IDII Software Newsletter
 To assist the professional dealing with software in Warehousing Distribution, Logistics, and the Supply Chain.
November 7th 2001 - Vol 2 No 17
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Techniques, Vision, & Educational Thoughts

"A Valuable List of WMS Implementation Tips"

Software installations produce pain, labor, and sweat. Only 40% of them result in satisfied customers. Therefore it is imperative that we continue to strive for excellency, in order to raise this satisfaction rate higher and higher. In order to do this, we must both 'watch out' for road hazards and install safety equipment to insure a success. The following tips & techniques are from the author's experience and published articles that have dealt with testing-installing-and-go-live of a system.

Communicate Expectations! Every software project should have a vision with expectations that are realistic and have been communicated clearly over and over again. The company must write these expectations in writing prior to the selection of the software solution. When installation is completed, the company can measure realized benefits based on these quantifiable expectations. These expectations should not shift and 'project creep' should be avoided totally. By over communicating realistic, written goals it will increase the satisfaction rating, as vendors, 3rd parties, and your own staff has a clear understanding of the goals.

12 Essential Elements for a Successful WMS Installation
- Author: Tom SInger of Tompkins Associates - Competitive Edge - Vol 6, Issue 3, Page 13-14
  1. Design for Operational Improvement
  2. Manage Risks
  3. Manage Communication & Expectations
  4. Control the Project Plan
  5. Prepare to Deal with Adversity
  6. Pay Attention to Facilities Preparation
  7. Build a Knowledge Base and Take Ownership
  8. Commit to Training
  9. Understand the Value of Testing
  10. Plan for Exceptions
  11. Document Procedures & Customizations
  12. Take Control of Go-Live

Pitfalls to Avoid When Integrating a Warehouse Management System
- Source: Managing Automation, March 1999
  • Establishing an unrealistic implementation schedule.
  • Buying a low-end system and expecting high-end results.
  • Failing to track vendor progress.
  • Failing to develop a contingency plan.
  • Overselling the system to users.
  • Lack of system integration training.
  • Providing the software vendor with faulty, incomplete, or out-of-date data.
  • Thinking a newly integrated WMS will eliminate all inefficiencies within the operation.
  • Blaming the WMS provider for glitches that occur during the software's initial launch.
  • Failing to audit the results to see if the system is working as efficiently as possible.
Here are 3 major tips to improve WMS success from "Warehouse Systems and the Supply Chain: A Survey of Success Factor" by Andersen Consulting and WERC. www.werc.org December 1998, 44 pages. ISBN 1-892663-15-5
  1. Utilization of outside consultants doubles the chances for a very successful outcome.
  2. Identifying, tracking, and testing for the promised benefits during and after the implementation ares the only way to ensure that they are delivered.
  3. Executive management commitment and involvement has a significant impact on the success of the WMS installation.

Interesting Observation - All Large Software Projects - SAME Satisfaction Issue
Satisfaction rate on large software installations is low. According to WERC, the highly satisfied customers are only one in five. What can we do to bring the satisfaction rate up? Ponder the above points very seriously, as all types of large software projects face the same difficulties, whether WMS, ERP, TMS, EDI, or APS software installations.

Executive Management Commitment.

The number one item that IDII verifies at the beginning of each consulting assignment is "Executive Management Commitment". If the client's company does not have that one item - ( IDII requires it ) - We will warn the client's management about the strong possibility of project failure!

Conclusion

In conclusion, these above points increase satisfaction by controlling & managing expectations of all types, for involvement by all parties, and proper measurements. If you are a software vendor, project manager, or key person in the project - it is imperative to perceive, to understand, and to do these tips! Our on-going goal is "customer satisfaction". This list breaks it down into steps of how to achieve higher customer satisfaction ratings.

Written & compiled by Philip Obal, President of IDII - This article is availabe as a white paper at http://www.idii.com/wp-wmstips.htm

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Software Company News

  • ALT-C Systems Inc.(1992, Warehouse Optimization, SqlServer, Oracle, ODBC, Access) announces TimeTrends® Forecast Warehouse, version 4.0a. TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse 4.0 now adds more options and capabilities to facilitating and automating the forecasting and planning process for users and administrators. New features include parameterized queries, graphing of queries, Oracle database support, direct database access, and ad-hoc database creation.

