QC Software’s Ten Essential Productivity Multipliers for Distributors

CINCINNATI - Oct. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- No one tries to reduce productivity if they are concerned about containing costs. However, when distribution managers fail to implement best practices, lower productivity is the net result.

“With minimal capital investment and an optimized workflow, distributors can significantly improve productivity,” states Rich Hite, President of QC Software, a recognized leader in warehouse control solutions for the material handling industry.

For example, by integrating automated picking systems into the warehouse control system, this system now operates new-generation technology while keeping the same four walls and ERP/WMS system in place. Changes to the IT system are limited and targeted to specific areas, making it a cost effective solution for the distributor.

Following are key productivity multipliers.

Proper Slotting.  Wrong product placement in the warehouse is time consuming. If fast moving inventory is stored 50 feet away and is hard to reach, the picker is wasting time unless a fast goods-to-person system is used.

Batch Pick single orders.  If there are 50 single item orders, it is more efficient to pick the entire amount at once and deconsolidate later, rather than separately pick each item.

Cluster pick low quantity orders.  Cluster picking increases operator efficiency by putting several orders onto the cart so the operator only has to walk one time for a group of orders. This works particularly well for products that are small because the carts can take a larger number of orders simultaneously.

Use pick to light on the fastest, high velocity items. Pick to light enhances accuracy and throughput when picking fast moving inventory.

Replication of fast moving items.  Distributors increase throughput when there are multiple pick locations for high-demand inventory.

Replace pick and pass method with zone skipping.  Zone skipping technology delivers cartons only to zones that have picks. If a zone is full, the carton moves to another zone and returns to the skipped zone later. Unlike the pick and pass method, the cartons are always moving.

Initiate next best order. Determine order priority based on shipping requirements, picking locations, inventory availability and other criteria.

Workload balancing. This technology dynamically manages the flow of work throughout the warehouse to ensure maximum throughput. It decides what orders are released and selects pick locations based on current activity.

Fluid trailer loading. Load orders directly from the conveyor to reduce the number of touches.

Internet visibility to exception alerts and system reports.  Providing alerts and reports through the Internet extends visibility and enables faster resolution of issues.

QC Software is recognized as an industry leader in providing innovative and adaptive software solutions for order fulfillment and distribution centers. Their Tier-1 Warehouse Control System provides advanced management capabilities for inventory control, resource scheduling and order management. For over seventeen years, their solutions have enabled customers to streamline their warehouse operations with one of the lowest total cost of ownerships in the industry.