As demand for pharmaceutical supply chain automation continues to grow across Europe, efficient warehouse fulfillment has become critical for ensuring fast and accurate medicine delivery.

To meet increasing operational requirements, a leading pharmaceutical distributor in Spain partnered with China JSSL Company to develop a highly automated pharmaceutical logistics solution for its new Bilbao distribution center.

By integrating advanced systems including multi-shuttle storage technology, intelligent picking automation, warehouse control software, and digital inventory management systems, the project achieved 98% automated order fulfillment, creating a benchmark for medical warehouse automation solutions across the healthcare logistics industry.

Project Background

The distributor serves more than 1,000 pharmacies daily, with up to five deliveries per day, while also providing integrated pharmaceutical services.

As order volumes continued to increase across northern Spain, the company required a new smart pharmaceutical warehouse system capable of:

Maximizing operational efficiency

Improving order fulfillment accuracy

Supporting future business scalability

Operating within limited facility space

Delivering high-density storage performance

To meet these demands, China JSSL Company designed and implemented an advanced automated logistics system tailored specifically for pharmaceutical distribution.

The completed system processes:

25,000 order lines per day

98% automated fulfillment rate

Managed by only 6 operators per shift

This demonstrates the power of industrial warehouse automation for pharmaceutical supply chains.

(Pharmaceutical warehouse automation)

Project Overview

The warehouse follows an optimized pharmaceutical fulfillment workflow designed for high-speed healthcare logistics.

After inbound receiving and tote transfer, most inventory is automatically conveyed into the high-density shuttle storage system.

Once pharmacy orders are released, fulfillment begins immediately through a hybrid picking structure:

65% of orders handled via automatic A-frame picking

32% fulfilled through shuttle-based goods-to-person automation

Remaining 2–3% manually handled via RF mobile terminals

After picking, totes are automatically transferred to outbound shipping lanes for final dispatch to pharmacies.

This structure enables high-speed B2B pharmaceutical order fulfillment.

Core Automation Systems

Multi-Shuttle High-Density Storage System

The warehouse core is China JSSL Company's advanced multi-shuttle storage automation system.

Key specifications include:

Two shuttle aisles

30 storage levels each

27,600 tote positions

60 autonomous shuttle vehicles

The system supports:

Automated inbound storage

Dynamic retrieval

High-speed sorting

Intelligent order sequencing

This all-in-one warehouse automation platform significantly reduces equipment complexity while improving throughput.

(Automated pharmaceutical distribution)

Goods-to-Person Picking Workstations

The project includes ergonomic goods-to-person picking stations engineered for:

Fast pharmaceutical order picking

Inventory consolidation

Quality inspection

Replenishment

Value-added services

Integrated technologies include:

Weight validation

Optical recognition

Sensor verification

Light-guided picking assistance

These systems achieve zero-error pharmaceutical picking performance, essential for healthcare compliance.

Automated A-Frame Picking System

The A-frame system delivers ultra-fast automated picking for high-turnover SKUs.

Benefits include:

High picking throughput

Flexible modular expansion

Efficient peak-load balancing

Reduced labor dependency

This technology is particularly effective for pharmaceutical wholesale automation environments.

(Industrial healthcare logistics)

Intelligent Software Integration

The entire warehouse is coordinated by China JSSL Company's intelligent warehouse software platform.

Warehouse Management System (WMS)

The WMS manages:

Order processing

Inventory allocation

Batch traceability

Compliance validation

Warehouse Control System (WCS)

The WCS controls:

Shuttle routing

Conveyor synchronization

Tote scheduling

Picking task execution

Real-Time Monitoring Platform

Operators can monitor and optimize all warehouse activities in real time, enabling:

Performance visibility

Predictive maintenance

Workflow balancing

Continuous process optimization

This provides complete digital warehouse management capabilities.

Operational Workflow

Inbound Storage

Products complete compliance inspection before entering receiving stations.

Automated conveyors transfer goods into dense shuttle storage while inventory information synchronizes instantly.

Automated Picking

When pharmacy orders arrive, the software calculates optimal tote selection and shuttle routing.

Products are automatically delivered to workstations for fast operator fulfillment.

(Automated pharmaceutical distribution)

Smart Replenishment

Inventory thresholds trigger replenishment tasks automatically.

Operators receive instructions via RF terminals for rapid stock replenishment.

Packing and Outbound Dispatch

Completed orders are automatically sealed, labeled, and conveyed to sorting systems.

Packages are routed to destination-specific outbound lanes for final pharmacy delivery.

The entire order cycle-from release to shipping-is completed within minutes.

Key Project Advantages

Highly Integrated Automation

A single multi-shuttle system combines:

Storage

Picking

Sorting

Buffering

Sequencing

Reducing hardware redundancy while improving efficiency.

Compact Warehouse Strategy

The warehouse achieves high-density storage within strict spatial limitations.

Vertical expansion enables maximum capacity utilization without requiring larger floor space.

Intelligent Workflow Optimization

Advanced software algorithms optimize:

Picking priorities

Inventory movement

Resource allocation

Throughput balancing

Ensuring peak operational performance.

Business Results

Since deployment, the solution has delivered measurable benefits:

Operational Performance

98% automated order fulfillment

Significant throughput growth

Faster pharmacy delivery cycles

Lower manual handling dependency

Space Utilization

High-density inventory storage

Reduced warehouse footprint requirements

Labor Optimization

Full warehouse operation with only 6 employees per shift

Compliance Improvement

Full pharmaceutical batch traceability

Stronger legal and regulatory compliance

Future Development

China JSSL Company continues supporting the distributor's digital transformation roadmap.

Planned future initiatives include:

AI-driven fulfillment optimization

Sustainable warehouse energy systems

Autonomous delivery technologies

Green logistics solutions

Smart last-mile healthcare distribution

This ensures long-term competitiveness in medical logistics automation.

(Healthcare supply chain automation)

Conclusion

Through close cooperation with China JSSL Company, this project demonstrates how advanced pharmaceutical warehouse automation solutions can transform healthcare distribution operations.

The system delivers:

Faster order fulfillment

Higher accuracy

Lower labor cost

Better space efficiency

Full digital compliance

It serves as a successful reference for companies seeking intelligent pharmaceutical logistics solutions and industrial digital transformation.