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" IBS is a world-leading supplier of business systems and supply chain
management solutions to distribution and manufacturing companies. Effective warehouse management
IBS
warehouse management software helps in all aspects of managing a warehouse, including picking, packing,
receiving, shipping, inventory control and audits."
Source : IBS
Business Process Overview: Warehousing Solutions
Warehousing Solutions is also known as :
Warehousing Solutions,
Warehouse Management,
Optimize Your Warehouse,
Total Warehouse Control,
Integrate All Warehouse Processes,
Integrated Data Collection Solution,
Optimize Warehouse Management,
Warehousing Solutions Planning,
Network Warehousing,
Warehouse Logistics Solutions,
Enterprise Warehousing Solutions,
Outsource Warehouse Management,
Logistics Solution Warehousing,
Flexible and Scalable Warehouse,
Data Warehousing Software,
Premier Data Warehouse Corporation,
Data Warehousing Solutions,
Data Warehousing Education,
Enterprise Data Warehousing,
Data Warehousing Mission-Critical,
Business Intelligence Warehouse,
Data Warehouse Design,
Solutions Warehouse Management Solution,
Server Warehouse,
Enterprise Data Warehouse,
Warehousing Services,
Warehouse Management System,
Data Warehousing Project,
Impossible Data Warehouse Situations,
Data Warehousing Team,
Logistics Solutions Warehouse,
Advanced Solutions Warehousing,
Effective Data Warehousing Solutions,
Innovative Technology Solutions,
Warehouse Optimization,
Logistics Management Solutions,
Providers of Warehouse Management,
Optimized Data Warehousing Solutions.
Introduction
Warehousing processes play an ever-increasing and vital role in
the supply chain. The IBS solution covers all of your warehousing
requirements, from reception through to packaging
and shipping – including powerful shipping-method options
and functions. The fully integrated system optimises your
workflow and processes, including cross-docking, put-away,
replenishment, RF optional picking, up to comprehensive automatic
statistics and analysis capabilities.
IBS’ intelligent solution makes routines easier and provides
flexibility in setting up the system to meet your unique requirements.
This can lead to streamlined processes, which lower
operating costs and reduce staff workloads, ultimately
strengthening profitability. Your company can achieve faster
ROI, with measurable KPIs. Your business procedures are
reflected throughout the system: this total transparency maximises
efficiency. IBS helps ensure better warehousing, which
leads to faster-to-market time.
The three-tier approach
IBS’ warehouse management solution is designed to cover any
warehousing scenario for mid-sized distribution and manufacturing
companies. The system is built with scalability in mind.
In effect, this flexibility lets you customise IBS software for your
particular warehousing capabilities. IBS offers a solution that
can be delivered with three different levels of complexity:
- Basic, supported by ASW DISTRIBUTION
- Advance, supported by ASW WAREHOUSEMANAGEMENT
- Super advanced, supported by IBSDYNAMAN.
This adaptability means that the complexity of the system is
determined by your business needs.
IBS’ scalability makes it the perfect solution for any type of
business. The system is capable of handling cross-enterprise
transactions for multi distribution centres (MDC), as well as
meeting the needs of complex warehouses, high-volume distributors
and manufacturers who deal with component supplies.
The IBS solution is even designed to cover sequential task
management. The super advanced level with IBS DYNAMAN
offers the most sophisticated and automated solution to warehouse
management.
Planning and automation centric
The IBS system is intuitive, with the capability to handle many
automated procedures. This helps ensure the most efficient
stock levels: instead of paying for inventory, you can use the
outlay for more critical costs. Superb inventory location and
replenishment routines also help ensure that you have what
you need, when you need it, to meet market expectations. The
IBS solution enables you to maximise warehouse space and
make the best use of your resources.
With IBS, your warehousing procedures can use data that is
already keyed and verified, reducing costly errors and time.
This translates into accurate data that is readily available for
processing and analysis.
Graphical planning tools offer easy-to-use methods for excellent
supply planning. By matching supply and demand factors,
the IBS solution helps you reduce order cycle time.
The IBS warehousing management solution is easily integrated
with other IBS applications. It can play a pivotal role in the supply
chain and can act as a vital component to any collaborative
solution in a multi-faceted enterprise.
Business benefits
Warehousing processes are critical for the success of a distribution
business. These processes are highly visible to your customers
and have a direct impact on their opinion of your company
– producing a direct effect on sales and profits. If you
cannot get the goods to your customers in the most efficient
way, you risk losing their business. Your warehousing and logistics
operations must translate into reliability and service.
It is vital, therefore, that your warehouse operates with efficient
workflow routines, produces a quick time to market, and utilises
automation, transparency and communication to the utmost
degree. You need the right tools to help reduce operating and
capital costs, make the most of space and meet customer
demands.
