Custom-built warehouse management systems (or Tier 1 systems) are typically found in large scale warehousing environments that require full integration with enterprise-wide MRP, ERP and/or accounting applications.   Tier 1 WMS products include all of the features of an IMS, Tier 3 WMS, and Tier 2 WMS.  Tier 1 warehouse management systems (WMS) also include value-added features such as voice-activated technologies, radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging, wireless communications, and physical automation support. Unlike less robust products, a Tier 1 WMS can be fully-integrated with software for materials resource planning (MRP), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and accounting. 

 Custom-Built WMS Features:

• Yard Management
• Transportation Management
• Engineered Labor Standards
• Physical Automation Support
• Value Added Services
• Planned Cross Dock
• Voice Technology

 DecisionPoint provides supply chain software products and consulting services to businesses in a range of industries.  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about WMS products. 

Tier 2 WMS products include the features of an IMS and Tier 3 WMS. Tier 2 products also provide cross-dock planning, automatic wave planning, system-directed replenishment, and stock location management. Tier 2 WMS software with outbound order management, system-directed put-away, labor planning, load management, and compliance reporting is also available. In some cases, Tier 2 warehousing software can be integrated with existing supply chain applications.

A Tier 2 warehouse management systems represent the highest level of non-customized software. These systems offer a full spectrum of features, but may not integrate fully with other business systems. An enterprise-level warehouse management system will have the features of an Inventory Management System (IMS) and a Tier 3 system, plus the following functionality:

Tier 2 WMS Features:

• Auto Wave Planning
• Suggested Shipping Cartons
• System-Directed Replenishment
• Opportunity Cross Dock
• Wave Planning Support
• Stock Location Management
• Outbound Order Management
• System-Directed Putaway
• RF Task Interleaving
• Load Creation Advice
• Labor Planning
• Load Management
• Inbound Order Planning
• Order Wave Planning
• Compliance Forms

DecisionPoint provides supply chain software products and consulting services to businesses in a range of industries.  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about WMS products. 

Tier 3 warehouse management systems form the baseline for true WMS systems. Tier 3 WMS products combine the features of a standard inventory management system (IMS) with functions such as wave picking, zone picking, cross-docking, and directed put-away. Tier 3 applications may also offer serial number tracking, lot number tracking, or pallet tracking. Many Tier 3 systems allow warehouse personnel to create work orders, identify finished goods, and print shipping labels. Inventory valuation methods include first in, first out (FIFO) and last in, last out (LIFO). They are more robust than IMS systems, and offer scalability into larger systems as a company’s needs grow. Typically, a Tier 3 WMS will have all the features of an Inventory Management System (IMS) plus these additional features:

Tier 3 WMS Features:

• Serial Number Tracking
• Lot Number Tracking
• FIFO (First In, First Out)
• LIFO (Last In, First Out)
• Directed Put-Away: The WMS has rules to determine where received product must go
• Wave Picking: Typically used where trucks are loaded by stops. The last stop is picked first, next to last stop picked second, etc.
• Zone Picking: order picking method where a warehouse is divided into several pick zones, order pickers are assigned to a specific zone and only pick the items in that zone, orders are moved from one zone to the next (usually on conveyor systems) as they are picked (also known as “pick-and-pass”).
• LP (License Plating): Each pallet has a unique ID and the WMS understands what product is on that pallet.
• BOM (Bill Of Material): – allows for a single part number to represent multiple parts that make up a Kit.
• Work Order: used in manufacturing environments where inventory is pulled to be moved into manufacturing. Typically parts that are pulled into manufacturing are referred to as “Raw Goods”. Products that are manufactured and then moved back into a WMS are usually referred to as “Finished Goods”. For example, a BOM can define the Raw Goods required to build a Finished Good.
• Cross Docking: Product is received and then immediately shipped. The product is never actually Put Away into the WMS.
• Pallet Tracking: Related to LP
• Compliance Shipping Labels
• Multiple Units of Measure: – Used when product can be handled by different UOM. For example, product may be received in by the Case, but picked and shipped by the Each. Traditional UOM is three levels for most products:
  • Pallet
  • Case or Carton
  • Each or Piece

A Tier 3 solution also typically includes some level of integration into an existing Accounting or ERP system.  

