Lam Research's automated hub cut parts retrieval from 6 minutes to 30 seconds
A 10-acre California warehouse consolidated regional logistics under one roof — 15 robots, 150,000 bins, 500,000+ part numbers — and supports 200+ jobs by 2027.
What was changed
Lam Research has opened its largest US warehouse, a 10-acre facility in California that centralises the chip-equipment maker's regional logistics operations. 'This warehouse demonstrates Lam's commitment to investing in the U.S. as part of our global operations strategy,' said Karthik Rammohan, senior vice president of global operations and enterprise solutions, at the opening ceremony.
The case for one roof is operational: previously, transporting materials between multiple sites created inefficiencies, and the centralised hub lets Lam reallocate resources dynamically as customer build plans and technology ramps evolve, while removing the costs of moving personnel and parts between separate facilities. 'With all operations under a single roof, we can create a more agile and efficient operation,' said Troy Rainey, director of US warehouse operations.
The centrepiece is a 40,000-square-foot automated storage and retrieval system powered by 15 robots, which cuts inventory retrieval times from six minutes to less than 30 seconds — a twelvefold increase over previous systems. It houses roughly 150,000 storage bins accommodating more than 500,000 unique part numbers to support future manufacturing scale.
Why it worked
Scattered logistics sites meant transporting parts between facilities — pure overhead that consolidated operations eliminate.
Semiconductor customers' build plans shift with technology ramps, so the hub is built for rapid reallocation rather than static throughput.
The automated retrieval system directly converts centralisation into speed: 12x faster parts retrieval with 15 robots across 150,000 bins.
Sitting adjacent to Livermore volume manufacturing and Fremont pilot development, the hub shortens the loop from storage to line.
What can be applied
Consolidation is a speed decision, not just a cost one: one automated roof beats many scattered sites when demand keeps shifting underneath you.
Aftermath
The facility, opened with a certificate of recognition from the state of California for its contribution to advanced manufacturing infrastructure and supply-chain resilience, directly supplies Lam's high-volume Livermore plant and Fremont pilot programmes, with an adjacent metrology laboratory supporting outbound delivery responsiveness. It is expected to support more than 200 jobs by 2027 in partnership with DHL.