The vast array of scenarios, options and decisions within warehousing
make it difficult to keep the entire picture in focus.
Planning is essential to analyse and resolve the complications of
storing, pricing, tracking and delivering masses of stock.
Inventory control is of utmost importance in coordinating the
physical flow of goods in relation to orders, sales and the bottom
line.
The initial costs of setting up a comprehensive warehousing
system might be daunting, especially for large companies with
many warehouses scattered over different locations on a
regional, national or even global scale. But the aim is to make
a profit, and an automated, fully integrated system can help
you do precisely that – not only in the long run but with more
immediate results. A supply-chain system set up to handle dayto-
day routines and provide analysis and forecasting, can reduce
operational and capital costs. More than that, it helps you to
meet customer needs in the fastest and most cost-effective
manner. And that can mean customer retention, new business
– and better profitability.
Complexity made simple by your needs
The IBS solution for warehouse management is completely
scalable. Three different levels of deliverable product mean
that IBS has an option that will suit you, no matter how complex
your business is. The needs of your company determine
the complexity of the system. Scalability means that the IBS
solution fits your company’s changing requirements.
The IBS suite of supply-chain software applications has all the
features you expect – and more. Even the most basic organisation
can harness the benefits of the powerful functionality
and wide-ranging attention to detail. IBS’ solution is focused
on functionality and automation based on intelligent technology.
Technology should not be complicated for its own sake:
its level of complexity should reflect how your business operates
– and how the people in your company do their jobs.
With IBS, technology is a concept that relies on your needs:
your business workflow is reflected throughout the system.
The IBS solution handles any level of warehousing need, from
basic location management to more complex operations. You
can have automated solutions to complicated warehousing
issues at your fingertips. IBS software fully supports processes
such as radio frequency scanning and verification with pallet
and load-support.
The beauty of the IBS solution’s scalability lies in the fact that
it is able to grow in time with your business expansion. You
can be assured that IBS’ warehousing routines will be able to
address your needs both now and well into the future.
Increase sales
IBS’ solution means that your lead-times for order fulfilment
can be improved by a significant degree. Being able to meet
an order as promised, on time and with the correct items, can
lead to a marked increase in customer satisfaction levels. That
can mean a higher retention value and improved loyalty.
Keeping your current customers is easier and cheaper than
finding new ones – and the IBS solution can give you the ability
to do both, profitably.
Boost business revenues
In a warehousing sense, the watchword might be phrased as
‘quality out, quality in’. If you can ship the best goods in the
best way, you get the best customers and business partners.
Implementing IBS’ solution for your warehousing needs can
help you realise increased revenue, which helps the system pay
for itself.
Automated and more efficient routines, accurate control,
process transparency, and faster time to market are just some
of the benefits you can derive from IBS systems. IBS is
designed to optimise the use of your warehousing operations
through the full integration of information into the workflow.
With IBS, you can help ensure that every aspect of the supply
chain is functioning at a top level.
The benefits go beyond the borders of your warehousing business.
Your customers and business partners can also save time
and money thanks to top-quality operations at your locations.
With IBS, you have the ability to fill orders more rapidly, with
fewer errors, at the best possible price. It is not only your profitability
that can increase: so can customer loyalty and new
business.
Better automation saves costs and improves
the bottom line
The cost of a new system must be balanced against the benefits
that it offers, not only in terms of increased sales, but also
in the money that it saves. Your bottom line is affected not
only by the number of customers and the products they buy,
but also by the efficiency of your own company’s operations.
IBS’ solution can increase automation in your business and
help make dramatic improvements on routines and procedures.
Optimal control and management are deciding factors
in cutting costs. With IBS’ solutions, the complexities of warehousing
can be streamlined to reflect the seamless integration
of data into daily operations. The benefits of using IBS’ system
can go beyond the usual needs of warehousing procedures:
- Reduce the number of staff hours that are required,
through more automation, faster communication of information
and precise planning based on powerful analysis
capabilities.
- The IBS system is intuitive and adapts to your changing
needs. With picking, for example, IBS lets you direct the
picker to the optimal location for order fulfilment based
on quantity ordered. Different pick rules, such as palletbased
and quantity-based, help to make operations as
efficient as possible. Zone picking capability helps to
ensure the best and quickest delivery.
- For more complex warehousing scenarios, sequential task
management offers even more precise functionality for
complex issues.
IBS supply-chain software is designed to cover all aspects of
warehousing, with intelligent solutions for each and every
stage of the process. The IBS system integrates all levels of
data into dynamic procedures that are customised for your
particular warehouse operations. This comprehensive, automated
solution can meet the challenges offered by all types of
warehousing scenarios and business models, ranging from the
simple to the complex.
