IDII Software Newsletter
October 31st 2002 - Volume 3 Number 20
For professionals dealing with software in Warehousing, Distribution, Logistics, and Supply Chain.
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Phil Obal, consults & researches software solutions. Click for more details. Philip Obal
President of IDII


Book Catalog Expanded - New Books

 
Techniques, Vision, & Educational Thoughts

Software Implementation FAILURE AVOIDANCE Guidelines

What percentage of major software implementations with which you are familiar resulted in a disaster fraught with cost overruns and missed deadlines or worse, outright failure? Unfortunately, most of us come up with a failure range of 60% or higher.

In many cases this woeful scenario is actually an expectation, something with which to be reckoned and at best controlled. The next question to ponder and ask is "Why is this so?" When was it written that we must fall victim to the perils of an ERP/MES/AIS/WMS implementation? The answer is never! Therefore this essay is devoted to the fundamentals of a successful software implementation.

The primary catalysts for a major software implementation are either the need to improve operations with a goal to save money or expand capacity to increase market share-or both. Chances are that manual operations need to be automated or capacity increased for improved throughput. We can assume this is a given and move to the all-important process of software selection. This is the most critical stage of a major software effort. Software selection should not be rushed, shortcuts should never be taken, and should be a merciless undertaking for the vendor peddling their wares.

Disaster Avoidance Guidelines

The following principles are common sense and commonly overlooked.

  1. Determine the need and spread it throughout the organization. Everyone in your organization needs to have a clear idea of the objectives. They have to realize the reason for the upheaval. This is just as true for your Information Technology Director as it is for your Warehouse Manager. From the top executive leader on down, keep the need alive. If it dies, so too will the implementation effort.
  2. Form a team that meets at regular intervals. Participative Management and Cross Functional Collaboration are often used buzzwords that are not often practiced in reality. Bring in your Accountants, Logisticians, Operations Managers, Technologists, and above all, selected targeted users of the software. The team has to realize that the entire organization is connected—an initiative intended to help the tactical Return on Investment (ROI, an estimate of the financial benefit on money spent on a particular alternative) for a tactical operation could bring down the Strategic Economic Value Added (EVA, the financial performance measure that comes closer than any other to capturing the true economic profit of an enterprise) of the firm.

    A classic example is buying more stock to improve customer service. This is good for the sales person but puts a strain on the warehouse manager and increases the cost of operations. A “connected” system will predict the most efficacious mixture of customer service, inventory, and operations.
  3. Select a Champion and make this person omnipotent in your organization. Everyone in the aforementioned team is putting out fires most of their time. Your champion’s sole fire is the project. This person has no other focus. He or she will keep the team focused and bring them in when required. Your champion has the ear of VITO—your Very Important Top Officer. Upset the Project Champion and you upset VITO. Nuff said.

    Author: Ray Scipioni

PART TWO of FAILURE AVOIDANCE - See NEXT ISSUE

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IDII News - New Website Features

Keep Learning - Free Books - White Paper Index (Over 100) - Books - Suggest A White Paper

Software Company News

  • American Software (Nasdaq: AMSWA - News) introduced e-SPS 2002, the latest version of New Generation Computing's Web-based software that enables retailers, apparel manufacturers, brand managers and importers of sewn products to have real-time, end-to-end visibility of the entire production process.

    e-SPS 2002 offers users enhanced functionality through 11 software modules: e-Product Development, e-RFQ's & Bids, e-Pre Production, e-Production Tracking, e-Collaboration, e-Pack, e-Shipment Tracking, e-Exceptions, e-Quality, e-Executive Information Systems and Reporting, and Event Tracking and Management System. In addition, the new version will offer a new exciting graphical look to all reports, enhancements to its time-and- action calendars and event tracking functionality system, a new executive reporting tool and an all new quality-control module.

  • ClearOrbit announced the launch of the Orbiter Series, a solution for companies looking to extend the value of Oracle WMS (Warehouse Management System) and Oracle MSCA (Mobile Supply Chain Applications). Orbiter allows companies to maximize the return on their investment in WMS and MSCA by providing a printing, device integration and business process extension platform that is tightly integrated with Oracle Applications’ data schema.

  • Manhattan Associates Signs Letter Of Intent To Acquire Logistics.com. Logistics.com, Inc., a leader in integrated logistics planning and execution solutions for shippers and carriers, today announced that it has signed a letter of intent for the acquisition of its assets by Manhattan Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:MANH), the global leader in extended supply chain execution solutions.

