WMS improves distribution center efficiency

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Selection and implementation logistics processes (WMS/WCS)

We can offer you independent advice on warehousing and logistics IT packages such as WMS, OMS, TMS and shipping systems. As a consulting firm, Groenewout does not supply software. We always begin by evaluating your business processes and quantifying the volumes (= baseline measurement) as a starting point for devising new concepts and their underlying business cases. Relating to the topic of warehousing, we can provide advice on aspects such as:

Just as with all of our advice, you receive a complete overview of pragmatic and ready-to-implement solutions. Moreover, we can also support the practical implementation of our recommendations.

WMS as an information system

Do your company’s distribution center processes include several different packaging units (pallets, cases, piece picks) and also relatively high volumes (number of orders, order lines, pick lines)? If so, a warehouse management system (WMS) could be the right solution for you. It is important to consider whether – and if so, how – a WMS could be used and which functionalities are most relevant for your organization.

Groenewout’s experts can advise and support you when choosing not only a WMS, but also other logistics IT systems such as an order management system (OMS), warehouse control system (WCS) and/or transport management system (TMS).

WMS business case analysis

Unfortunately, a great many WMS projects fail to achieve the original objectives due to inadequate preparation. That’s why the first step in the process is to carefully analyze a business case. WMS can easily deliver up to 25-30% efficiency improvements while also raising the quality (by reducing picking errors, improving availability of stock, shortening lead times, assisting workload planning, etc.).

In conjunction with a relevant business case, a WMS can help your logistics employees to handle all manner of distribution center processes better and more efficiently (in particular activities relating to inbound and outbound goods, inventory management, cycle counting and VAL), thus optimizing the way your company adds value and saves costs.

A WMS is primarily focused on what happens inside a DC, but there are also versions available that can manage stocks beyond the four walls of the distribution center too (such as in the case of container ships and ports). In other words, successful warehousing can result in a significant reduction of costs and an increase in service levels.

Groenewout: your partner for warehousing and WMS

If you are keen to know more about warehousing in general and WMS in particular, feel free to contact our experts.

FAQs

  • A WMS means the management of a warehouse, the storage place of goods or a DC. Warehouse management is the total of all logistics processes related to products that are stored in a warehouse and that take place both inside and outside such a storage location. A WMS manages the location layout in a warehouse, handles the order flow in a correct planning and manages the goods flows. For example, goods must be unpacked and given a storage place in the warehouse. The distribution of goods is coordinated: delivering the right product to the right destination on time.

  • We can offer you independent advice on warehousing and logistics IT packages such as WMS, OMS, TMS and shipping systems. As a consulting firm, Groenewout does not supply software. We always begin by evaluating your business processes and quantifying the volumes (= baseline measurement) as a starting point for devising new concepts and their underlying business cases.

  • Please feel free to contact our consultants. We’re here to help!

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Topics in Warehouse Management System

WMS implementation in practice

In order to give you a sense of our consulting firm’s approach relating to warehousing, we are pleased to outline the project we completed for our client Forever Direct Europe. Forever Direct Europe is part of Forever Living Products, an American manufacturer of beverages and health and beauty products that are sold globally through 9.5 million distributors in 147 different countries. After having supported Forever Direct with tendering and contracting, we were then asked to coordinate and supervise the implementation of a warehouse management system.

First and foremost, the WMS had to optimally manage the stocks in the distribution center (customs goods). In other words, it had to take account of customs requirements, despite the fact that the customs management system (CMS) was not linked to the WMS. The WMS had to be connected to three other IT systems: the ERP system, an automation-technology supplier’s WCS for the pick-to-light (PTL) system, and a shipping module in order to be able to print out the right labels per carrier, among other things. We were able to support the client from the functional and technical design right through to (integration) testing.

References

A selection of our customers