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Kitting and assembly services play a vital role in streamlining packaging, reducing handling time, and accelerating order fulfillment. These processes are essential for businesses like yours looking to improve warehouse efficiency, optimize supply chain logistics, and enhance customer satisfaction. When executed effectively, kitting and assembly solutions contribute to cost savings, faster shipping, and improved inventory management.
In this guide, we’ll break down how supply chains actually implement kitting and assembly services, how they scale, which features matter for complex operations, and how Buske Logistics’ kitting & assembly services meet those needs.
Kitting and assembly services are two terms that often come up in supply chain management and warehouse fulfillment operations. They refer to distinct processes that play crucial roles in ensuring an efficient logistics structure.
Kitting in supply chains generally refers to grouping together multiple components or items into ready-to-ship kits; assembly adds further value by combining those components into sub-assemblies or finished bundles.
For detailed definitions and best practices, refer to our guide Kitting in Logistics: Definition, Benefits, Types & Best Practices.
The steps involved in kitting and assembly are similar. Most of the procedures can also be performed in warehouses, which helps you save time and money. 3PLs that offer warehousing solutions often provide kitting and assembly as value-added services.
Here are the steps that go into warehouse kitting and assembly:
Partnering with a 3PL provider for kitting and assembly services offers numerous advantages, including:
Outsourcing kitting and assembly tasks to a 3PL can significantly reduce labor and operational costs. A 2015 Armstrong & Associates study revealed that outsourcing logistics operations led to an average of 9% cost savings while improving inventory management by 15%.
By leveraging the expertise and resources of a specialized provider, businesses can save on hiring, training, and managing additional staff dedicated to these tasks.
For example, outsourcing a consumer electronics company's kitting and assembly processes could eliminate the need for a sizable in-house assembly team and reduce labor costs. It could also help the company save on operational expenses for maintaining a large assembly facility.
Leveraging the expertise of an experienced 3PL will help streamline kitting and assembly processes for business. It can result in reduced turnaround times and improved supply chain speed.
For example, pre-assembled kits streamline the supply chain process, ensuring faster fulfillment. The study from DiVA Portal evaluates the implementation of kitting in high-variation assembly lines using a case study at Caterpillar BCP-E. The research highlights that kitting can reduce lineside storage and operator walking times, thus improving efficiency.
Additionally, the cost and time savings businesses benefit from partnering with expert 3PLs may explain the trend in outsourcing logistics. The 2020 Annual 3PL Study revealed that 73% of shippers outsource warehousing, while 21% use order management and fulfillment services of 3PLs.
The expertise and resources of trusted 3PLs allow scalability of operations to meet changing business needs. Additionally, 3PLs can deliver tailored solutions that meet specific needs and deadlines.
For instance, a fashion retailer may experience a surge in demand during the holiday season. By partnering with a 3PL, they could quickly scale their kitting and assembly operations to fulfill large gift set orders.
With a 3PL provider, a fashion retailer can handle the increased volume without investing in additional permanent staff or facilities.
Professional 3PLs bring specialized knowledge and experience to the table. They adhere to stringent quality control measures, ensuring every kit or assembled product meets your specifications and standards.
Buske Logistics’ kitting & assembly services provide:
When selecting a kitting and assembly partner, it’s essential to evaluate more than just price and location. The right provider should offer the technology, scalability, and precision needed to support efficient, high-quality fulfillment across your entire supply chain. Key factors to consider include:
Buske Logistics meets all these criteria — see how our Kitting & Assembly service is built for flexibility, visibility, and accuracy.
Kitting bundles individual items into ready-to-ship kits under a single SKU, while assembly involves partially or fully constructing products before dispatch—both aimed at streamlining fulfillment and reducing manual labor. These value-added services simplify inventory handling and enhance order accuracy.
Outsourcing to a 3PL reduces overhead costs for warehouse space, equipment, and labor while offering scalability, faster turnaround, and flexibility during demand spikes or promotions.
These services boost efficiency by reducing fulfillment time, cutting shipping and handling errors, minimizing SKU complexity, and enabling seamless inventory tracking.
By consolidating frequently ordered items into kits, businesses save on labor, packaging, and shipping, while also enhancing accuracy and the overall customer experience.
Buske Logistics offers customized kitting and assembly services integrated within their 3PL warehousing operations—leveraging real-time WMS and streamlined workflows to accelerate fulfillment, reduce errors, and deliver consistent, reliable supply chain performance.
Finding the right 3PL partner is crucial to achieving efficient kitting and assembly operations, leading to your company’s successful supply chain. If your supply chain demands efficiency, accuracy, and scalable assembly/kitting solutions, Buske Logistics is ready to partner.
Browse our full Kitting & Assembly service or contact us to request a quote.
