2009 is set to be a challenging year for all most businesses. The companies that will continue to survive and be profitable are those that can adapt to the changing environment, quickly.
For most companies pricing will again come under renewed downward pressures, from existing customers squeezing for additional savings and as competition intensifies to win business in a marketplace with less activity.
In such environments the only way to maintain or improve margins is to cut costs and/or improve efficiencies.
Warehousing and Inventory activities provide a concrete, measurable and quick area to cut costs and improve efficiencies, while improving customer service.
Warehouse management systems can be deployed in a matter of weeks/months so the benefits can quickly be attained for the business.
Perpetual Inventory Counting, Walk Sequence Logic, Pallet building logic, System driven put-away and picking, real-time stock visibility, KPI (Key Performance Indicators) and stock accuracies of 99.8% all allow for savings and improved efficiencies. The various functionality can all be up and running within months.
Does a WMS make sense for your company? The answer is out there and may not be an automatic “no” because you aren’t the largest player in your market or you don’t have a myriad of locations. A WMS can be successfully deployed in almost any firm regardless of the size of the company or the warehouse. You need focus to ensure you do not automate bad processes, that your attention is on project and not the product and that you tackle the complexity of the operation and not the size.
The implementation of a WMS has improved the operations of companies smaller than yours; only a careful analysis of your current situation can tell you what you need.
Joe O’Shea
Principal Systems – Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) – Supply Chain Solutions
