Fast ways to find out more
By Rick Bushnell -- Modern Materials Handling, 7/1/1998
Starting with the January, 1998 issue, I have been answering questions in this column on corporate computerization and implementing systems. This month the questions are: "What is the fastest way to find out what I need to know?" "How can I ensure successful deployment of technology?"Let's take the second question first. You will ensure successful system deployment by understanding that you are not buying technology; nor are you purchasing materials handling or computer hardware. You are buying a solution to a business need. Achieving that business need must become the goal.
Now, you've probably heard this kind of comment before. But it bears repeating. Why? Because month after month I have end users tell me of problems that result from having made a "hardware buy," and not a "solution buy." Of course, everyone started out defining needs, and developing functional requirements, but when it came time to plunk down the money, they went for the hottest technology, the latest buzz word, or the least expensive piece of equipment-or even the most expensive item.
All the marketing hype got in the way and they lost sight of the goal. Sometimes this happens be-cause we don't clearly understand what we need to know and a good salesperson convinces us that he or she has what we need.
That leads us back to the first question: Finding out what we need to know. Let's begin by defining what it is we need and then we will identify where to get it.
What do you need to know? I suggest you consider the type of information needed (technical or non-technical), the application involved (manufacturing, distribution or enterprise), and the corporate functions and technologies included (i.e., information and document management, work flow, data and information acquisition via bar code or other means, and materials handling), along with the level of detail required (enough to ask questions and understand answers when talking with system suppliers, enough to design an integrated system using a variety of technologies, or enough to write detailed specifications for component hardware and software).
A good way to check your capabilities is to ask yourself a simple question; "Do I know enough to tear down the inevitable roadblocks that will be presented to me?" If you are looking to buy an integrated system, the roadblocks will be different than if you are buying components and integrating them yourself.
At the risk of sounding a little like a guest on a talk show "plugging" all of his friends, I identify (sidebar) some key sources that will quickly help you find out what you need to know.
Where to go for more information
Here's a sampling of some resources to examine:
Industry shows-The Warehouse Of The Future, ProMat, Scan-Tech, to name three. All have excellent educational sessions.
There are magazines and certainly you are reading one of the best right now. There are books and videos and many of them are available at www.quadii.com.
Last, but certainly not least, are some web sites. You will find the Modern Materials Handling site (www.mmh.com) to be an excellent resource with many articles available on line. Another site, isit.com, contains a library and serves as a gateway to many sites. And others to check include the Material Handling Industry of America site (www.mhia.org), which is very useful, as is the site of the Automatic Identification Manufacturers International (www.aimi.org).
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