Week 6 - Warehouse Management Systems Flashcards
What is a warehouse management system?
Consists of software and processes that allow organisations to control and administer warehouse operations from the time goods or materials enter a warehouse until they move out
What are the 9 different functions in a warehouse management system
What are the main processes in warehouse management systems? (4)
• Goods receiving
• Put away into storage
• Order picking & packaging
• Goods dispatch
What are the two types of Warehouse management system
• Passive - recording the activity in a warehouse
• Active - driving operations
What is the variation in varied complexity (2)
• Manual operations
• Interfacing with automation
Potential requirements for warehouse management systems (6)
• Multiple warehouses
• Batch control
• Serial number capture
• Date integrity (BBD)
• Customs status
• Ownership
Features of warehouse management system setups (3)
• Diverse product mix which requires a dedicated system setup
• Setting up physical characterises of the product/group of products and locations is the starting point
• Common to combine multiple logic methods to determine the best location/methodology - logic may be changed according to workload e.g during busy periods optimise productivity but in quieter periods optimise space utilisation
3 Characteristics Picking in WMS
• 3 types - Picking, batch picking and zone picking
• Support for various picking methods varies from one system to another
• In high-volume fulfilment operations, picking logic can be a critical factor in WMS selection
What is task interleaving? (2)
• Is a functionality that mixes dissimilar tasks such as picking and put away to obtain maximum productivity
• Used primarily in full-pallet load operations and task interleaving will direct a lift truck operator to put away a pallet on his/her way to the next pick
What is integration with automated material handling equipment? (2)
• Involves Integration with carousels, automated guided vehicles, pick-to-light systems
• The cost of the equipment often drives the choice of the WMS software
What is advanced shipment notifications? (2)
• Allows WMS to know what material is coming in the future to get knowledge on where the customers’ product is
• Shippers can send electronic advanced shipment notifications
What is cycle counting? (2)
• Similar to stock counting
• Aim is to minimise order cancellations, identify inventory shrinkage e.g through theft, damage etc, eliminate errors and improve inventory report accuracy
What is cross docking
Involves inbound to outbound trailers without storage (or with limited storage operations)
What is pick-to-carton (2)
• Uses item dimensions/weights to select the shipping carton prior to the order picking process
• Items are then picked directly into the shipping carton
What is yard management? (2)
• Involving managing inventory of trailers parked outside the warehouse or empty trailers themselves
• Is generally associated with cross docking operations and may include the management of both inbound and outbound trailers
What are the departments that need to combine for an effective warehouse management system (4)
• Finance
• Procurement
• Production sales
• IT
Process of selecting the right warehouse management system (5)
Benefits of an effective warehouse management system (ROI report) (3)
• Potential to improve stock accuracy
• Potential for increased productivity and cost savings potential for improved traceability
• Potential for improved customer service through overall improved warehouse control, improved pick and dispatch accuracy
Cost of Warehouse management systems (ROI report) (5)
• License
• Professional services
• Development cost support cost
• Hardware and infrastructure cost
• Technical support
What to look for in a warehouse management system (4)
• Ability to interface with other system modular and scalable
• Accesible remotely over the web (e,g SaaS) for ease of operation
• Standard system meet specific needs
• Capable of supporting warehouse best practises reporting capabilities
Criteria for selecting a partner (7)
• Experienced
• Do they emphasise the benefits of the software
• Choose a vendor who has already installed WMS system with clients in your industry
• Can they give you full service support
• Ensure they are investing significant capital,in research and development and future product enhancements
• Are they customer oriented
• Can they support your future updating needs
What is software as a service (SaaS)? (5)
• Has a lower cost of entry
• Reduced start up cost
• Instant upgrades
• User-driven innovations
• Ability to turn on and off as required; suitable for running a temporary warehouse operation
What are the overall benefits of warehouse management systems? (5)
• Should reduce inventory (especially safety stock)
• Should reduce labour costs
• Should increase storage capacity
• Should increase customer service
• Should increase inventory accuracy
What is an RFID (2)
• Standard for radio frequency identification
• Is an automatic identification method relying on remotely retrieving data using devices called a RFID tag
