Wireless system teams up with ERP for top productivity

Data collection now a snap for A-America with a wireless warehouse system.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 10/2/2005

An importer and distributor of home furnishings for the bedroom, dining room and home office, A-America recently implemented a wireless warehouse system. And the benefits were considerable.

The new system, which integrates with its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, automates data collection in the 200,000 square foot warehouse for improved efficiencies in receiving, putaway, picking and shipping. It also reduces warehouse errors and provides increased visibility into inventory location and availability. In addition, the system tightens control over inventory overages, shortages and shrinkage.

The new system enables A-America warehouse personnel to seamlessly communicate and exchange information in real time with the company's ERP system.

"We wanted to test the technology, and we expected an initial decrease in warehouse worker productivity as the team learned how to most efficiently use the system," says Kurtis Beach, information systems manager. "But, the system was reliable, intuitive and easy to learn. The team was productive within hours, and we saw early and sustainable productivity improvements in just two days -- not two to three weeks as we had expected."

Productivity has seen a big boost. "The elimination of paper picking, and the automation of and improved control over workflow, have increased picking efficiencies by 67%," notes Shawn Ross, warehouse operations manager.

Visibility, an increasingly important factor in warehouse productivity, has also been enhanced. "We have real-time insight into worker productivity, and we can dynamically allocate and change activities based on priorities in order to best meet our customers' needs. We expect to break even on the system in less than one year," he adds.