to complete the package to deliver the final product.
- Material kitting: It involves gathering all the necessary raw materials and components to assemble a specific product. It happens in batches in a warehouse.
- Pre-kitting: It involves packing items before time, so that when parts are needed, they are available.
- Order fulfillment kitting: This is used in e-commerce and retail to pick and pack all items for a specific customer order into a single kit. This speeds up the shipping process for both the customer and the fulfillment center.
- Custom kitting: This is a flexible approach where kits are assembled according to specific customer or industry requirements, allowing for custom product combinations and packaging.
Benefits of Kitting
The following are the benefits of the kit assembly process in many industries:
- Enhanced inventory management
- Customization for orders
- Efficiency and fast order fulfillment
- Quality control
- Enhanced customer experience
Industries Using Kitting Services
The following industries use kit assembly services for a seamless packaging process:
- Automotive Subassembly
- Furniture Manufacturing
- Electronics Assembly
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- E-commerce Orders
- Spare Parts Kit
- Training Kit