WMS Blog from Interlink Technologies

Every successful Warehouse Management System (WMS) implementation depends on successful labeling of the warehouse or distribution center. An understanding of labels, automatic data collection devices, facility layout, and operations before taking on the task of labeling will ease the pain of setting up the warehouse with barcodes.

Barcode Labels

Not all barcode labels are created equal. There is a wide range of variances in the type of barcode used, label adhesive, label durability and scan distance of the label or sign.

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) provide warehouse supervisors with benefits that exceed the tangible, obvious benefits. It’s these “silent benefits” that eliminate frustrations which can often be the most valued benefits to workers and supervisors. For example, when the frustration of trying to find a product quickly and easily is resolved, workers are more productive and satisfied with their jobs.

A recently published article, “Defining the Role of Warehouse Supervisor” by Ken Ackerman (http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/defining-the-role-of-warehouse-supervisor/distribution-warehousing), talks about frustrations such as high turn-over and lack of standards in the warehouse. Job frustration can certainly lead to high turnover. WMS communicates standards and directives that workers must follow. These standards are created

Warehousing continues to face tough challenges. Work lean, but work faster. Increase efficiency and accuracy. Those are lofty goals.
Meanwhile, the number of SKUs will keep growing at a rapid rate, along with the warehouse space and even the number of locations and employees in your enterprise.

The choice of your technology will enable you to achieve greater success. Reducing waste and increasing efficiency leads to satisfied customers and a better bottom line for your operation. When there’s no room for error, you need to choose wisely.

Start with Mobility

A warehouse is a tough environment. You can’t expect lightweight technology to perform up to the harsh conditions that are part of the daily routine.

Consumer smartphones, tablets, and mobile computers aren’t designed for commercial use. Yes, they can perform some of the functions, but at what cost?

Failure Rate

On average, a consumer smartphone will last about a year in a commercial environment, like a warehouse. A rugged mobile computer, like Zebra’s TC70/75, looks like a smartphone, but will deliver about three years of constant use, including repeated drops on the concrete floor. While the initial purchase price of a consumer-grade smartphone might be less than its rugged counterpart, the replacement comes at a much higher price. When you have to replace the device twice, you’re actually spending more to get a less durable mobile device right from the start.

Accurate, efficient picking and shipping is critical to customer satisfaction. It also reduces waste in your warehouse or distribution center that results from mispicks, mis-ships, return shipping, and the time spent hunting down misplaced inventory.

Wearable technology presents a powerful solution to improving your picking and shipping processes. Equip the warehouse worker with a wrist terminal, like the Zebra WT6000, a lightweight yet rugged mobile computer that fits comfortably on the arm. By tapping the WT6000’s touchscreen, pickers get up-to-the-minute data on orders, as well as exact locations of the items to be picked.

Interlink Technologies is named a Parcel Logistics Leader and is only one of thirty three companies named as a 2016 HOT Company for small package solutions.

Interlink provides Warehouse-LINK® warehouse management solutions (WMS) to small warehouses through large distribution centers. Interlink accommodates small package needs with specific solutions:

Warehousing literature can be confusing, but in a nutshell, WES is the new slang for what the industry and Interlink refer to as Manufacturing or Work Order Processing. WCS is slang for real-time integration with material handling systems that provides warehouse user directives.