    See SCREEN SNAPSHOT of TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse product.

    TimeTrends now enables users to more easily focus their forecast exception analysis using Parameterized Queries. Any query stored within the Forecast Warehouse can now be made to prompt the user for parameters that can limit the scope of the result set to data that is important to the current analysis. In addition, TimeTrends now enables Graphing of Queries to provide users with additional visual analysis of their query results. Users can select fields from query result sets and generate either a Line Graph, Bar Chart, Scatter Graph or Pie Chart. These new features, while dramatically improving forecast exception analysis, also virtually eliminate the need for technical assistance.     See Screen snapshot of the TimeTrends Forecast Warehouse product.
  • Amazon Says Saving Money with Shift to Linux (from Reuters, October 30, 2001). By using Linux, corporations can use it on numerous computers without paying a software license fee for each one. In its third quarter, Amazon said it spent $54 million on technology, saving $17 million or 24 percent from the $71 million it spent a year earlier, in Amazon's 10-Q SEC filing.

    ``The decline in absolute dollars spent ... primarily reflect our migration to a Linux-based technology platform that utilizes a less-costly technology infrastructure, as well as general price reductions for data and telecommunications services due to market overcapacity,'' Amazon said. IDC operating systems analyst Dan Kusnetzky said it was no surprise Amazon was saving millions by switching to Linux. ``That's one of the reasons Linux is so attractive,'' Kusnetzky said. ``The software, and often the cost of the hardware that runs on it, is considerably less.''
  • Baan (ERP, CRM, TMS) Launches iBaan Logistics (TMS). The new integrated, open-standard iBaan for Logistics solution is an Internet-enabled Transportation Management System (TMS) that integrates supply chain optimisation and execution in an effort to enhance all freight-related processes. iBaan for Logistics will provide both shipping organisations and logistics service providers (LSPs) with an integrated mission-critical IT backbone to support logistics processes such as freight order acceptance, transportation planning, warehouse picking, and freight costing, billing and invoicing across the entire enterprise.

    Developed in conjunction with Menlo Logistics, a worldwide logistics company, and CAPS Logistics, a wholly-owned Baan company, Baan’s TMS will provide a robust, responsive backbone for execution-level transaction management, complemented by warehouse management, distributed event entry and handling, information analysis, collaborative load tendering, and CAPS Logistics’ best-of-breed solutions for route planning, carrier bid optimisation, shipment consolidation, mode selection, and network design.

    “With iBaan Logistics, we have launched the long-awaited logistics solution that covers execution to optimisation, and everything from event handling to strategic analysis and decision management, not only for the shippers or LSPs but for both types of parties in the supply chain.

  • BridgePoint (TMS, B2B) expanded its global logistics solution to include ocean contracting functionality. The new module introduces a new level of sophistication to creating and managing global carrier contracts by enabling multiple remote users to collaborate in the preparation, review, awarding and maintenance of contracts to multiple carriers online.

    With over a year of dedicated development and testing behind it, the ocean contracting module (formerly known as NaviPact) is now available as a stand alone product or natural component of BridgePoint's larger service offering. As with BridgePoint's products, the ocean contracting module focuses on automating critical supply chain functions and offering measurable financial value to both shippers and carriers. It succeeds by aggregating information from across the enterprise, automating the data collection process and facilitating communication between shippers and carriers.


  • Descartes Systems Group Inc. (Nasdaq:DSGX, TSE:DSG), announced its wireless routing, scheduling and dispatch solutions in Europe. This launch follows seven years of the Company's successful deployment of wireless solutions in North America. The complete system is designed to dynamically optimize routes and schedules, improve fleet management, dispatcher and driver productivity, and minimize transportation costs while ensuring a high level of service through on-time delivery and improved responsiveness to increasing customer demands.

    Descartes' MobileLINK wireless technologies operate on third party devices to support real-time communication and information exchange between dispatchers and drivers throughout the delivery day. For example, drivers can issue real-time status updates to dispatchers, receive last-minute customer requests from dispatchers, and also view the day's itinerary, which is always up-to-date. Driver and dispatcher can communicate using free form or canned messages. Signature capture and scanning capabilities are also available with some wireless devices, enabling drivers to submit real-time proof-of-delivery and more detailed and accurate shipment status updates to the central system.


