Putting data management power where it belongs

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 9/15/1999

The Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. needed to eliminate inventory errors in the receiving and tracking of prototype parts at its warehouse. A productivity improvement in those activities as well as in the shipping department would be helpful too.

The answer is an integrated data management system that uses handheld units to collect data then print and apply new labels for use in the warehouse.

"Prior to this system, we had legibility errors with our paper-based system, spent unproductive time walking back and forth through the warehouse, and had too many inventory mistakes," says Terrell Evans of receiving.

All that has changed. Data capture and management at the warehouse have been automated.

To begin, inventory accuracy is close to 100% now. Worker walking time has been reduced 70% because the hand held units put all of the necessary tools in the hands of workers wherever they are in the warehouse. In receiving, the number of procedures required has been cut in half too. Evans estimates that the system will pay for itself in 2 years.

"It's been a great step toward upgrading all of the receiving and shipping procedures," says Evans.

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