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Warehouse Management Systems
- WMS concept, evaluation and implementation can be a simple process not requiring years, and millions of dollars. The following are some suggestions to help in your search, evaluation and implementation:
- I make the distinction between the requirement for a tier one supplier and another system, or platform that can fit the needs of the customer in a couple of ways. Will the system do the basics of receiving and shipping, tracking inventory and releasing orders, waves, batches? Allot of simpler and less expensive WMS can satisfy this type of requirement. Will a customers WMS be required to replenish forward pick locations, interface with automated equipment? What volume will be handled, hours of operation, and are their multiple installations? Don't forget service contracts.
- Keep in mind that each WMS supplier would like you to adjust to their system. Be flexible, it's a give and take relationship. Define what you would like your new WMS to do, and what equipment it will interface with. Write a complete operational bid document. Interview perspective suppliers. Ask what can be provided without modifications to their standard software package? Define additional modifications for each supplier. Make a decision based on fit, budget and references. Some smaller companies could have too much business to provide you the proper support to complete the project on time and within budget.
- WMS company's bill just like a consultant. Time is money, and when they run out of budgeted time you will be charged for any and all additional work. Be careful what you ask for!
- Support contracts usually run 15% to 18% annually after installation. If you do not have a good IS staff to support the WMS platform installed, a service contract is a must. Figure this into your annual budget.
- Staffed IS departments usually have allot of work, and when asked about modifications, the answer is "we don't have time, maybe after the first of the year". When implementing a WMS system contract employees can be a great benefit. The problem is knowing where to go for good help.
- To make your WMS experience successful design a Host/WMS interface document. To do this list current information transactions, flow of materials, receiving, inventory management, order processing, picking, order consolidation, waving, shipping, inventory reconciliation, etc.
- Before final design and implementation the best chance to get all questions answered and define all modifications, is the final design meeting with the software company. These meetings are defined in one of two ways. GAP analysis identifying the deference's between what you desire and the base software package, or a CRP (Conference Room Pilot), to define what modifications are needed to the base system? Early interviews can eliminate surprises.
- How much to spend? The range can be defined from maintaining a file on scanned items from shipping, with periodic uploads to a host system local or distant, possibly an NT system, to a tier one supplier scheduling shipments and tracking inventory form receiving through shipping. The options these systems offer such as slotting, releasing to forward pick locations, cubing storage devices, including trucks, and loading trucks in specific route sequence is a few to mention and can cost you later if not discussed up front.
- What equipment will your WMS system interface with, and what files will be passed to the Host? This type of information can include received items, damaged goods, staged pallets, picked items for shipping, shipped cases or pallets, completed orders, printed documents etc.
- Develop your wish list of what you would like the WMS to do.
- Look at all interface points for your WMS system and equipment. What transactions will take place and how will inventory be maintained? Can you eliminate inventory by cycle counting?
- Possible locations, Storage and staging locations. Receiving, Pallet rack, P&D locations, Set down areas for special handling, transfer staging locations, assembling orders including cold storage.
- What forward pick locations are required. Flow rack, Split Case, any automated equipment?
- Labeling and RF interface points. RF interface can range from basic guns with chords capturing multiple codes to transferring files.
- Know how each interface is going to operate. Will SKU's be tracked in your material handling system, will interfaces be transaction based in the WMS system, license control?
- Mid-Level software and HMI stations supplied by your equipment supplier can add a level of complexity which the WMS supplier will need to define. This can add time and money.
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