Reception
IBS’ warehousing solution is based on powerful
functions that are process-oriented and routinedriven.
These functions are completely integrated
with one another, allowing all of your warehousing routines to
flow with seamless precision in the best possible sequence.
Intelligent step-by-step procedures that are carried out in one
part of the process have a positive ripple effect on remaining
phases of an operation. A warehouse operation running at top
efficiency and speed begins at reception of goods, which is the
vital starting point for the putting away of goods.
Reception’s importance is self-evident, since it is the first step
in the logical chain of warehouse operations and reception
procedures, and sets the stage for the entire warehouse. Poor
planning and erroneous task fulfilment at reception will have
detrimental consequences further along throughout warehouse
tasks. The process at reception must start the operation
on the right note. With IBS software, you can ensure that
reception processes are performed quickly, efficiently and
intelligently: a great start to a superior, overall solution for the
issues of physical flow in your warehouse.
Order line reception
The IBS solution gives you the ability to have total flexibility in
how you wish to process and receive orders. Incoming order
lines can be received in any way possible: line-by-line, in batches
with one order at a time (several lines in the same order) or
in batch with several orders at the same time. This order line
reception processing is set up to best reflect the day-to-day
operations of your firm. IBS software is scalable and flexible,
and you have complete control of the complexity and drilldown
levels that fit the size of your business. This means that
you are able to develop and maintain efficient processes, no
matter how busy the reception area is. The system can even
handle receiving incoming order lines from manufacturing
plants.
When you set up and implement order-line reception with the
IBS solution, you can also configure the system to automatically
print pallet labels. If your warehouse operation stores
goods via load carriers or pallets, these automatic pallet labels
help to streamline delivery and reception for supplier goods.
The labels are created with classification details that are
gleaned from the supplier’s dispatch details. These details are
entered into your system through the advanced features of
ASN, the Advanced Shipping Note. The classification information
is fed into the system at the point of reception. However,
you can also print pallet labels manually, basing the label information
on the actual quantities that are received from suppliers.
The IBS solution offers flexibility in the way you print pallet
labels, depending on your relationship with each supplier –
a fact that is registered in the control files for each of your suppliers.
When pallets are used in your warehouse processes, you can
also set up the IBS system to identify pallet goods in different
ways. You can identify goods based on the unit or pallet identity
codes (as dictated by the SSCC standards), or you can
identify goods on an individual basis instead of a pallet basis.
The unit/pallet grouping ability is a powerful reception tool
that can enable more efficient identification on a bulk basis,
saving time and money.
Goods handling
The IBS warehousing solution includes comprehensive quality
control measures, as you might expect from a system that
anticipates and meets each need in every phase and aspect of
your business. When it comes to goods handling, you can use
the IBS system to identify goods of varying natures and to classify
them for the most efficient processing.
You can classify goods as conforming or non-conforming
goods at reception. This start-of-process classification helps to
cut the time needed later on in the warehouse process. In
addition to this, you can link properties to non-conforming
goods at the reception stage. This will enable you to simplify
and control the procedures that are already in place for putaway
routines and storage locations.
Bar coding and R/F handling is a feature that is present
throughout the solution, with reception being no exception.
This is especially helpful in the case of goods with serial numbers
or batch codes. The quick communication and transfer of
information helps to solve labelling and storage problems
before they arise.
The IBS solution can also be integrated with material handling
equipment, such as conveyors, carousels, cranes and AGVs, if
those devices incorporate weighing equipment barcode scanners,
label applications or other automated communications
methods.
Planning tools
The IBS solution allows you maximum flexibility when it comes
to planning tools, which helps to process complex or delayed
sales orders. You can, for example, make exceptions as to
where goods are put, in the case of items that will be used for
cross docking. If items in reception can be used to complete
current sales orders that are waiting to be processed, you can
send these goods to a location that is specifically set aside for
such items. This allows you to fulfil your order obligations in
the most efficient manner, and ultimately to increase sales.
With the use of time horizon tools, the IBS system can be
utilised to anticipate needs beyond the present day’s operations.
You can monitor any future sales orders that will also
need to be filled, within a given time horizon. The time horizon
tools let you plan reception processes that meet the needs
both of today and tomorrow.
The entire reception process offers full transparency, reflecting
your business processes as the backbone of the system. The
optional graphical format, available throughout the entire IBS
product solution, offers you superb control and planning
options that are presented in an easy-to-use interface.
Cross-docking
Cross-docking is a process that requires complete coordination
when it concerns your warehouse inventory, location and
processes. You need accurate and absolutely current stock
count, combined with available space to handle goods that
must be shipped immediately after reception. Your ability to
adhere to lead-time demands is crucial: any delay results in
lower profitability and a negative impact on customer satisfaction.
