Implementation of Warehouse Management Solution - Assignment Example

Implementation of Warehouse Management Solution By Date Introduction A warehouse management (WM) consists of wide-ranging, incorporated features that computerize incoming, warehousing and outgoing processes, ensuing in enhanced efficiency, space consumption and customer pleasure (Consona Corporation, 2011). In other words, warehouse management systems (WMS) can be referred as the operating operations and modern technology that automate all warehousing operations. These operations normally start with proceeds from providers and stop with delivery to end users, as well as comprise all inventory actions and data and information movements come in between. With the passage of time, even small size and medium size organizations are more and more take care of the importance of warehouse management systems in current atmosphere of incorporated logistics, instantaneous supply, and e-commerce accomplishment (Eclipse Systems Pvt. Ltd, 2004; Ayub, 2007). This report presents a detailed analysis of warehouse management system. This report will discuss advantages and various aspects of WMS. What is Warehouse Management? Historically, warehouse management systems emerge in the same way as a lot of other software applications and systems. In this scenario, in the beginning it worked as an application to direct actions and storage space of equipment and raw material inside a storehouse (Piasecki, 2011; Eclipse Systems Pvt. Ltd, 2004). In this scenario, whether the transformation of WMS into a warehouse-specific ERP system is a suitable or not is part of today’s debates. Furthermore, it is clear from the research that the development of the overlie in processing among Enterprise Resource Planning, Warehouse Management Systems, Transportation Management Systems, Distribution Requirements Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Advanced Planning and Scheduling, and Manufacturing Execution Systems will simply augment the rank of complexity between corporations searching for software application for managing their business processes (Piasecki, 2011; Eclipse Systems Pvt. Ltd, 2004). Furthermore, excellent WMS applications are usually developed to combine computer software, hardware, and other associated devices and tools through enhanced working operations for organizing supply, delivery, storage, labor, and raw material in stores and supply centers. In this scenario, the accomplishment of a WMS enables a corporation to augment its competitive edge by decreasing staff expenses, enhancing customer satisfaction, improving supply accurateness, and enhancing suppleness and receptiveness. In addition, a WMS allows an organization to deal with stock in synchronized manner, through data and information as up to date as the most current order, delivery, or receiving and any other action in between (Eclipse Systems Pvt. Ltd, 2004; Murray, 2011).  Benefits of Warehouse Management System WMS offers a lot of benefits, some of them are outline below: (Eclipse Systems Pvt. Ltd, 2004; Murray, 2011) Quicker supply turns A WMS enables a company to decrease lead duration by minimizing supply and delivery transfer and enhancing the correctness of stock information, in that way applying a JIT atmosphere. Consequently, there is no need for safety store, since it augments working capital consumption and inventory turnover. Making best use of existing warehouse storage Over and above minimizing safety-stock need, a WMS also enables an organization to frequently augment existing material storage space by more competently finding objects with regard to getting, gathering, packaging, and delivery locations. As a result, this augmented effectiveness can both enhance efficiency and lesser inventory storage expenditures considerably. Decreasing inventory paperwork The use of a synchronized and automated warehouse management system can considerably decrease the official procedure customarily linked with material storage operations, in addition to making sure appropriate and correct movement of supply and data and information. In this scenario, receipts reports, selection of tickets, movements of tickets, packaging lists, etc, which are normally kept and processed in paper form, can all be kept in computers in soft form. Enhanced cycle counting A WMS allows companies to confine related data and information (for instance, regularity of order transfer, definite delivery and supply points, etc.) to thoroughly planned workers for cycle counts. In this scenario, this kind of cycle counts not simply can enhance the accurateness of inventory proceedings for scheduling arrangements, however also can get rid of or diminish the need for the entire, expensive substantial supply. Decreased dependence on warehouse workers The use of WMS allows the companies to normalize the supply actions, picking and delivery modes along with supply points. In this way, this process is very helpful to the organizations in minimizing dependence on unceremonious methods, making sure the decreased training expenditures and minimizing chances of errors. Improved customer satisfaction By implementing a WMS companies can streamline operations from taking order to movement, which allows organizations to more precisely find out product accessibility and practical delivery deadline. In this scenario, by using a WMS organizations can automatically recognize and discharge back-ordered delivery as well as also can decrease proceeds because of augmented delivery correctness. Enhanced labor efficiency A WMS allows organizations to optimize movement of raw material, normally by integrating a number of inventory choices into one or by "cross docking". In this scenario, cross docking is a technique that establishes paths for inward consignments to the point nearest to the outgoing delivery port, in that way decreasing warehouse management.          