DecisionPoint provides supply chain software products and consulting services to businesses in a range of industries.  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about WMS products.

An Inventory Management System (IMS) offers basic wareshouse automation and will typically have a flexible location system, user-defined parameters to direct warehouse tasks and use live documents to execute tasks, and some level of built-in integration with data collection devices.

Standard IMS Features:

DecisionPoint provides supply chain software products and consulting services to businesses in a range of industries.   Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about WMS products. 

Unil now, our focus has been on field mobility, but for the next few days we’re going to duck indoors and take a look at Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) product types and warehouse groupings.

Warehouse management systems (WMS) are used to manage the movement and storage of materials in a warehouse. There are three types of products: Tier 3, Tier 2, and Tier 1. Tier 3 warehouse management systems (WMS) are the least expensive type. They allow warehouse personnel to manage the flow of materials on conveyors and can be integrated into picking systems. Tier 2 WMS applications are more robust than Tier 3 systems, but do not contain all of the features of a Tier 1 WMS. Typically, warehouse management systems (WMS) are used in large-scale or high-volume warehousing environments. Storage location management, automatic order selection, inventory control and replenishment, and shipping and receiving are common features.

DecisionPoint provides supply chain software products and consulting services to businesses in a range of industries.  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about WMS products.

Our August 5 post described the features and functionality of the MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) and included a brief video.  Today’s post includes a video that focuses on the design and innovation of the Motorola MC55 EDA.  

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA).

Standalone GPS is also known as autonomous GPS or native GPS.  Time To First Fix (TTFF) is the time to pinpoint your present location.  Initial TTFF is often referred to as “cold start”. 

As its name implies, standalone GPS relies solely on the GPS satellites and a clear, unobstructed view of the skies to determine your present location.

While standalone GPS can acquire your location without cell network coverage, TTFF can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes because it needs to search for satellites.  Also, standalone GPS has difficulty providing reliable positions in poor signal conditions such as when the receiver is surrounded by tall buildings or trees.  Standalone GPS also will not generally work inside buildings.  However, standalone GPS is usually more accurate than A-GPS and there are no network-dependent downsides. 

Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is intended to provide faster Time To First Fix and signal acquisition under poor signal conditions.  A-GPS does not “triangulate” using cellular networks as is sometimes thought.  Instead, A-GPS relies on projection of satellite orbital path data over a period of 2-10 days.  A-GPS cell phones use a data connection to contact an assistance server and download A-GPS data which enables the device to quickly locate GPS satellites.  Typically, an A-GPS device downloads a new “GPS Quick Connect File” every couple of days.  When the file expires it takes about 2 minutes to get a fix on the satellites instead of the typical 20 seconds, but it still works.

It’s important to understand that Assisted GPS is a GPS with a full GPS, SIRF 3 or Globallocate chipset.  The “Assisted” component is an additional or complementary function, rather than an enabling one. While some A-GPS solutions do not have the option of falling back to standalone or autonomous GPS, most systems will run fine and simply take longer for Time To First Fix.

Benefits of A-GPS are:

• Faster location acquisition
• Less device processing power required
• Extends battery life
• Location acquisition possible in non-optimal environments and indoors 

All GPS solutions which DecisionPoint offer can run on either standalone GPS or A-GPS devices.   Keep in mind though that Location-Based Services (GPS Tracking) solutions do require a data plan to transmit data real-time including current location, geofencing arrivals/departures and speed alerts.  However, up to 3 weeks of historical data (breadcrumbing, geofencing and speed alerts) can be stored on some devices and transmitted when the unit is again within coverage. 

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to help you successfully navigate this complex topic and determine the best solution for you.  (Admit it—don’t you like the way I worked the word ‘navigate’ into a sentence about GPS?)