With IBS, you have the latest inventory numbers at your fingertips
– plus the ability to relay those figures instantly with
radio frequency support. You can plan ahead for cross-docking
by entering time horizons into the system, which will check
automatically for sales orders that must be shipped within a
given time frame.
Put away
IBS’ warehousing solution has seamless flow, so
that your put-away activities automatically reflect
the efficient foundations established in reception
processes. In essence, the warehousing solution’s intelligence
means that put-away requirements are automated to the
fullest degree possible and incorporated into the reception
tasks. Combining reception and put-away processes translates
into simplified operations: this allows many goods to be putaway
directly, without manual intervention.
On the other hand, you sometimes need manual activity to
handle special put-away needs. IBS software is designed to not
only automate warehouse operations, but also to allow exceptions,
such as manual handling. This high degree of adaptability
lets you configure the process to reflect your needs. If the
circumstances require you to step outside of the process and
perform a special manual task in put-away activities, the IBS
solution is built to handle this situation.
Reception zone put-away
Reception zone put-away is the most efficient manner for
handling goods, decreasing the time and costs involved in getting
goods from reception to storage. The IBS solution makes
it possible for you to put away goods precisely when they are
being received in the reception zone, allowing for fast, efficient
and time-saving workflow. This consolidation of activity
also allows you to fulfil new orders as rapidly as possible, in
those instances where cross-docking orders do not apply.
If radio frequency (RF) is used in your warehouse, IBS’ solution
lets you transmit put-away task lists to each facility RF terminal,
via the reception zone. You can also set up the system to
create individualised tasks from the task lists and distribute the
workload among your warehouse staff. This automated solution
to reception zone put-away helps to increase efficiency
and reduce man-hours. You can set up task handling on an
individual basis, or based on different entire resource groups.
The put-away tasks that are created for RF terminals are generated
automatically by the system, which uses all the data at
its disposal and plans the most efficient plan of action. Again,
thanks to the adaptability of the IBS system, you are able to
use a combination of both RF and traditional put-list scenarios.
This combination of approaches allows for the highest possible
degree of flexibility and efficiency, customised for your particular
warehouse operation.
Put-away rules and calculations
The IBS warehousing solution’s flexibility in set-up allows you
to determine the best possible put-away rules for your business.
You set up the controls, and the system then suggests
the best put-away locations, based on these user-defined controls.
For example, you can set up a control to determine
whether goods should be put away only in an empty space or
mixed with other items. The system can then show all possible
locations available, based on the control details. The rule is up
to you and to what best suits your business needs. IBS lets the
solution lie in your hands – but the system’s full automation
and intelligence make sure that the solution is carried out as
efficiently as possible.
The IBS system also allows you to allocate fixed locations to
goods. This means that goods always get put-away to the
same place. On the other hand, you can also allocate floating
locations for warehouse items, depending on your order fulfilment
needs. The IBS solution has built-in flexibility: no matter
what you need, the system can deliver solutions to your problems.
This means optimised space, saved costs, reduction in
picking-routine, time and staff, and ultimately faster ROI.
Put-away calculations can be set up to include details that help
to determine the best use of warehouse space. For example,
the system can take into account the dimensions of storage
locations, pallets or load carriers and then offer suggestions
for the best utilisation of facility space. This not only enables
the best use of available resources, but also has a positive
impact on your internal stock movements. The result can be a
dramatic decrease in the frequency of stock replenishment,
saving you time, effort and money and letting you concentrate
resources in more critical areas.
In addition to its efficient handling of put-away stock and
goods that are affected by cross-docking, the IBS system can
also determine which stock should be allocated to primary
picking areas or to bulk storage locations. The decisions for
these locations are based on factors such as shipment determination.
This feature is especially beneficial for fast moving
consumer goods (FMCG), which have a high turnaround time
and which are held in stock for only short periods of time. The
ability to move stock quickly is yet another example of the IBS
solution’s ability to save time and warehousing costs, helping
you to hold down expensive capital outlay.
Exception items
In addition to goods used for cross-docking, FMCG, etc. you
must also have the ability to handle goods that need special
treatment in terms of their storage needs. The IBS system has
everything you need to process these exception items, thanks
to the help of the ASN routines. The system is able to immediately
identify exception items that require refrigeration/cold
storage, packing height restrictions, pose a hazard (chemical,
fire, etc.) or differ from regular inventory in some manner –
such as goods that are not palleted.
Planning and analysis
The IBS solution is an intelligent system that makes use of all
available historical data to help you plan and analyse warehouse
operations. Reception processing records and data provide
the information needed to analyse and predict future
trends. The system also uses this data to identify open spaces
and to determine more efficient put-away lists and task lists.