  • interBiz, a division of Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE: CA) announced MK Manufacturing Version 8.4. Approximately one-half of the functional enhancements in Version 8.4 relate to logistics management. MK Manufacturing 8.4 (NT, UNIX) provides enterprise resource planning and integrated fulfillment on most popular relational databases.

    Many logistics enhancements include improvements in drop shipment, advanced shipping notices, out-tracing of serial and batch numbers, multiple deliver-to addresses, greater carrier and forwarding agent flexibility, and consolidated delivery staging.

    Because advanced warehouse management is integral to MK Manufacturing, the inventory handling enhancements in Version 8.4 (additional radio frequency support, interleaving of pick and put-away, cycle counting improvements, etc.) are available to all aspects of the enterprise, i.e., raw materials and work-in-progress inventories, as well as the traditional finished goods inventory. In addition to logistics and fulfillment enhancements, MK Manufacturing Version 8.4 delivers improvements to its service functions, planning, financial management, projects, and product customization features.


  • CAPS Logistics, Inc.(TMS, Optimization) releases new product MOMENTUM:Planning. MOMENTUM:Planning allows clients to design, build, operate, and optimize their logistics infrastructure. It includes a new Web enabled collaborative dispatch functionality that empowers globally distributed, multi-modal logistics operations, and provides for collaborative planning with their partners. New pooling functionality can help extract significant operations costs from current logistics strategies. MOMENTUM:Planning can help customers to reduce transportation operations costs as much as 7% - 20%.

    MOMENTUM:Planning helps clients rationalize their logistics assets, by allowing them to set and implement advanced distribution and inventory strategies, carrier and mode selection, and transportation routing and customer satisfaction requirements. MOMENTUM:Planning is built around CAPS' industry leading Supply Chain Designer, TransPro, RoutePro and BidPro technologies (version 7.2 to be released November 15, 2001), and integrates into most legacy or commercially available transportation management solutions.

  • Loftware (Bar Code Printing Software) announces New Version 6. Loftware's Print Server Edition 6.0 gives you full control over your entire label printing operation from design to industry compliance. The easy to use graphical interface (WYSIWYG) and industry compliant templates allow you to customize labels that may be shared, not only throughout your corporation, but also with vendors and distributors. This is made possible with Loftware's state-of-the-art "i-Push Technology" which gives enterprises the power to print labels to any Loftware configured printer through the Internet.

    "The wonder of this new paradigm is that bar code labels print fast across the Internet." Says Dana Anderson, CTO and President of Loftware. " Even labels with images are printed in seconds across the Internet to remotely configured on-demand and Windows based printers. Loftware has engineered Version 6 with optimized native print drivers, PLC drivers for Laser Jet Printer support, and compressed data streams for high-speed label printing".

    Loftware has expanded support for foreign languages with its inclusion of Unicode (double byte). Unicode used for printing pictorial languages such as Japanese and Chinese and joins the growing list of supported languages to be used on operator input screens and in label design. Other supported languages include Spanish, French, German and Italian.

    Also new in Version 6 of Loftware is support for UPS' new Maxicode compression Smart Label to be used in host legacy and enterprise systems, templates and bar code wizards for generating the new Telecommunications TCIF Compliance standards and native printing support for concurrent thin client label printing from Citrix Metaframe/Windows Terminal server platforms.


  • Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) - Announces BizTalk Accelerator for RosettaNet BizTalk Accelerator for RosettaNet was designed to leverag BizTalk Server along with RosettaNet tools to provide a platform for reducing the costs and business impact associated with providing a RosettaNet presence. The BizTalk Server Accelerator for RosettaNet includes the following:
    1. RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) 1.1 parser for BizTalk Server 2000. This allows BizTalk Server 2000 to "speak" RosettaNet.
    2. Prebuilt Partner Interface Processes™ (PIP®). A collection of the most commonly used Partner Interface Processes prebuilt for BizTalk Server 2000 allows developers and IT professionals to quickly integrate their applications and trading partners into a RosettaNet solution.
    3. PIP tools. A template-based resource for building any of the more than 80 PIPs allows developers and IT professionals to very easily build any of the PIPs they need for their RosettaNet solution.
    4. PIP unit tester.
    5. Comprehensive documentation and samples.


