Warehouse Management Software Case Study
“The company estimates it is completing around 25% more work in the same time and that it will achieve payback on its investment in around two years”
and complexity,” says Matthew Talbot. A team from Chess spent four weeks in Swindon to find out more before starting work on the project with Neptune’s in-house programmers. Using Empirica for company- wide inventory management required interfaces with a number of applications, including the first integration with Neptune’s ERP system. Ultimately more than 20 interfaces were configured. The process was simplified using the interface module that forms part of the core Empirica package, while a number of modifications to the core application were needed to support the various processes. Information from the year-end stock take was entered onto the system which went live on schedule. All onsite stock movements are now managed by Empirica in conjunction with RF devices and barcodes. Information is passed seamlessly and automatically between the various applications to provide Neptune with complete visibility of an item, its status and location. Items arriving from the company’s own factories or manufacturing partners are scanned to verify information previously received. Neptune checks over 10% of incoming stock as part of its demanding quality control process. Any issues are logged onto the system and all items transferred to a dedicated refinish workshop for appropriate remedy such as repainting. This rigour has effectively reduced the number of quality-related customer issues to less than 2% of sales. Neptune offers a high degree of paint finish and handle customisation on its products – customers can specify precisely what they want when they place an order. Through the various interfaces, the system allocates workloads and tracks items as they are prepared for delivery in the site’s rework and refinish workshops.
Information about products is updated as they progress from one area to another.
FURTHER FUNCTIONALITY
Conventional warehouse operations are also managed by Empirica. The system generates and prints all requisite labels for handling media and delivery packaging. Each box despatched is given a unique reference number to assist tracking. Order picking sequences are aligned with drop schedules for efficiency and optimum vehicle loading. Scanning on departure from Swindon and arrival at customers’ locations supports complete traceability. The changes have allowed Neptune to introduce some innovative services. For example, the home delivery teams who assemble items for customers can confirm in real-time completion of onsite checks and assembly tasks, as well as report and log issues. Actions such as redeliveries can be agreed and confirmed immediately with
customers before the team leaves. The customer sees an immediate response which enhances their perception of the service. Among the many benefits identified by Neptune is a significant advance in customer service and experience due to improvements in areas such as stock accuracy and quality control. More orders are fulfilled more quickly and there are fewer short orders or returns. Improved stock accuracy and visibility also enhances service for the design centres and retail partners who can now place orders with greater confidence. Electronic delivery notes and invoices are always accurate and delivered quickly to support improved commercial relationships. The company estimates it is completing around 25% more work in the same time and that it will achieve payback on its investment in around two years. “I knew Empirica was competitive on price, but had the capabilities of more expensive alternative systems,” says Matthew Talbot. “I don’t believe an ERP will ever have a good WMS. You have to get the right systems and integrate them to provide what you really need. Using Empirica, we’ve built the foundations to take our business to the next level.” n
www.chess.uk.com
www.shdlogistics.com
March 2014 63
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