First

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 5/1/2000

What do WMS users want?

Warehouse management systems (WMS) end user selection requirements are dominated by the need for outstanding supplier service and support so says Venture Development's recently published market study: "The North American market for warehouse management systems software and systems integration services."

Meanwhile, end users are becoming much more demanding when evaluating both suppliers and software solutions. This is especially true at mid-market and smaller companies. Despite these careful evaluations, the $685 million WMS market continues to roar ahead with annual growth rates between 20 and 25%, says Venture.

For more information, call 508-653-9836 or visit www.vdc-corp.com .

New forum for industrial packaging pros

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) announced the formation of the Packaging Management Council (PMC) last month. Operating as a council within PMMI, PMC consists of senior packaging managers of industrial packaged good companies. The council's mission is to provide a forum for end-users to come together and share information on trends and issues to improve the relationship between suppliers and buyers.

The PMC will focus its efforts on creating programs and services dedicated to four areas: benchmarking, trends and issues, identifying technology, and building communications.

For more information, call 703-243-8555 or visit www.devicelink.com .

Necessity remains the mother of invention

Faced by the bleak prospects of declining margins and growth rates, the U.S. technology industry has discovered a new way to fatten up its bottom line-increase inventory turns. And better yet, the industry has done that rather dramatically in just 1 yr. Inventory turns for these U.S. companies increased to an overall average of 5.4/yr in 1998, up from 4.8 turns in 1997. That's according to the results of Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath's (PRTM) latest annual inventory study.

At the same time, this increase in inventory management performance has helped these companies to be more competitive on a global basis. The PRTM study shows that during the same time period, inventory turns at Japanese companies decreased from 4.6 to 4.4 turns. Meanwhile, European companies posted a meager increase from 3.8 to 3.9 turns. The management consulting firm's 21st annual study tracks inventory performance of 350 companies across eight technology segments in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

For more information, call 781-647-2800 or visit www.prtm.com .

Auto industry revs up its supply chain

The Supply Chain Council (SCC) Board of Directors has approved the formation of the special industry group (SIG) for the automotive industry. The purpose of the SIG will be to facilitate improvement of supply chain efficiency in the automotive industry. Their first official program was held last month in Chicago at the Supply Chain World conference.

For more information, call 412-781-4101 or visit www.supply-chain.org .