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Friday, 12 January 2007 |
There's no denying that supply chain optimization is a big issue to tackle. But every supply chain automation and integration project does not have to be all-encompassing or overly expensive. There are things you can do now to get results and lay the foundation for future implementations.
 1. COMPARTMENTALIZE your supply chain improvement efforts. Tackling the entire supply chain at once can be overwhelming, so reach out to a supplier that offers a modular approach. Vienna, VA-based Softeon offers a suite of supply chain solutions that can be implemented alone or in tandem. When Hoffman Beverage Company made the switch to presell in 2005, the wholesaler also decided to invest in Softeon's warehouse management system (WMS) module. "Our instructions to all vendors of WMS was it had to be paperless, wireless, real-time inventory and increase productivity," says Kirk Baldwin, vice president of operations for Hoffman. "Softeon's WMS more than met our requirements and they essentially became a partner in our success."
2. EXPAND your partnership with existing suppliers. Over the past 15 years production and packaging equipment suppliers have moved from specializing on a single function to supplying complete lines and offering turnkey implementations. Now Krones AG (Neutrabling, Germany) is taking the next step by offering warehouse management solutions to its bottling plant customers. The company will demonstrate an automatic storage and retrieval unit developed for a high-bay warehouse at Germany's Labertaler Heilund Mineralquellen at LogiMAT 2007 (Stuttgart, February 13-15, 2007).
3. TAP INTO the functionality of your existing GPS-enabled cell phones to optimize communication with your mobile workforce. Portable Internet's web-based program allows distribution operations to collect real-time data on its mobile workforce using basic GPS-enabled phones and an easy-to-use web interface. Field supervisors can log on to the system to track worker movement, while managers can get a real-time picture of their DSD operations.
4. ENHANCE visibility into your production operation with software that integrates data from every aspect of your facility into a single system. Rockwell Software's FactoryTalk was designed to bring the factory floor into the executive suite once and for all. Employing Rockwell's Logix platform, FactoryTalk closes the gap between control and enterprise systems by providing real-time data exchange between manufacturing and the rest of the company, an essential first step in optimizing supply chain functions.
5. EXPLORE your options to see which implementations make sense for your operation. Supply chain automation service providers have developed tools to help end-users determine when and how to implement solutions. Take advantage of planning aids, such as HK Systems' educational resources series, which offer step-by-step considerations for improvement projects.
www.hksystems.com
www.krones.com
www.portableinternet.com
www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellsoftware/factorytalk
www.softeon.com
From Beverage World January 15, 2007 |