  • OMI International Rolls out Expanded Voice-Directed Technology and Visibility in Supply Chain Offering. OMI released TRICEPS 5.1, the latest version of their real-time, warehouse management solution. TRICEPS 5.1offers users expanded voice-directed technology and functionality for voice-enabled order selection and inventory cycle counting. Additionally, the release of TRICEPS 5.1 incorporates new inbound dock scheduling along with real-time order visibility.

    TRICEPS 5.1 now offers expanded capabilities for voice-based order selection and cycle counting functions providing distribution center labor the benefit of improved productivity by hands-free data collection and assignment. This technology virtually eliminates the use of paper labels and assignments and provides an added layer of accuracy. Using voice-based selection, the user can now simply verify an activity was performed by speaking into the voice collection headset, instead of having to use a manual key entry process into a fixed RF device to terminate the assignment. The real-time interface to the TRICEPS warehouse management system provides a direct update to inventory levels and a means to quickly repair and report any discrepancies in a customer's order.

    In addition to the expanded voice capabilities, TRICEPS 5.1 adds a new Inbound Scheduling process, a real-time system for scheduling of dock door assignments that significantly improves dock efficiency and overall time in receiving incoming product. Also new in TRICEPS 5.1 is OMIView, enhanced order visibility functionality providing Internet-based visibility of store orders enabling customers to view their orders via real-time updates from the distribution center and beyond.

  • SAP Launches Global Trade Services to Drive Efficient Cross-Border Trade. New Commerce Solution Manages Risk and Automates Global Trade Processes , SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced SAP(R) Global Trade Services (SAP(R) GTS), a new cross-industry commerce application that helps companies manage the complexities and risks of today's global trade.

    A key capability of SAP GTS is compliance management, which automates the process of sanctioned party list screening as well as import and export control through license management and embargo screening. Compliance management immediately screens a company's business partners as well as along the sales and purchase management processes, ensuring that companies check against the latest sanctioned party lists published by governmental agencies. This function helps companies manage this compliance more efficiently and avoid having to pay heavy fines due to trade restriction violations and supports tighter national security regulations.

  • SSA Global Technologies Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the common stock of Infinium Software (NASDAQ: INFM). In the agreement, each outstanding share of common stock will be converted into the right to receive $7.00 per share in cash.

  • Viewlocity (SCEM) announced General Availability (GA) of their Supply Web Applications version 4.1. The release features numerous customer-driven enhancements including: a personalized user portal; forecast and demand sharing and collaboration; the ability to monitor orders, shipments and inventory associated with promotions; the ability to view event occurrences in local or other time zones; and map views of shipments en-route.

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

  • "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
    - Abraham Lincoln
Scripture to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.
  • "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement."
    - John 7:24
Websites to Check Out

Online Book Catalog - Intuitive Categories

Books on Shipping, Warehousing, Distribution, Operations, WMS, ERP, MRP, CRM, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Logistics, Facility Layout & Design, Metrics & Measurements, and books on software solution providers SAP, Peoplesoft.

New Software Directory - October 2002 -

"Warehouse & Logistics Software Directory"


Order From
Amazon
or IDII

Manufacturing
"Value Stream Management"


Order From
Amazon


Manufacturing - Supply Chain - ERP
"Lean Performance ERP Project Management" - Implementing the Virtual Supply Chain"


Order From
Amazon


SAP & Supply Chain
"Supply Chain Management
Based on SAP Systems"


Order From
Amazon

SEARCHING FOR A NEW WMS - SAVE TIME !!!

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

Valuable Future Events in 2002 - List Your Event or Convention

ProMat 2003 - February 10 - 13, 2003. ProMat 2003 will provide business, IT and operations professionals with a comprehensive solutions showcase of 700 exhibitors and nearly 80 educational sessions. Focus is Material Handling and Software. See http://www.promat2003.com

Valuable Future Events in 2003 - List Your Event or Convention

National Conference on Operations & Fulfillment (NCOF) - April 13 - 16, 2003 - Orlando, FL. The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Exhibits: April 14 and 15 The Conference Exclusively for Direct-to-Customer Operations and Fulfillment Management.

Distribution/Computer EXPO 2003 - May 20 - 22, 2003 - Navy Pier - Chicago, IL. The largest Exposition for logistics and supply chain technology including; distribution, transportation, and warehousing. Held in conjunction is the D/C EXPO seminars focusing on the latest trends and advances in logistics and supply chain technologies. Visit our website at www.logistar.com or call our toll free number - 800-338-4112.


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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. One may quickly subscribe, view past issues, view FAQ, & our rate card by accessing www.idii.com/esn/index.htm.


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