SAP’s WM Solution            In addition, a warehouse management is incorporate with ERP acquisitions, management of raw materials and orders, production and global financial management capabilities. In this scenario, this combination helps the organizations get rid of the endeavor and conflicting information linked with sending and receiving information transversely separate applications. Consequently, all the warehouse transactions and operations instantaneously bring up to date associated data all the way through the system, together with product accessibility, order delivery and proceeds (Consona Corporation, 2011). To deal with warehouse management related issues and requirements, SAP presents fully integrated tools that coordinate and deal with all the important elements of the supply and production operations. Additionally, by using this solution business executives can plan, source, procure, store, transport, and deliver products, these all functions can be performed using a single, combined logistics stand (SAP AG., 2011). For this purpose, the SAP Enterprise Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) solution was released to contend with top available solutions. Until now SAP has successfully released its four versions. In addition, EWM is quickly becoming more and more popular in the warehouse management. Moreover, this solution comprises all the characteristics and operations that an organization expects in a robust solution. As well as it presents typical value suggestion those are not presented by other top suppliers (Consona Corporation, 2011; SAP AG., 2011). Advantages of SAP’s WM Solution Moreover, it presents elastic, automatic capabilities for operating materials transfer and organizing material in delivery services. In this scenario, this solution offers following advantages: • It helps organization improve its warehouse capability by organizing material transfer towards warehouse and from the warehouse • It enhances warehouse capability with operations that keep the products of a company saved in best possible locations, and supervise warehouse workers efficiency and effectiveness • It augments instantaneous visibility by changing processes into an adaptive completion of supply chain operations in which clients, suppliers, and other associates contribute to facts and information • It allows organizations to take competitive edge and enhance the base line with the capability to act in response quicker to transformations in supply and demand (SAP AG., 2011). Two Companies implemented this solution Firs case discusses the implementation of SAP Extended Warehouse Management at esco (european salt company). In this scenario, SAPEWM allows this company to renovate its stock management and material flow control. As a result, it has become the first organization in the world that runs its stand feeders unswervingly with the material flow system incorporated with the SAP EWM solution. While talking about functionality, the SAP EWM solution matches accurately the supply chain management policy. In addition, SAP EWM also presented them a standpoint into executing extra operations similar to cross-docking and RFID incorporation in near-synchronized and inexpensively and into matching novel officially authorized supplies, for instance those associated with classification (SAP, 2011). In second case, Deloitte began implementing SAP EWM at Ford with an international proposal exercise. The basic purpose of this proposal was to analyze and talk about all warehouse operations and decide on more than 80 % of worldwide cohesion. Prior to the implementation of SAP EWM, the warehouse in Estrees-Saint-Denis was using multiple systems to operate. In addition, inbound processes and delivered products in general material information were organized by a European Ford system. Moreover, for other processes a local information system developed on MS Access databases was utilized. However, these databases developed in MS Access primarily had a setting up function for the entire outgoing flows but execution of processes was paper-based (Deloitte Consulting, 2011). Conclusion A warehouse management (WM) consists of wide-ranging, incorporated features that computerize incoming, warehousing and outgoing processes, ensuing in enhanced efficiency, space consumption and customer pleasure. In other words, warehouse management systems (WMS) can be referred as the operating operations and modern technology that automate all warehousing operations. These operations normally start with proceeds from providers and stop with delivery to end users, as well as comprise all inventory actions and data and information movements come in between. Excellent WMS applications are usually developed to combine computer software, hardware, and other associated devices and tools through enhanced working operations for organizing supply, delivery, storage, labor, and raw material in stores and supply centers. In this scenario, the accomplishment of a WMS enables a corporation to augment its competitive edge by decreasing staff expenses, enhancing customer satisfaction, improving supply accurateness, and enhancing suppleness and receptiveness. A warehouse management system brings a lot of benefits for organizations. To deal with warehouse management related issues and requirements, SAP presents fully integrated tools that coordinate and deal with all the important elements of the supply and production operations. Additionally, by using this solution business executives can plan, source, procure, store, transport, and deliver products, these all functions can be performed using a single, combined logistics stand. This report has discussed the cases of two companies which have implemented SAP’s WM solution. This report has shown the advantages of this solution offered to companies. References Ayub, N., 2007. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) Essentials. [Online] Available at: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/wms-essentials/what-is-warehouse-management-system-wms-18819 [Accessed 20 August 2011]. Consona Corporation, 2011. Warehouse Management. [Online] Available at: http://www.compiere.com/products/capabilities/warehouse-management.php [Accessed 22 August 2011]. Deloitte Consulting, 2011. Warehouse Management at Ford with SAP EWM. [Online] Available at: http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-Belgium/Local%20Assets/Documents/EN/Services/Consulting/dcom-be-en-warehouse-management-SAP-EWM.pdf [Accessed 19 August 2011]. Eclipse Systems Pvt. Ltd, 2004. Warehouse Management System (WMS). [Online] Available at: http://www.bestwms.com/about_wms.htm [Accessed 18 August 2011]. Murray, M., 2011. Implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS). [Online] Available at: http://logistics.about.com/od/supplychainsoftware/a/ImplementingWMS.htm [Accessed 26 August 2011]. Piasecki, D., 2011. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). [Online] Available at: http://www.inventoryops.com/warehouse_management_systems.htm [Accessed 19 August 2011]. SAP AG., 2011. ADVANCED WAREHOUSING WITH SAP® EWM. [Online] Available at: download.sap.com/industries/aero-defense/./download.epd?. [Accessed 19 August 2011]. SAP, 2011. The Start of a New Era in Logistics. [Online] Available at: http://en.sap.info/the-start-of-a-new-era-in-logistics/10625 [Accessed 21 August 2011]. Read More