Graphical planning tools
With IBS’ graphical planning tools, you can see your entire
processes and inventory levels, storage space, primary areas,
load carriers, locations, etc. in graphical format. This affords
you good planning options, which can over-ride the automated
planning tools. Graphical planning tools help you to perform
planning processes faster, which in turn aids in reducing costs.
Picking
Picking can be a crucial operation when fulfilling
orders, as backlogs and bottlenecks are
common problems. Even if reception and putaway
processes run at top efficiency, critical shortfalls in picking
can jeopardise margin and ROI. Delays in the picking
process might slow down order fulfilment, which might affect
customer satisfaction and future sales. Picking needs to be
approached efficiently and with intelligent solutions that take
into account the bigger warehouse picture. This integrated
approach can reduce work, eradicate backlogs, and save
money.
IBS’ solution makes use of a highly integrated array of details and
permutations, to devise the best picking processes and rules
for your operation. These processes and rules are presented to
warehouse staff in clear and easy-to-apply picking lists.
Graphical planning support
The IBS solution lets you use graphical planning tools throughout
the system, and that includes picking. With graphical
tools, you can see the warehouse ‘big picture’ right in front of
you in a comprehensive and easy-to-use format. Graphical
planning makes it possible for you to do pick planning with
the click of a mouse. You can run picking as a completely
automated process, based on intelligent system decisions that
use historical data to analyse records and come up with the
best solutions. Or, you can override system choices and apply
your own rules to the pick list output. Graphical planning tools
can help you adjust and revise these plans.
Simple picking
Flexibility is a signature mark of the IBS warehouse management
solution. In addition to fully automated picking routines
devised by the system, you also have the option to do traditional,
simple picking using paper printouts. These simple picking
routines can of course include location information, if you
wish, but this is not mandatory. Location information is helpful
for orders that require immediate or direct release, when
your warehousing staff is aware of the location zones for the
required items. Simple picking is also used for immediate picking
for orders that are created on the fly and which need to be
fulfilled at the same time that they are created.
Demand-driven picking
With an automated warehouse system from IBS, pick tasks can
be issued to each warehouse staff member or team according
to logical flow or demand and priority. This is referred to as
demand picking. The determining factor for issuing pick tasks
depends on what is most important to your warehouse operation.
It is yet another example of how the IBS solution reflects
your particular needs. Pick tasks can be issued according to
order, order allocation, or customer (at either a consolidated or
individual level). You can establish your own intelligent picking
system by using such data as delivery dates and priority codes
as the critical criteria for picking.
Picking itself can follow the flow of many different criteria as
well. These criteria include sorting by route, shipment and
address. This creates a more logical and automated flow all the
way down the process lines. Goods are picked, arranged and
ready to ship in whichever order you wish them to be.
Optimisation of picking
IBS’ warehouse solution also helps you to optimise the
resources used to do picking. Specifically, the ASW PLANNERVIEW
is an invaluable tool when it comes to helping plan the most
efficient picking task operations. ASW PLANNER VIEW helps you
to analyse and plan the size of picking tasks in relation to size
of the work force for any given order – within any planning
time frame.
The IBS solution also lets you assign picking tasks specific locations,
depending on how your warehouses are set up. This can
be done in collaboration with the pick rules that you establish
for demand-driven picking.
Pick rules
With the IBS warehouse solution, you can implement four
basic pick rules. Each pick rule offers distinct advantages,
based on your warehouse operation’s needs. With pick rules,
you can determine which goods in your stock are in highest
demand, based on:
- Priority sequence
- FIFO sequence (First in first out)
- Quantity sequence
- Overall location
Priority sequence, as the name implies, is a pick rule that
assigns highest priority for picking to warehouse items that are
in highest demand or date-critical.
The FIFO sequence pick rule is time-driven: goods are assigned
pick priority based on when they enter reception.
Quantity sequence is a pick rule that establishes pick priority
according to volume.
The overall location pick rule is used by warehouse operations
that have a large range – often tens or hundreds of thousands
– of products, of which only a part are fast movers.
Establishing a priority sequence for tens of thousands of fastmoving
products, however, can be impractical. The overall
location rule lets an operation establish picking priority for an
entire range of stock, regardless of whether some of the stock
is not fast moving.
With the flexibility and efficiency of IBS pick rules, your business
can achieve significant improvements in lead-time. Orders
can be fulfilled more quickly at less cost, having a noticeable
and beneficial impact on sales and customer satisfaction.
RF support
The IBS solution fully supports radio frequency (RF) communication,
which is a critical element for the success of a modern
warehousing facility. It allows the transmission of picking lists
to your staff, which can receive the lists anywhere in the warehouse.
RF support provides real-time inventory reporting with
high levels of accuracy.
RF support does more than make work easier for your employees.
