It is a consulting package which helps the clients to answer the following questions: "Which are the actual problems of the logistics system?", "What can be improved?".
Operational assessment offers an independent vision on company's logistics operations and a detailed report containing observations of experienced consultants in the field of operations and logistics systems.
A review of all aspects of one operation is made, meaning information is collected and goods flow are made and it recommends action directions for each identified problem. Also, it brings operations on the required standards, similar with those from other distribution systems.
The report of an operational assessment defines the causes which limitates the eficiency of the operation. Also, it describes their effect on operations, and prioritizes them upon he most severe operational impact
Each functional area, received from deliveries, plus the control of the inventary
The unit and total capacity (current and optimal)
The operational layout and material flow
Functional capacities and system's performance
The storage and handling of the equipment
Inventory's accuracy
This consulting service consists in establishing material flows and dividing the warehouse into multiple operational areas(for example: the receiving of goods, the storage of goods, commissioning (mixing) of goods, the delivering of goods, packaging / checking goods).
Gives dimension and chooses the types of storage areas based on the dimensions and the velocity of the product. Usually, we propose several support types:
Supports on pallets - they are suitable for voluminous products or for products with a large velocity. In some warehouses, those pallets play the role of barriers / waiting space for product areas with movement / flow medium / low
Supports on containers - those are suitable for areas with movement / flow medium / low.
Mobile racks - suitable for small space warehouses with large storage needs, where occupying space is critical (for example: cold storage rooms, archives, etc.)
It creates the plans which contain the location number, the position of the location, the characteristics of the location (with simple or multiple depth), the convension for naming the location, aisle size (normal or narrow aisle).
Establishes the number of the workstations for each area and chooses the location of the workstation inside the area
Establishes the connections/interactions between and within each area in two ways:
Manual conections: using semiautomatic machines, manual machines or lifting devices
Automatic connections: automatically guided vehicles(AGV), belt conveyor systems (conveyors), storage and goods-out equipment, sorting machines, storage carousel
Establishes a budget for supports, equipments, pallets, containers
Flow analysis for each warehouse area; flow improvement in areas containing problems: reducing existing errors, reduce the effects of errors which can not be eliminated (eg, updating inventory based on zero crossing), increasing the flow of the areas, automation of operations on which were found bottlenecks
The analysis and the improvment of connections between areas
The analysis of existing errors and their causes
Real flow analysis and detection of flow bottlenecks
The analysis of the future needs of the clients concerning of increasing the flow, new types of products, changing velocity of products
It provides a well-defined method of approaching errors
Improves operations for workstations and enhances the flow
If the warehouse is new, all will be created from zero.
Provides the detailed list with all required equipment, such as scanners, mobile terminals, antennas, scales, printers, AGV, conveyors, sorting devices
Offers the budget list for all equipments
Points out the item's characteristics for each item highlighting the arguments which come in favor of the product, as well as features that might make it inappropriate in the proposed configuration and familiarizes the user with the product before its acquisition
The detailed functionality for each area
The detailed functionality for the connections between areas
The algorithms for storage , commissioning and dispatch operations
The supply strategy
Routes optimisation
Updating inventory in real time
Monitoring the activity of the warehouse
Provides detailed logical schemes of software, with the possibility that a third company would implement flow only based on these specifications
Technology Interface: TCP, FTP, database to database
The specification of the interface between WMS and Host System
The interface specification between WMS and all external peripherals: scanners, RF-controlled mobile terminals, RF-controlled printers, all automatic equipment
The calculation of data flow for each interface
Setting user interface
Determining the most suitable technologies: sometimes we can choose Web interface, but the user client applications are recommended for faster operations
Setting masks user interface for all areas
The establishment of functionalities for all areas
Providing prototypes, based on which shall be finalized the customer masks
It establishes the required IT equipment for the functioning of the warehouse management system and material flow control
Establishes basic specifications for servers
Establishes specifications for workstations
Recommends backup solutions
Creates the budget list for equipment purchases
Creates the required tests before acquisition
Identifying operating requirements
Writing the specifications, where are detailed all functionalities, the required equipment, the necessary staff, the good operating conditions of the system, communication interfaces between subsystems, the way to cross in the production
The division of the whole project into multiple stages and the establishment of deadlines for each stage
The identification and the control of risk factors that may occur during the project development
Creates the internal testing scenarios for software functionalities
It creates internal tests for interfaces between WMS and external peripheral modules
It creates the test for assigning missions. This action takes place in three stages:
The implementation of communication interfaces with HOST systems (ERP systems, accounting and management systems, etc.) and with the existing subsystems (automated systems)
The installation of the whole system at the client and the systematic testing of all functionalities as well as the systematic testing of all communication interfaces with other subsystems
Establishing the scenarios for the transition to production. Onsite support is offered by specialists with a large experience in IT and warehouse management systems;
Providing service during system operation so remote and onsite when needed
