The Ins and Outs of Network Optimization

Preparing For Peak Season

One of the biggest challenges in retail fulfillment is that peak demand may last only a few weeks or months, while the decisions made to support it can affect an operation for years. In this episode of The Zion Experience, Jordan Frank shares his perspective on how teams think through facility design, labor flexibility, software strategy, and automation investments when volume can fluctuate significantly throughout the year. Jordan highlights one example of how software can help operations get more out of existing automation by optimizing order flow and improving equipment utilization during peak periods.

Designing Warehouse Operations For Healthcare

Healthcare and medical device distribution centers often operate under a very different set of constraints than traditional retail or e-commerce environments. In this episode of The Zion Experience, Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank discuss how many medical device operations may not experience the same seasonal demand spikes seen elsewhere. However, strict SLA requirements and order cutoff times can still create concentrated intraday peaks where a large percentage of daily volume hits within only a few hours. The conversation covers how those operational patterns can influence warehouse design, automation strategy, flexibility, validation timelines, and long-term planning decisions across healthcare supply chains.

Live from Modex 2026!

For the first time, we brought The Zion Experience to Modex for a live recording. After a few days on the show floor, Jim Shaw and Jordan Frank sat down to talk through what stood out, what’s getting a lot of attention, and where the real value of the show comes from. One thing that stands out every year is how quickly a single question can turn into a much bigger conversation.

The Ins and Outs of Network Optimization

Every few years, most distribution centers hit a moment where they have to step back and ask: “Does our network still make sense?” Whether it’s growth, acquisitions, shifting demand, sourcing changes… it all adds up, revealing that what worked 3–5 years ago may not work today. In our latest TZE episode, @Jim Shaw and @Jordan Frank sit down with @Steve Spratt to talk about how companies should approach network optimization. The conversation includes: ➡️ What you need to know before starting a network optimization design project ➡️ Why service doesn’t always improve with proximity ➡️ How small changes (like inventory positioning or even tote size) can have an impact

WMS Project Planning & Preparation: What to Get Right Before You Begin

More often than not, problems during a WMS rollout start earlier, when teams move too quickly through planning, requirements, and testing. In our latest Zion Experience episode, Jim Shaw and Drew Eubank talk through what it takes to prepare for a WMS project before vendor selection and implementation begin. In this conversation, they cover: ➡️ Why understanding your “why” is the first step ➡️ Why process mapping from order creation through shipment matters ➡️ How rushed requirements create scope problems later ➡️ Why provider evaluation should stay agnostic ➡️ Why testing needs more time than most teams expect One of the clearest takeaways from the episode is that WMS projects are a heavy lift, and spending the time up front will determine how much pain shows up later.