Its effect on your company’s bottom line can be significant by
reducing errors in the picking process. Many picking errors are
due to mistakes in the manual entry of data. These errors can
result in a return or a credit order, which require time and
resources to fix and have a negative impact on customer satisfaction
– and thus on sales. Even within the warehouse itself,
returns create inventory problems and potential overstocks,
which in turn increase your overhead costs. RF support can
help your business in terms of accuracy, speed and profitability.
RF-transmitted picking lists are read on a hand-held radio frequency
terminal. Transmitted picking lists can include putaway,
pick, replenishment, counts and free-form messaging.
Equipped with scanners, your staff can then automatically
mark off these items on the list by scanning in the barcode of
each item as it is picked. The item details are then transmitted
back to the main system – providing your warehouse database
with continually updated information.
Picking lists can be automatically created and sent, using batch
creation, for instance, based on weight, volume, number of
instructions and other criteria. The system determines the possible
pick route, and will even take into account ‘relay picking’
– where a single order, with goods in various types of locations
or in scattered warehouse areas, must be fulfilled immediately.
Pick and pack routines are made easier too, as the staff merely
have to scan in a barcode on one item, scan in the box or
package’s barcode and then enter the number of items.
As with all picking routines, the system will also allocate picking
jobs based on available groups or individuals, making the
best use of resources and priorities.
RF support offers value-added employee productivity, in the
reduction of man hours spent and in the elimination of errors
through faulty or obsolete data. It also addresses sales order
fulfilment lead-time, since total lead-time is based on when
stock is available to fulfil orders. Any delays in dispatch will
increase the total lead-time, hence lowering customer satisfaction
and even sales in the long run.
Automation
The IBS warehouse solution makes it possible for your warehouse
business to make the most of a fully automatic operation
with links to cranes, conveyors and robots. Equipment like
conveyors, carousels, cranes, AGVs, etc. can easily be controlled
by IBS DYNAMAN, even if they incorporate weighing
equipment, barcode scanners, label applicators or any device
that does more than just transport items.
Automatic functionality and confirmation make it possible to
create and fulfil orders in record-breaking time. Speed through
automation is especially vital for high-volume distributors,
such as those in the pharmaceutical and other industries.
Recent benchmark tests at IBM’s Rochester laboratory show
that IBS’ software handled more than 2 million order lines per
hour with a response time of 0.04 seconds.
Automation speeds up processes, improves productivity, saves
money and reduces lead-time. In addition to this, the automatic
confirmation that is offered through this system gives a good
overview, in real time, of how order fulfilment is progressing.
This process helps your business to reduce paperwork by eliminating
the need for manual check-off and confirmation.
Package handling
Package handling is yet another facet of warehousing that reaps
the benefits of the IBS solution. Your business can improve
lead-time significantly, thanks to the use of logical packaging
routines that optimise processes and routines. And improved
lead-time can have a direct impact through better profitability,
increases in sales and higher customer satisfaction levels.
IBS supply chain software provides support for flexible package
handling, staging, pallet identification and the reuse of
pallet numbers for pick and pack methods. Intelligent routines
can be used to address traditional issues in warehousing. For
instance, pallet numbers can be re-used throughout pick and
pack tasks.
Warehouse maintenance
Inventory management
Inventory control is an area in which IBS has
set the standard for software vendors, and
which forms a critical part of a well-run warehousing operation.
Inventory control can be regarded as the steering instrument
for an entire warehouse in terms of what goods are stocked
and why. The IBS solution offers superb forecasting abilities,
for instance, that can make a significant difference in cash-to-
cash
cycles, as a more realistic forecast better allows you to
keep the right safety stocks in adherence to execution plans.
This also favourably influences your inventory supply days,
spelling out increased services levels and customer retention
figures that are sure to please.
For more details regarding IBS’ inventory and replenishment
solutions, please refer to the relevant procurement literature.
Analysis
The IBS solution has a broad range of analysis tools that are
able to lower your operation costs and promote more realistic
and precise planning. Foremost among these are the inventory
analysis projections that work well with warehousing procedures.
The analysis follow-up allows you to take action both in the
short and long term, helping you derive the most efficiency
from all of your processes. An accurate historical record analysis
can make it possible to identify performance improvements,
which can eventually have a positive impact on sales
and/or customer satisfaction. One prime example of the benefits
of precise inventory analysis is space utilisation: the order
and sales frequencies of items, as well as their volumes, are
used to determine the most optimal location for the storage of
each and every item.
Housekeeping
Analysis has many far-reaching implications: almost any aspect
of your warehousing operations can be studied and improved.
The depth of analysis is nearly unlimited, depending on which
range of the infinite parameters you make use of in the selection
of data that is used for the investigation. Traditionally
laborious and time-consuming housekeeping tasks, however,
reflect marked improvement through analysis and the application
of recommended solutions.
