Your boss has put you in charge of finding the company’s next warehouse management system – it’s not a responsibility to take lightly. How to approach such a challenge, we already presented in our blog “5 Ways to Evaluate Warehouse Management Solutions”. In this post, we discuss what types of features to look for in such a system.
To find the right solution to run your warehouse operations with the tools your company requires, let’s look at some of the qualities warehouse managementprofessionals should consider.
Supply Chain Execution Solution
In 2007, Aberdeen Group published research in which they presented five key capabilities for every distribution center, related to warehouse management. The survey showed that best performing distribution centers shared the following characteristics:
- Order picking with mobile devices
- Bin-level location management
- Paperless receiving
- Real-time put-away
- Cycle counting
We would like to add the following capabilities for consideration to enhance your performance.
- Controlled workloads – For effective warehouse management, choose a system that helps you get things done. For instance, if you need to pick a certain number of orders, the system will tell you what items will have to be picked, in which order and by whom through the application of task management.
- Inventory management in production – With an effective warehouse management system, you know all aspects of your inventory. From supplies to attributes and more, you will know what’s where and if you have what you need to efficiently accomplish your goals.
- Visibility – Speaking of efficiency, a dashboard presenting Key Performance Indicators can automatically incorporate additional resources when they are needed. The task management of the warehouse management system will then delegate the work to accommodate increased workflow.
- Integration – Communicating with other systems, your warehouse management solution will help decrease costs and increase productivity through maximized performance, whether it is integrated with Material Handling Equipment, Warehouse Control Systems and/or Manufacturing Execution Systems.
- Upgradeability – Not only should your system be able to integrate and communicate with other systems, it should be easily upgradeable. The best systems are flexible enough to bend the way you want them, when you need it to happen.
For warehouse professionals, choosing the right warehouse management system isn’t a simple trip to the store. Careful deliberation and a lengthy buying process is the usual. This is why WMS professionals that take the above considerations, among others, will have the most success in acquiring the best solution for their needs.
To learn more about choosing the right warehouse management system, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or connect with us on LinkedIn.
