ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, host Andrew Stroup sits down with Corey Apirian, Founder & CEO of Davinci Micro Fulfillment, to unpack the operating math behind profitable speed—when micro-nodes beat traditional DC/3PL shipping, and when multi-channel fulfillment (MCF) is the better call. We get into the weight/price rule of thumb (>4 lb or >$40 often pencils out; <1 lb or <$20 is no-man’s-land unless optimized), the network science of node placement (maximize 2-day, mostly 1-day, same-day in major metros by starting from carrier zones & lanes), and how “correct before commit” guides forward placement, re-slotting, and seasonality.
You’ll hear about:
MCF vs. MFC decision logic—both viable; it depends on your business model, SKU mix, and margin goals.
The weight/price thresholds that drive parcel cost math and channel steering at checkout.
Network design that “follows the NFL cities” as a quick comp—grounded in carrier lanes—to compress zones and split-ships.
Inventory turns as the anchor KPI (<3 makes MFC hard; >12 often validates multi-node).
Buy vs. build lessons: robotics ROI vs. smaller decentralized nodes; why industrial real estate (docks/flow/pick-pack) is margin-critical; and what you can vs. can’t control.
On-air metrics to benchmark: zones/order, avg ship distance, split-ship %, same-/next-day %, parcel $/order, pick+pack mins, break-even throughput & ramp.
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