WMS: STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART

[ Software & SyStemS ] WMS: STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART If the entire logistics process chain can be compared to the human cardiovascular system, then the WMS should be right at the heart. TorSTen Mallee explains why. I n the current era of online research, if you were to “google” for warehouse management software or WMS, your search would yield over two million hits with the first few pages made up of three groups of specific software or system providers. And after you have improved your search criteria with warehouse inventory management software, or warehouse inventory control software, there is even more information to digest. A rather daunting task, especially if you are unsure of all the questions to ask yourself in order to select “the right” solution. GEnERAlly SpEAkInG The first group that comes up includes ERP providers like SAP, Oracle, Infor and Microsoft Dynamics. Their claim to provide software for all areas of a company has led to every one of these major players offering “their own” WMS. But it’s worth keeping three things in mind as you conduct REAlly nIcHE your search: Positioned at the exact opposite of ERP generalization, the second major group [ The entire upstream and Firstly, the range of the applications is highly specialized niche providers. In downstream processes is almost always at the expense of many cases, coming from a warehouse must be considered in functional depth. Those who also provide Human Capital Management automation background, over time, they have, often by necessity, incorporated order to fully optimize as well as software for city councils cannot be familiar will all facets of a software for warehouse administration into their portfolio alongside automated the system. ] warehouse operation – simply because storage and retrieval systems and their strength lies in generalization. forklift trucks. Secondly, many of these systems Examples of such companies include part of the warehouse process. cannot be adapted flexibly to the Dematic, Swisslog, and Knapp. While specific processes of your company. ERP systems take a bird’s eye view of Such warehouses are very powerful If they can, it would be at a significant the entire company, these software in themselves but their integration cost. In this respect there is a providers examine each individual into the supply chain is more of a downside to the standardization that warehouse very closely. The advantages stumbling block due to their isolated MAy - juNe 2009 an ERP system brings to processes are obvious: particularly during “operating system”. A conversion of because, compared to tender letters the planning and building of a new the delivery strategy, for example or wage accounting, logistics is an warehouse, it is convenient to have a to VMI or to decentralized storage entirely different kettle of fish. single point of contact for all questions in several places, is only possible at regarding warehousing. great additional cost and effort. Thirdly, although ERP providers try 20 to use the openness of their systems Needless to say, this advantage also lInkEd In as the main argument, this openness has a downside in that this type of The WMS is often compared to the is by no means consistent. The WMS warehouse management system heart of a living organism. Those LoGIStICS INSIGHT ASIA modules are often not proprietary is a classic “silo” that must first be who take this image seriously see the developments by the ERP providers connected with other systems using entire logistics process chain as a unit: and can therefore only be integrated interfaces and often cannot support the the cardiovascular system. The entire using interfaces. logistics workflows that are an inherent upstream and downstream processes freight costs are just It is highly beneficial therefore that some areas that, to use such a logistics suite should include the same metaphor, have modules for: Transport Management; to function as “arteries” Freight Management; Customs so that the WMS Management; Resource Management; heart keeps beating. Order Fulfillment; Supply Network Another example is Planning; Supply Chain Visibility; the view of inventory. Performance Management. An exclusive WMS provider can provide This comprehensive approach ensures a general overview of that a single provider can take care “its” warehouse, but of all logistics processes end-to- in order to achieve end. Red Prairie and Manhattan maximum transparency, Associates are such providers, as is “stock in transit” should AEB. Companies that have filtered also be made visible. the providers of such logistics suites A requirement no out of the two million Google hits [ In order to achieve maximum inventory transparency, ‘stock in exclusive WMS system will meet the demands that supply transit’ should also be made visible in the WMS. ] can meet.