Understanding The Various Components Which Make A Good WMS

Understanding the WMS is very important for its implementation and to judge the appropriateness of the system. The article, given below, talks about the 3 important elements of the same.

Today the implementation of the Warehouse Management System or WMS has become mandatory for the effective and efficient running of warehouses maintained by warehousing companies. But even before its implementation, its appropriateness needs to be understood. This can only be done by understanding its integrated components thoroughly and the impact that these will have on the concerned warehousing business.

These components include:

·        The concerned software,

·        Radiofrequency or RF communication,

·       Technology for automatic identification.

Software

This is the mainstay of the WMS and has the capability of optimising both the warehouse and its related functions. It can be said to be the brain of any WMS and is again made up of two important components, namely:

·         The relational database: This is the storehouse of all information regarding the warehouse where it is implemented. The data is stored in the form of tables and many of the critical data tables comprise data related to the

o   Characteristics of the products stored or the master table for products and items which includes every possible information about the stock keeping unit involved and primarily deals with its unique number allotted, its weight, description, control considerations, if any, containerisation and dimensional characteristics,

o   Location table which, as the name specifies, defines the identification of the location, numerical sequence, weight and dimensional characteristics and at times even the zoning characteristics and

o   Table for task management which contains instructions based on the operator’s predetermined priorities thereby enabling the workers allotted for the specified warehouse services to understand the work sequence and queue in the warehouse.

This database can thus be said to store information primarily based on the relationship between the:

o   Products that are available in the inventory,

o   Warehouse physical characteristics and

o   Labour force involved in operating the same.

·         The program code: This is more concerned with the proper utilisation of the information which is stored in the WMS database in the carrying out of the following 4 functions:

o   Product receiving which helps to reduce the product staging time by maintaining receipt information accuracy,

o   Product storage which includes knowing accurately where and in what quantity a product is stored,

o   Pick product and

o   Shipping of the product.

Radio Frequency Communication

Using radio frequency communication helps the WMS to improve upon its accuracy with regards to:

·         Stock and inventory location,

·         Responsiveness and

·         Labour management.

With these three components getting streamlined, there is a significant reduction in the overheads of the concerned warehouse thereby enhancing its profitability. The advantage of using this type of communication technology is the real-time access that is gained with the help of its components which completely eliminate the use of physical wires. These components include the:

·         Base station which includes the master radio transmitter-receiver,

·         Antennas or the receivers of the radio frequencies,

·         Devices for scanning of barcodes using transmitter-receiver functions of the radio and

·         Computer to act as the host.

Technology for automatic identification

Most Warehousing Companies in India benefit from the use of this technology since it offers effective support for the collection of data and real-time radio frequency communication. This helps increase accuracy and productivity by eliminating the need for manual keystrokes at the terminals. The barcodes play a very important role in the adoption of this technology and the data contained within them is typically used to perform all the required functions of the stock keeping unit or SKU. The flexibility of the barcode is such that it can also be expanded to include extra information thereby making this technology well-worth the money invested.

Implementation of the warehouse management system definitely works in favour of warehousing companies. They also help increase profitability as well as productivity by ensuring that warehouse work gets done in reduced time and using less number of workers.