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Feature Warehousing & storage Choosing the right warehouse


management system for you Simon Fowler, MD of Advanced Business Solutions gives his advice on choosing the correct warehouse management system for your organisation


1. Assess the need for a WMS Just because you are building a ware- house does not necessarily mean you will need a warehouse management system. You must be confident it will help you achieve significant benefits.


2. Consider the long-term Look to the long-term future and have a clear vision of what your warehouse could look like as this will ensure you choose a solution that is sufficiently scaleable, flexible and functional.


3. Examine your options Consider the WMS module of your existing ERP/business system provider or – if your warehouse is highly auto- mated – the WMS provided by your automation systems company. Look at the option of in-house WMS develop- ment if the overall requirements are particularly specialised. In most cases a packaged, configurable solution will perfectly match your requirements.


4. Predict your potential ROI A WMS is a tactical ‘execution’ system and is therefore a lot easier to justify than many IT projects. The key areas


to consider are: the potential for a WMS to give you improved stock accuracy, the likelihood for increased productivity and cost savings, the need for improved traceability and customer service.


5. Review the costs of a WMS The costs of a WMS can be broken up into licences, professional services (project management, training and go- live support), custom development costs and annual support costs. Ensure any suppliers you approach give you costs for the all the above, indicating if prices are variable. Watch out for hidden costs such as travel costs, travel time and project management time. Take hardware and infrastruc- ture costs into account.


6. Adding value to a 3PL As a 3PL is responsible for third party stock, accurate stock quantity and loca- tion is a priority, making a good WMS, well implemented and supported essen- tial. In turn labour productivity, ware- house utilisation and efficient equipment performance is of great inter- est. A WMS could also be an important


tool in monitoring performance against any Service Level Agreements.


7. A process to select a supplier A recommended process is as follows: a) Prepare a short request for informa- tion document - just a few pages. b) Produce a list of three to five suppli- ers, then organise an informal meeting to get a feel for their company. c) Ask for a few reference sites. d) Request a tailored demonstration. e) Get them to take you to a reference site, if possible, this will allow you to shorten the list to two to three suppliers. f) Get any gaps in functionality specified and costed.


8. Research potential suppliers It is relatively easy to identify potential suppliers, word of mouth and industry contacts are a good source, as are trade exhibitions. Search engine research will also give you some names. Choose a WMS supplier with a good track record.


9. Involve key team members Identify a project champion in your organisation, build a team of logistics people around them and get them to own the WMS. Make sure you also involve your IT team in ensuring the WMS vendor can work with you to provide solid interfaces with your other business systems.


Advanced Business Solutions T: 0845 160 6162 advancedcomputer- software.com/abs Enter 360


10. A long-term partnership Look at the size of the supplier and that of their customers it is used to working with companies of your size. Examine support cover, development plans and track record.


Stay cool, clam and safe in cold storage warehouses


haun Evers, MD Stonegate Instruments, a manufacturer of refrigeration and tempera- ture control systems, exam- ines the risks to working in the sub-zero environment of a cold store on a daily basis and explains how technology can quickly resolve potentially dangerous situations. There are many hazards associated with temperature controlled warehousing, cold storage and industrial refrigeration, such as; accidental lock-ins, equip- ment failures, and accidental release of refrigerant gases. These hazards require a compre- hensive health and safety policy that must be adhered to. The Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state every employer has an oblig- ation to ensure its workplace is safe and that all staff are given relevant information, instruc- tion, training, and supervision with regard to maintaining their health and safety.


S S16


Employers are further obligated to provide staff with personal protec- tive equipment and to ensure this equipment is correctly used. The biggest threat to people work- ing in cold stores and industrial refrigeration units is the accidental release of refrigerant gases. These can be inadvertently released due to equip- ment failure, improper maintenance work or mechanical damage, and anyone exposed to them can suffer fatal respiratory injuries. The most dangerous is ammonia, exposure to which can cause severe eye and throat infections. Halocarbon refrigerants are of a lower toxicity but still pose a major risk of suffocation. If a fire breaks out, these refrigerants pro- duce toxic decomposition products. This is why adequate ventilation and extraction fans should be installed in all cold storage, as recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). A clear emergency pro- cedure should be outlined in the event of a gas


leakage, with evacuation and isolation details. A gas detector should also be installed in cold storage to instantly alert personnel to the presence of a gas leak. One of


the most


common accidents in cold storage facilities is accidental lock-ins which can serious injuries and even death from exposure to the freezing temperatures for a prolonged period of time. The HSE advises that when working in temperatures below -12°C, a buddy system should be introduced to minimise the chance of a lock-in. It also recommends a trapped per- sonnel alarm is also installed. These work by alerting audibly and visually when someone accidentally trapped in a cold store strikes an emergency alarm button inside. As well as alerting colleagues audibly and visually, the trapped personnel alarm also sets a volt-free relay to repeat the call to a siren, dial-out, or other remote alarm. Stonegate Instruments T: 0113 224 4440 www.stonegate-instruments.co.uk Enter 361


MAY/JUNE 2013 Materials Handling & Logistics


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