Seasonal adjustments offer a good example of housekeeping
tasks that are improved by analysis. The required re-location of
stock that is affected by seasonal trends can, for example, be
identified by the system, which can recommend changes that
will result in better efficiency and lower costs. In particular, this
can help your operation to clear up space and allocate priority
areas for those goods that need it.
Location replenishment
Location replenishment is critical for a smoothrunning
warehouse, as it ensures that stocks are
constantly kept up to date and stored where they
are most needed. The IBS warehousing solution has a variety
of intelligent answers to this pressing problem. Replenishment
can be determined through a number of routines that are recommended
as the result of precise system analysis of data.
Manager driven
Full or partial replenishment of stock in specific locations can
be based on the planning of the warehouse. This option takes
into account all of the permutations and factors that have
been entered into the system and replenishment will be performed
accordingly. This can be overridden with information
that employees enter. For instance, if the warehouse is receiving
or anticipating a single order, or several large orders, the
system can make adjustments based on the situation.
Automatic
The system also lets you configure each location in such a way
that immediate replenishment will take place, once quantities
reach a level that is below defined specifications.
Buffer handling
Replenishment stock can also be stored and kept ready in an
isolated buffer area, to ensure that exceptional orders or seasonal
adjustments can be fulfilled. A wave set-up is also possible,
with replenishment stock being stored in a location that is
situated in the immediate vicinity of picking areas.
Shipping preparation methods
IBS’ software effortlessly handles all shipping
requirements with a high degree of automation.
For example, the link to order entry means that a
sales order can automatically create a shipping request.
Shipment preparation information available at order entry
includes orders and order lines per shipment, rescheduling,
load characteristics and freight documents.
Major functions that can be handled by IBS’ automated shipment
preparation include:
- Picking and dispatching based on shipment plans
- Delivery advice creation
- Advising customers of delivery date, at order entry
- Allowance for alternative delivery address for freight
documents
- Inclusion of shipment characteristics such as weight,
volume, hazardous goods, load limitations etc.
- Support of milk-run schedules and destinations.
ASW SHIPMENT PREPARATION manages shipments and their content,
all the way to loading.
The system provides three shipment preparation methods in
processing sales orders:
Handling orders with documents (direct or batch print)
Handling orders via shipment preparation routine
Handling orders via shipment preparation routine connected
to certain routes.
Loading area
The IBS solution can take into account those items that require
partial assembly. This allows your warehousing operation to
complete any necessary modification or configuration in the
actual loading area.
Shipping documents
Various special treatment transport documents – such as
MSDS, dangerous goods handling with TrEm cards, etc., as
well as labels – are all ‘baked into the system’. This is above
and beyond the traditional shipment documentation, including
delivery notes, loading lists, bills of lading and manifests
etc. that one would expect.
Loading
Loading can be carried out with instructions for your staff
based on several principles. For instance, loading could take
place according to reverse order. However, such specifications
as the delivery route, address, weight, volume, etc. can also be
used as the loading factor.
Administration and monitoring
ASW ALERT MANAGEMENT
As with all IBS software, ASW ALERT MANAGEMENT
allows you to have all your routines and processes
monitored at all times, allowing you to react to problems or
happenings that might occur. Management by exception
entails setting up a number of parameters, limitations and filters
– the choices are infinite and are rapidly configured to
observe and detect whatever situations you wish to monitor or
anticipate. When an event occurs, such as a bottleneck in
reception, a message will be created and sent to those staff
members who have been designated as receivers. They can
then swiftly act upon a matter, before it becomes a problem.
Messages may even have recommended actions associated
within them: this allows the reader access to a panel that
shows corrective actions that need to be taken, from within
the actual message.
In addition to this, messages can be sent via many client types,
ranging from email to even text messages on a mobile telephone.
In a warehouse, the key to the success of your entire operation
can be the monitoring of occurrences and correction of events
that deviate from the acceptable. With constant monitoring of
incoming and outgoing order status, for instance, you can be
assured that your operations can function at the most optimum
of levels, saving time and money.
RF and batch status
Aside from the sheer practical use of RF (radio frequency) for
picking purposes, the solution is also able to use this technology
as a monitoring application. After instructions are created,
they can be assigned from the host to RF terminals, for scanning
and verification. Instructions can be dispatched to an RF
resource – such as a hand-held device – using different batch
rules, including weight, volume, number of instructions and
many more selection criteria.
RF technology includes these advantages:
- Instructions that can be used for put-away, pick, replenishment,
counts and free-form messaging
- Flexible dispatching – assignment of instructions to RF
resources with different batch rules
- Combined activity – put-away, pick, replenishment and count
- Pick to parcel support – items are scanned for verification
and then placed directly in a shipping parcel, which can
also be scanned
- Real-time tracking of RF resources and staging locations –
pick locations are free for the next put-away directly after
picking.
