ProWMS Optimises Central Distribution Centre for Homewares Retailer

Retail warehouse operation: WMS Warehouse Management Software improves homeware retailer store-focused warehouse operations

 
A leading independent homewares retailer, stocking over 10,000 products for sale via its stores across Ireland and in the UK, harnesses ProWMS Warehouse Management technology to optimise its state-of-the-art central distribution centre.
 
Business goals

• Consolidate multi-site operations under one roof
• Improved control and flexibility to manage storage & distribution of own products to facilitate rapid growth
• Reduced & faster handling at store-level. Stock picked by department – & can now be brought directly to the relevant store department
• Reduced costs

Operational goals

• Manage & take control of product handling and storage
• Optimise process for stores to receive & manage stock on arrival
• Improve store-level stock management, accuracy & visibility across Supply Chain
• Optimise stock holding levels & delivery of stock when needed at store (JIT)
• Improve store-level services & ability to implement good faith receipting

 What ProWMS Warehouse Management Software delivered

• Innovative ProWMS Resource/Task Management & Control functionality
  – sets priorities against user-definable rules allowing management to forecast volumes for specific tasks and resource these appropriately in advance of work commencing. Also enables automatic assignment of tasks based on pre-defined weighting assigned to tasks.
• Voice-enabled operations including Put Away, Transfers, Replenishments, Guided Movements, Case Picking & Full Pallet Picking
  – improving operator performance & reducing errors.
• Zone and by Shift & Zone pattern
  – enabling management to shift operatives from zone-to-zone within the warehouse. So, if replenishment volumes are heavy in one zone, a user can be locked to that zone until all work completes (as Case Pick). If there are multiple orders in a zone where no replenishment is required then those orders are released first, reducing picker wait times.
• Dynamically assigns tasks to users – with manual override function
  – removes micro management & administration roadblocks. Users continue to receive work via their voice headset until there is no work available.
• Dual Cycling/Task Interleaving functionality
  – maximises operator’s walk time by optimising their location & tasks so more work done in less time. ProWMS delivers the next dual-cycle event based on the user’s current location harnessing hand-held terminal and voice-enabled technologies.
• Dynamic Pick Face assignment
  – ProWMS assigns pick faces for products based on an integration file from clients ER
  – removes manual administration effort required to stay on top of fast moving/seasonal products.
• Web Services connection to client ERP system
  – Store orders are split by cluster into individual pallet picks based on stock dimensions and stackability using ProWMS Order Staging Tables.

Here at Principal Logistics Technologies, we’re constantly deploying new and innovative solutions to assist our 3PL Logistics and Supply Chain customers.

Ask us how our innovative ProWMS technology and business sector experience can deliver a solution addressing your operational challenges, as well as reducing OpEx and driving revenue.