Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies - October 2008 - (Page 56)

“You put the best people in receiving because any mistake there is exponential and compounded throughout the picking process.” — Daryl Grove of Cadre Technologies house is equally transparent. The newest applications allow companies to do a better job of managing inventory across multiple distribution facilities. The Cadre Technologies system known as LogiView sits atop the WMS systems of various warehouses and provides a single point of visibility via the internet, says vice president of sales Mike Markham. Greater visibility of shipments across the entire supply chain allows suppliers to allocate product while it’s still in transit. “Instead of creating a back order or turning an order away, you can begin to make the order-build plan for when those goods are landed,” says Hobkirk. The Receiving End A successful warehouse operation begins with proper receiving. “You put your best people in the receiving area because any mistake there is exponential, and compounded throughout the picking process,” Grove says. “The big shift in warehousing has been that you don’t go cheap on the receiving side anymore.” New technology can accelerate the movement of product from the moment it enters the warehouse. Among the most promising developments is the maturation of voice-directed systems. The insurance carrier Aflac, a customer of Cadre, has reduced from five days to just one or two the turnaround time for distribution of supplies and promotional materials to its agents. Voice technology played a big part in the improvement, says Grove. In just five years, voice has advanced “from a cutting-edge technology to one that’s tried and true,” says Hobkirk. The price of systems has come down, while applications have become suitable for handheld, multi-function devices. Workers can switch between voice and more traditional barcode scanning according to the needs of the particular product. “Voice is a good fit 60 to 70 percent of the time,” Hobkirk says. The technology is poised to break out into additional areas within the warehouse or DC. Jennifer Sherman, senior director of logistics strategy with Oracle Corp. in Redwood Shores, Calif., sees voice moving out of traditional picking and low-temperature environments into such tasks as cycle counting, receiving and inspection. “We’re starting to see customers excited by that ability,” she says. 56 OCTOBER 2008 http://www.greensboroeda.com http://www.greensboroeda.com

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Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies - October 2008

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