  • Neopost (SMS, Mail/Shipping) announces the acquisition of Ascom Hasler, the Ascom Mailing Systems Division

    Neopost will add 33% to its revenues and grow its global market share from 15% to 25%
    Neopost, the European leader and number two worldwide supplier of mailing solutions, today announced the acquisition of the number three worldwide supplier of mailing systems : Ascom Hasler, the Mailing Systems Division of the Swiss group Ascom. The completion of the transaction is still subject, amongst other things, to governmental authorisations
  • PeopleSoft (ERP, CRM, SCM, Nasdaq: PSFT) announced PeopleSoft 8.4 Strategic Sourcing, a new suite of Web-based procurement of services, and direct and indirect materials. PeopleSoft Strategic Sourcing is a collaborative solution that will help organizations manage the complex bidding and negotiation process associated with the procurement of direct goods, services, and large capital expenditures. It provides business management and workflow support for every step of the source-to-settlement business process including commodity spend and purchase contract compliance; Request for Quote (RFQ); reverse auctioning with user-defined rules and auction types; analysis of multi-line quote response; and contract award and fulfillment.

    PeopleSoft Strategic Sourcing is designed to enable organizations to streamline the workflow of critical procurement processes such as RFQs through real-time collaboration with their suppliers. Traditionally, procurement workflow processes have been labor-intensive and paper-based. PeopleSoft Strategic Sourcing allows organizations to work directly with their suppliers online, significantly reducing sourcing cycle times related to RFQs and other procurement processes. This reduction in cycle time can result in substantial gains in productivity and lower procurement costs. Based on a pure internet architecture, the solution will significantly reduce the risk of human error by eliminating repetitive data entry required at every step of the traditional, paper-based procurement process."

    Strategic Sourcing is currently scheduled for availability in the first quarter of 2002 for Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Canadian French, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese languages.


  • RT Systems (WMS, 1989, Win2000, SqlServer, Sybase) To Provide WMS & SVS System for Controlling Inventory and Sequencing Components for a GM Truck and Bus Assembly Plant. Android Industries, Inc. of Wixom, MI has awarded RT Systems, Inc. a contract to provide a new 450,000 sq. ft. facility in Flint, MI with aWMS, combined with a Sequence Verification System (SVS) This system will control the inventory and sequencing of parts to be used at the General Motors Truck and Bus Assembly Plant in Flint, MI (560 program). This new program for GM provides sequenced parts for large commercial vehicles built at the assembly plant.

    The WMS, called RT LOCATOR (RTL), is used for maintaining accurate component inventory utilizing bar code scanning and radio frequency (RF) communications. The SVS portion of RTL is used for sequencing components and assemblies to the GM assembly plant, located nearby. It is imperative that Just-In-Time parts are delivered to the assembly line in perfect sequence matched to the sequence of trucks coming down the line. The component requirements are based on the individual Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the trucks as they begin coming down the line. It is critical that the correct truck component (for example, a rear axle with the correct gear ratio) shows up for the right truck at the right assembly point. An out of sequence component could stop the assembly line.

    The plant component requirements schedule by VIN number is broadcast by EDS and received into the RTL database, which then prints out shipping container run sheets and bar coded part sequence labels within the Android facility. Android then performs assembly operation or picks from stock for a component and places on specially racked containers for delivery to the GM plant. The RTL verification of sequence is completed by scanning the assembly or component's bar code identifier labels and the proper sequence label, thus verifying the component and sequence. Portable RF terminals are used for this verification, and they are designed to read PDF417 bar codes (2D) on the GM label as part of the verification procedure. After verification, the container is loaded and transported to the GM plant and the components are assembled in a truck within a very few hours of the original EDS transmission.

    Warehouse management within RTL controls the receiving and locating on inventory within the large Android warehouse, thus providing highly accurate parts management. Parts are removed from inventory when scanned as a part of sequence verification. There are over 10,000 unique parts numbers controlled by RTL, and over 40 sequenced part types (commodities).

