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Manufacturing Journalist Tr Cutler Discusses Warehouse Control Systems in Current Issue of Business Excellence

A checklist of WCS areas of expertise must include:

• Operations audits

• Supply chain strategy development and master planning

• Process analysis and optimization

• Location modeling, transportation, logistics, and distribution network analysis

• Inventory analysis and control

• Vendor/supplier collaboration

• Material handling equipment (MHE) requirements

• Analysis, specification development, and bid administration

• Warehouse management system (WMS) requirements

• Project management, systems integration, and implementation

Manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler contributed to the current issue of the Business Excellence; the feature titled, “Leaning the Warehouse” details why a warehouse control system (WCS) is well suited to working with a lean six sigma initiative. According to Cutler, WCS directs real-time data management and the interface responsibilities of the material handling system as well as providing common user interface screens for monitoring, control and diagnostics. WCS systems must be entirely flexible and scalable.

Beyond software selection and implementation, there are mechanisms and tools for handling specific and measured process improvement. Selecting replacement, supplementary or new warehouse management software applications is a multi-step undertaking involving a wide range of skills. Finding the best fit will vary in every set of circumstances.

WCS vendors must develop a strategic partnership with a manufacturing and distribution firm in which there is a clear understanding of the organization’s unique shipping needs, and actively assist in reaching and measuring cost reduction goals and service needs.

Warehouse control systems must address numerous challenges from multiple angles and perspectives, but if these are met they can produce benefits including a greater return on assets, increased operational capacity, reduced labor costs, increased inventory turns, an increase in picking and shipping accuracy, shorter process cycle times and improved customer satisfaction.

According to Jerry List, vice-president of QC Software (www.QCSoftware.com), “Implementation of a WCS system requires an experienced supplier who should be able to provide streamlined project cycle, single-point of accountability and have a deep knowledge of distribution operations. This can only be achieved through the experience gained from a history of successful projects.

The solutions provided by QC Software enables companies to streamline their warehouse operations with the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry ensuring increased corporate profitability.

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Warehouse Control Systems Issue Focus of January 2007 Publication

In the January 2007 issue of AutomationMedia.com the issue of warehouse control systems was addressed. The article may be read in its entirety at http://www.automationmedia.com/ARDetail.asp?ID=%2022.

According to author Thomas R. Cutler, “Production losses, increased cost, and inefficient pick and pack methods, can drain capital resources and precious time. Getting the advantage and sustaining that effort, it is essential to streamline the order fulfillment rule process from time of order receipt to the time of shipping. Efficiently organizing order fulfillment rules and procedures can reduce cost, reduce order cycle time, and optimize labor.”

When choosing a Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) it is important to understand warehouse needs and benefits of having an integrated Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) before starting the selection process. The goal may be to automate warehouse operations or upgrade to a more robust system.

WCS are a key part of the supply chain and provide directed stock rotation, intelligent picking directives, automatic consolidation and cross-docking to maximize the use of valuable warehouse space. The systems also direct and optimizes stock put-away based on real-time information about the status of bin utilization.

Many companies offer Warehouse Control Systems but there are very few that specialize in WCS technology. Companies like FKI Logistex, Diamond Phoenix and Fortna provide a WCS yet they typically provide conveyor systems and the WCS is another offering. Best of breed solutions require a comprehensive understanding and specificity of the technology.

Pick and Pack is a part of a complete supply chain management focused on the needs of retailers and entails processing small to large quantities of product, often truck or train loads and disassembling them, picking the relevant product for each destination and re-packaging with shipping label affixed, invoice included.

Warehouse management systems utilize Auto ID Data Capture technology, such as barcode scanners, mobile computers, wireless LANs and potentially RFID to efficiently monitor the flow of products. Once data has been collected, there is either batch synchronization with, or a real-time wireless transmission to a central database. The database can then provide useful reports about the status of goods in the warehouse.

QC Software is the leading provider of Tier 1 warehouse control systems to the warehousing and distribution industries. Since 1996, QC Software, utilizing state of the art technology combined with extensive research, development, and rigorous testing, has developed the QC Enterprise suite of products. Designed to be modular in nature, easily configurable, and platform independent, this highly scalable solution satisfies the needs of any size warehouse.

The solutions provided by QC Software (www.qcsoftware.com) enables companies to streamline their warehouse operations with the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry ensuring increased corporate profitability. With a commitment to total customer satisfaction QC Software is the obvious choice for warehouse control, order management, and inventory management needs.

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