EXTREME CUSTOMIZATION
“ We have a different ice configuration for , in theory , every single zip code in the country , which gives me quite a fun challenge ,” laughs Wargocki .
EXTREME CUSTOMIZATION
The sheer level of customization that Sun Basket offers its customers creates a uniquely complex challenge from a manufacturing standpoint as well . “ The big challenge from a manufacturing point of view is how customizable Sun Basket ’ s service is . A lot of our competitors might send out 30,000 boxes in five or six different iterations . Sun Basket , on the other hand , might have 25,000 different iterations in a 30,000-box run . We could conceivably have a situation where every single one of our customers orders a completely different combination of meals in their box . It ’ s really been interesting to work on developing our technology to allow for that level of customization ,” says Wargocki , explaining that his own role focuses on finding the most efficient , highest-speed production options that are designed to support regular changeovers and refits with the least amount of downtime possible .
“ If we ’ re shipping those 30,000 boxes , they ’ re going to contain 100,000 individual meals , which means approximately 300,000 individual ingredients . When you think about the touches that go into that , it ’ s more than a million touches every week that are completely unique to that cycle ,” he explains . “ Seven days later , the whole process starts again with entirely new products .”
Using advanced customer analytics , the Sun Basket team can predict with increasing accuracy which foods their customers will buy each week . “ We know eight weeks in advance what we ’ re going to put on our menu and we
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