Warehouse Management Systems

At the center of most logistics operations is the warehouse management system (WMS). The evolution of the personal computer (PC) along with operating systems and available software tools has changed the face of WMS forever. The PC revolution allows not only the largest companies to take advantage of a robust WMS but now small to mid-sized operations may also have a WMS with all the functionality of the giant logistics centers. With demands on the warehouse increasing as a steady rate the scalability and flexibility of a PC based WMS is becoming the most attractive option to most all warehouses.

Labor Reductions

By automating the warehouse with a WMS, Labor may be reduced by allowing the WMS to optimize receiving, storage, picking and billing.

Improved Inventory Accuracy

By combining data collection devices such as barcode scanners with the power of relational databases inside the WMS, inventory accuracy will be greatly improved over non-WMS solutions.  Other WMS features such as cycle counting also improve inventory accuracy.

Improved Space Utilization

The WMS tracks all products in real time. As soon as a space has been emptied, the WMS may immediately allocate new material to this space in just a few seconds.

Smart storage algorithms within the WMS allow the warehouse to have no fixed storage spaces. Instead as material is received, the system determines its size, usage, and quantity in stock along with any other relevant information such as special storage restrictions. Using this information the WMS can pick an optimal location for the material that will be sure to satisfy its storage conditions. To ensure that good stock rotation the WMS will pick from the oldest stock first.

Crowded warehouses that utilize pallet racking or shelving without a WMS can become a logistical nightmare. The task of storing material in appropriately sized shelves or racks at an optimal location will be accomplished by the WMS. This optimization can lead to a surprising increase in available space.

Reduction in safety stock

Simply stated the more accurate the inventory count on a particular item is the less safety stock is required to maintain a guaranteed minimum quantity. By using the WMS to not only increase inventory accuracy but also to decrease the occurrences of lost or misplaced items and automatically reorder items as they are depleted, the warehouse may effectively reduce the safety stock they require on any particular item.

Decrease order times

By automating the receiving, storage, order, picking and billing processes, tasks which traditionally took hours may be accomplished in just seconds. This will lead to an overall reduction in the time it takes to fill orders.