Shipment status and tracking
As with shipments, which can be prepared and traced during
the warehousing process, the shipment process can also be
tracked and directed by the IBS solution. You can rest assured
that the system constantly monitors and reports the status of
orders, giving you complete peace of mind. The system provides
full support for customer communications, including EDI
capability, transport preparation and numbers tracking.
Analysis and capacity monitoring
The IBS solution’s wide range of planning and analysis tools
help to ensure improvement of your warehousing process.
With the help of these tools, you are able to continually monitor
how space and locations are utilised, and you can also track
key points within your operation’s processes. With statistical
data, the system is able to monitor capacity at all times, in
addition to almost any other aspect of your warehousing. This
ensures that you can manage the warehouse and the
resources in the best possible way, saving man-hours, time and
money – and resulting ultimately in better profitability.
Stock taking
Stock taking, an important element of any warehouse, is a
simple yet thorough operation within the IBS solution. In addition
to all the traditional stock taking abilities that you can
expect from the robust solution, you are able to break stock
taking errands down to product or item level, and you can
even include rolling inventory. All of this gives you complete
control over your operation’s stock. Combined with the analysis
functionality, automated stock taking allows you determine
how to make the best logistical use of the stock that you have
on hand.
Flexibility and set-up
The IBS solution is set up in a table-driven environment. This
allows you a huge degree of flexibility and means that your
operation’s processes are reflected in the system. You no
longer need to adapt your day-to-day operations to the
demands of a software application. Instead, you can refine the
processes within the system, to suit the changing needs of
your business. The solution is able to handle all kinds of warehouse
layouts.
IBS’ third-level solution, using IBS DYNAMAN, can also operate
independent of platform. You are therefore able to not only
gain the powerful and far-reaching advantages that this solution
offers, but are also able to meet any customer’s needs.
The choice of operating platforms ranges from NT to iSeries, all
to accommodate various customer set-ups and configurations.
Traceability
The traceability of goods is extended beyond the usual item
code, as with a traditional warehouse. In addition to item segmentation
functionality, which allows you to distinguish
between a variety of similar items with slight differences, the
system fully supports both batch and serial number handling.
The benefits of this form of traceability can also have farreaching
impacts on such matters as your operation’s FIFO
rules, etc. and can therefore offer far more agility, precision
and efficiency. The potential savings in time and money are
coupled with an optimisation of processes that can have a
direct impact on ROI and profitability.
Connections
The third-level IBS warehousing solution, IBSDynaman, is able
to act as a stand-alone, platform-free system. This platform
independence offers substantial benefits in communicating
with your business partners, resulting in seamless collaboration
between you and your customers, as well as your suppliers.
The IBS solution lets you harness the benefits of automated
RFQ, as well as make use of IDX/IDW and EDI/XML functionality.
All of these advantages spell out efficiency and savings.
The system also allows you the possibility to configure the system
to as act as one warehouse solution for many different
entities, whether this is in the form of subsidiaries or a multi
distribution centre arrangement.
Printouts and labels
IBS software includes a range of output solutions that are able
to produce professional documents. Whether these be delivery
notes, loading lists, bills of landing and manifests, invoices,
quotations, MSDS, etc., you can be assured of being able to
project the right image and provide correct documentation to
your business partners. All documents can be customised and
adjusted to suit your specific needs.
Complementary modules
All IBS applications and ASW modules are designed with seamless integration and effortless compatibility in mind.
However, you can gain more leverage over your system, achieve significant enhancements to functionality and secure
added value by combining the following IBS modules with IBS’ warehousing solution:
Content
- Introduction
- The three-tier approach
- Planning and automation centric
- Business benefits
- Complexity made simple by your needs
- Increase sales
- Boost business revenues
- Better automation saves costs and improves
the bottom line
- The warehousing process
- Reception
- Order line reception
- Goods handling
- Planning tools
- Cross-docking
- Put away
- Reception zone put-away
- Put-away rules and calculations
- Exception items
- Planning and analysis
- Graphical planning tools
- Picking
- Graphical planning support
- Simple picking
- Demand-driven picking
- Optimisation of picking
- Pick rules
- RF support
- Automation
- Package handling
- Warehouse maintenance
- Inventory management
- Analysis
- Housekeeping
- Location replenishment
- Manager driven
- Automatic
- Buffer handling
- Shipping preparation methods
- Loading area
- Shipping documents
- Loading
- Administration and monitoring
- ASW ALERT MANAGEMENT
- RF and batch status
- Shipment status and tracking
- Analysis and capacity monitoring
- Stock taking
- Flexibility and set-up
- Traceability
- Connections
- Printouts and lables
- Complementary modules
- Complementary modules