  • Yantra Corporation (ERP, SCM, WMS) releases Multi-Enterprise Order and Inventory Management in Version 4.0. "Extended order management is the most strategic application in the supply chain. It links demand and supply in real time and extends vital supply chain operations," according to Kevin O'Marah, Research Principal, Supply Chain Strategies at AMR Research. According to a recent AMR MarketAnalytix report, order and inventory management applications will account for up to 24% of corporate spending on supply chain management applications by 2005, making it one of the fastest growing categories within supply chain management (SCM).

    New Features of the Version 4.0 include:

    • Scenario Management - the next generation of Yantra's business rules and workflow management. This capability provides a visual tool for business process modeling of multi-enterprise order and logistics scenarios enabling dynamic tailoring of a process to the unique requirements of each participant or market.
    • New Participant Modeling - improves collaboration among trading partners outside the enterprise. It includes a user tool for modeling and defining participant organizations, roles-based visibility and business rules that determine how each participant's portion of the linked business process is managed.
    • New Interoperability Framework - increases the flexibility of Yantra's solutions with a more scaleable and reusable architecture to speed integration within an enterprise and across multiple trading partners.
    • New Multi-Enterprise Catalog Management - extends Yantra's multi-enterprise suite by managing, aggregating and associating disparate item data across multiple entities.
    • Multi-Enterprise Analytics - leverages the rich data captured by Yantra's multi-enterprise platform. Version 4.0 provides cross-enterprise performance metrics using Cognos Impromptu and PowerPlay business intelligence applications. Users can easily collect, query and report mission critical transaction data across their extended trading networks.



Quotes to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.
  • ""Never mistake motion for action."
    --Ernest Hemingway

    "With each sunrise, we start anew."
    --Anon.


Scripture to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.

  • Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
    That you may be wise the rest of your days. Proverbs 19:20

Websites to Check Out
Red Cross Donation Form: Help the Red Cross provide for the victims - http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

NY Firefighters Sept 11th Disaster Relief - http://daily.iaff.org/fund.htm.


Good Book
"What To Look For In Warehouse Management System Software"


Order From
Amazon
or IDII
Obal, Philip See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com


New Software Directory - Released August 2001

"Warehouse & Logistics Software Directory"


Order From
Amazon
or IDII
Obal, Philip See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com


WMS Standard Search Bundle

"Standard WMS RFI Search Bundle"


Order From
Amazon
or IDII
Obal, Philip See reviews and more information on this book at Amazon.com

WMS Advanced Search Bundle

"ADVANCED WMS RFI Search Bundle"
Available from IDII only
Advanced Version is available from IDII


Valuable Future Events


SCOR Users Seminar in Washington, DC, Wednesday November 14th at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza. For details see web site www.supply-chain.org or call the Council at 412-781-4101.

Frontline Solutions Expo 2001 -- November 12-November 15, 2001 Chicago, IL, USA. See web site at www.frontlinexpo.com

CAPS Logistics is conducting a free online seminar on MOMENTUM, CAPS' new integrated logistics solution. MOMENTUM has demonstrated the ability to save transportation and logistics companies 9 to 15% on transportation costs. The seminar will be held November 6, 2001, at 11:30AM EST. See web site at www.caps.com


About This Newsletter - ISSN 1533-435X

We educate and share news on software for warehousing, transportation, shipping, packing, slotting, loading, optimization, and enterprise wide software solutions. This free newsletter is published twice a month. Feel free to forward this newsletter to others that you know. One may quickly subscribe by accessing our website at www.idii.com/esn/index.htm.

To submit information to be considered for inclusion in our newsletter, send any news, events, press releases, research, and newsletters to editor@idii.com. To advertise in the IDII Software Newsletter, see our rate card at www.idii.com/pdf/rate-card.pdf. The current and back issues of our E-Software Newsletters can be accessed at www.idii.com/esn/index.htm.

© 2001 Industrial Data & Information Inc. All Rights Reserved.. Trademarks belong to respective trademark holders. Information accuracy is not guaranteed due to variety of sources.

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