The MC55 is the newest, smallest and lightest addition to Motorola’s family of Enterprise Digital Assistants (EDA).  The MC55 is designed for mobile workers inside and outside the four walls and combines the power of a cell phone, two-way radio, bar code scanner, digital camera, and mobile computer into a compact and lightweight design.  The MC55 boasts:

• 3.5 inches, backlit QGA touchscreen (320 x 240)
• 802.11a/b/g WLAN connectivity with flexible VoIP (VoWLAN) support (MC5590 only; MC5574: 802.11b/g)
• 2.5G WWAN: GSM/GPRS/EDGE broadband connectivity over the cellular network (MC5574 only)
• 1D/2D bar code scanning
• 2-megapixel, auto-focus, flash-enabled optional color camera
• Integrated GPS
• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Multiple keyboard configurations

… all in a rugged package with 4 ft. drop test.  Learn more about the MC55 in this brief video:  

Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA).

We introduced the topic of Intrinsic Safety yesterday in our August 3 post.  In that post, I promised to cover the Intrinsically Safe definitions and standards today. 

Non-incendive Devices, Circuits, and Components: incapable of generating thermal or electrical energy sufficient to ignite a volatile atmosphere under normal operating conditions-although sufficient energy for ignition could be generated under fault conditions.  A Non-Incendive device is designed for use in environments where the specified hazard may be present, but is not likely to exist under normal operating conditions.

Class I is part of the National Electric Code definitions of hazardous location classifications and protection techniques. The Class I classification is a segment of the basic designation which is listed by “class” and “division”.
 
Class I locations are areas where flammable gases may be present in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or flammable mixtures. Class II locations can be described as hazardous because of the presence of combustible dust. Class III locations contain easily ignitable fibers and flyings. Division 1 designates an environment where flammable gases, vapors, liquids, combustible dusts or ignitable fibers and flyings are likely to exist under normal operating conditions. On the other hand, Division 2 is an environment where flammable gases, vapors, liquids, combustible dusts or ignitable fibers and flyings are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions. Hazardous atmospheres are further defined by “groups.”

Intrinsically Safe (I-Safe) Devices, Circuits, and Components: are incapable of generating thermal or electrical energy sufficient to ignite a volatile atmosphere under either normal or abnormal operating conditions. Consequently, intrinsically safe systems have much wider application than their non-incendive counterparts. Non-incendive systems are generally less costly and easier to maintain than either explosion-proof or intrinsically safe systems.

Class 1, Division 2 Safe Device: Device which is safe to operate in locations (1) in which volatile flammable liquids or gases are handled, processed or used but which are normally confined in enclosed containers or systems, (2) in which ignitable concentrations of gases or vapors are normally prevented by ventilation, (3) which are adjacent to Class I Division I locations and not separated by a vapor tight barrier.  An intrinsically safe device is approved for use in the specified class and division and will not produce any spark or thermal effects that will ignite a specified gas mixture.

ATEX: Derived from the French “ATmosphere EXplosible” (explosive atmosphere). Refers to Atex Directive 04/9/EC, the European regulation governing equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

 Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about non-incendive and Intrinsically Safe (I-Safe) mobile devices and what you need to protect your employees. 

Standard electrical equipment often creates internal sparks which can ignite flammable substances present in hazardous environments where flammable materials are handled and any leak or spill has the potential to form a an explosive atmosphere.

In these areas, it’s essential that mobile devices are rated either non-incendive or  Intrinsically Safe (I-Safe).  But what do these terms mean and how do you know whether you need either of these rated mobile devices?

Intrinsic Safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres.  A device termed intrinsically safe is designed to not contain any components that generate sparks or a hot surface due to any type of electrical fault that could cause an ignition.

The National Electrical Code classifies hazardous locations by class and divisions.  In these environments, mobile devices must be used with a corresponding rating. In tomorrow’s post, we’ll cover the Intrinsically Safe definitions and standards.

 Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about non-incendive and Intrinsically Safe (I-Safe) mobile devices and what you need to protect your employees.