Founded in 1969, MAAX Bath is now one of the leading North American manufacturers of bathroom products. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of solutions including bathtubs, showers, shower doors and bases, faucets, and various types of sinks. While its early activities were related to manufacturing parts for snowmobiles and pool equipment, MAAX Bath quickly evolved to specialize in the bathroom industry, becoming a recognized leader in its sector over the years.
Today, the company operates more than a dozen plants across Canada and the United States, including several facilities in Quebec. Its mission remains constant: to provide exceptional service to its customers and ensure efficient distribution of its products through its network of retailers and wholesalers.

With the expansion of its operations and the introduction of new product lines, MAAX Bath saw its inventory volumes increase significantly. Over time, stock became spread across several different locations, including certain manufacturing plants, existing facilities, and warehouses operated by external logistics providers (3PL). This dispersion made inventory management more complex and limited the overall efficiency of logistics operations.

It became more difficult to maintain a clear view of inventory levels, coordinate operations, and respond quickly to customer expectations. The nature of the products also added to these challenges, as many items are heavy, bulky, and come in various sizes, making their organization and handling more complicated.

Faced with these issues and rising external storage costs, MAAX Bath decided to rethink its logistics model by centralizing its inventories in a new distribution center.

To bring this project to life, MAAX Bath chose to open a new distribution center in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and relied on the expertise of MSK Canada to support the design and layout of the warehouse. The selected building covers an area of 200,000 square feet and stands out for its uncommon height of 40 feet, a feature that offers strong potential to maximize vertical storage.

From the very first stages of the project, an in-depth analysis of inventory and logistics flows was conducted in order to design a layout tailored to the company’s operational needs. This field study was particularly important given the weight and volume of certain products, as well as the health and safety challenges associated with handling operations in a high-clearance facility.

The detailed inventory analysis made it possible to better understand the stock structure and identify the most efficient storage solutions. The teams notably observed that nearly 80% of the products were stored in quantities of eight pallets or more. Based on this data, several scenarios were studied to optimize space utilization and operational productivity. MAAX ultimately opted for a hybrid approach combining single-deep static racking with dynamic accumulation systems, or “pallet flow,” a solution that offers high operational flexibility while reducing the facility’s footprint and maximizing vertical space usage. In parallel with the implementation of this new configuration, the company undertook the consolidation of inventories that were previously spread across various locations, including certain plants and 3PL warehouses, thereby centralizing logistics operations within a single distribution center, resulting in savings of several thousand dollars per month in external warehousing costs.

Despite the fact that the site was already operational during the installation of the storage equipment, the project was implemented according to the planned schedule. Effective coordination between the teams helped limit operational disruptions and ensured a smooth transition to the new facilities.

Since the distribution center was commissioned, the results have been very positive. MAAX Bath now benefits from increased storage capacity and a more efficient logistics organization. Loading and unloading times have been reduced by approximately 25%, directly improving operational performance.

This optimization also translates into better service for customers, with some orders now being delivered in less than 48 hours. Today, operations are smoother, better structured, and ready to support the company’s future growth, an achievement made possible through close collaboration between MAAX Bath and MSK Canada.