The news
NAPA Auto Parts opened a 400,000-square-foot reverse logistics center in York, Pennsylvania, that uses more than 100 robots. It is the first highly automated returns center in NAPA’s network.
NAPA says the center cuts inventory and redistribution times by 43%, and achieves inventory accuracy of up to 99.5%.
“York is the first step in a broader modernization of the NAPA supply chain,” said Justin Ducharme, NAPA’s executive vice president of supply chain.
Why it matters: NAPA is starting its supply chain overhaul with returns, at a site that puts parts back into stock for its whole Northeast network.
The details
The York center takes in returns from across NAPA’s supply chain and redistributes that inventory to the company’s Northeast distribution centers. Its robots work alongside employees, using technology NAPA says is patent-pending. The site began operating in August.
NAPA’s distribution network supplies more than 560,000 parts, accessories and service items to about 6,000 US stores, the company said.
“By combining innovative technology with the expertise of our teammates, we're creating a more efficient operation,” Ducharme said.
York is also one of several NAPA automation projects, as the company adds robots to the distribution centers that pick and ship its orders. NAPA has put robots in a returns center and at least two distribution centers since 2025.
NAPA piloted Brightpick’s goods-to-person picking robots at one distribution center in 2025, then agreed in February to add them at another, starting with more than 100 robots.
In October, integrator Hy-Tek said it is installing a high-density storage and robotic picking system from Hai Robotics at a NAPA distribution center.
What’s next
NAPA is expanding its automation partnership with Brightpick across its US distribution centers, starting with a deployment of more than 100 goods-to-person robots. The deal allows for additional rollouts.
(Photo: Alberto Rodríguez / Unsplash)
