As we’ve done in the past, today we’re going to duck indoors and focus on some solutions designed for within your four walls.  In several of our Aug. posts we took a look at different types of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).  Today I’d like to provide more information about a product designed specifically to streamline warehouse operations- the Motorola VC5090 Vehicle-Mounted Mobile Computer.

The VC5090 is designed to withstand all-day use in the harshest warehouse environments, such as coolers, freezers and the loading dock.  Ideal for receiving, put-away and replenishment, the VC5090 can endure the rigors of forklift operations and improve productivity of forklift operators.  Some key features that make the VC5090 perfect for warehouse operations include:

• Industrial and military grade specifications for vibration
• Rugged construction
• Operates reliably in temperatures from -22° to 122° F (-30° to 50° C)
• Touchscreen or keypad designed for gloved hands
• Real-time wireless connectivity

The following video from Motorola demonstrates how the VC5090 can survive in cold storage warehouse environments.

DecisionPoint provides solutions for a variety of enterprises, including Warehousing.  For more information about the VC5090 or Warehouse Management Systems please contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc.

Our July 14 post introduced the topic of Push-To-Talk (PTT) explaining what Push-To-Talk is and its benefits to your business.

Many people are fans of Nextel’s Direct Connect Push-To-Talk feature.  The problem is you’re locked into Sprint-Nextel.  Even if you’re happy with them as your carrier, you’re still limited in your phone selection.  So what can you do if you really want the Push-To-Talk capability but you want to switch carriers or your mobile workers  need a ruggedized phone—perhaps with an integrated bar code scanner?

Until recently, there really were no alternatives.  Now there is.  Below is an audio demo:

Push-to-Talk Audio Demo

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.