ProMat 2007: Plan your education sessions now
From rack storage to RFID, educational sessions on the show floor will cover a range of materials handling topics.
By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 12/1/2006
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Faster than the Speed of Light: Solutions to Fit Your DC
Learn from industry experts how to crank up throughput, reduce bottlenecks and increase productivity in your DC. Attendees will leave with easy steps for evaluating solutions that may fit their distribution profiles.
Sponsored by: Intelligrated Inc.
ARUP Laboratories is a reference laboratory performing specialized clinical lab tests on patient specimens for hospitals and other clients. It receives 30,000 specimens daily and has implemented material handling systems to transport these large volumes, including an automated track and sorter system, two robotic storage sorters and an AS/RS in a two-story freezer. Learn how the system provides the handling infrastructure for future connection of 15 automated analyzers to the transport system, enabling up to 30% of the workload to be tested with essentially no handling or human intervention.
Sponsored by: Daifuku America Corp.
How Imaging Solutions Can Be Implemented within Your Operation
Acquire working knowledge about how easily imaging technologies can be integrated into supply chain logistic and field-mobile computing applications. Learn how imaging technology provides a clearer picture in your day-to-day data collection application.
Sponsored by: Psion Teklogix Inc.
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Outbound Optimization: Productivity Gains Through Dynamic Labor Balancing and Wave-less Picking
This presentation will explain how dynamic labor balancing and wave-less picking techniques can potentially optimize outbound systems. Real-time modern technology, dynamic labor balancing and wave-less picking make it possible for automated distribution systems to continuously batch orders, thus removing all artificial constraints of wave picking and maintaining all the original advantages of batch picking.
Sponsored by: Fortna, Inc.
Rack Storage: The Importance of Standards and R-Mark Certification
Certification, codes and standards in the racking industry are the subject of this seminar with the main focus being the principles behind and operating characteristics of the R-Mark: what it says about the product and the company applying the mark and the technical confidence and safety consensus implicit in its use.
Sponsored by: Rack Manufacturers Institute
RFID-based Vehicle Management: Proven Solution (with Proven ROI) for the Material Handling Industry
RF-based vehicle management systems have been quietly generating significant benefits and positive ROI in diverse applications, from industrial manufacturing to retail distribution to car rental to homeland security. This session will provide attendees with all the details.
Sponsored by: I.D. Systems, Inc.
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Warehouse Performance Measurement: A Step-by-Step Guide
Continuous measurement is fundamental to sustaining fulfillment and delivery excellence. The challenge is in defining the metrics that will accurately characterize performance in areas that will differentiate your company. This presentation will provide attendees with a step-by-step approach for analyzing such metrics as order cycle times, inventory accuracy and costs per order shipped to provide a baseline for setting improvement targets, identify technology and systems that will facilitate improvement, establish criteria for investment justification, and build a framework for regular fine-tuning of logistics operations.
Sponsored by: ESYNC
Fuel Management: Optimize Your Fleet and Enhance Profitability
Get tips for gaining control of shipping costs through rate and carrier self-selection, managing fuel costs, reducing spending and increasing visibility throughout the supply chain. Industry experts will introduce options that can help shippers manage inbound and outbound networks, private fleets, carrier relationships, multi-modal shipments and yard appointment scheduling. Shippers can optimize routing and fuel recommendations, reduce empty miles and lower overall fuel-related costs.
Sponsored by: Manhattan Associates
Web-Embedded Technology: Communication/Control/Diagnostics
Where is Web-embedded technology heading for material handling? Ethernet and its use in all aspects of industrial communications, control and diagnostics is a BIG topic. This presentation will highlight the latest in technologies and the capabilities for your specific industry.
Sponsored by: Schneider Electric
12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m
RFID: A Strategic Technology for Mobile Asset Management
Using RFID and GPS, companies can easily track mobile resources like shipment containers, pallets and other material handling equipment. Learn how RFID technology can revolutionize asset management, significantly reduce costs and improve service. Case studies will be presented.
Sponsored by: RedPrairie
Integrated Material Handling Trends, a European Perspective
This seminar will provide an overview of current issues facing the European supply chain. Attendees will learn about the challenges of integrating diverse technologies in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural environment.
Sponsored by: FKI Logistex
Camera Technology: Beyond Bar Codes
Learn the basics of camera technology in industrial scanning applications and get a glimpse of what is to come in the future.
Sponsored by: Accu-Sort Systems
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
What the Tag Says: How Voice Makes RFID Even More Powerful
Voice-directed work and RFID can drive DC performance to new levels. Learn how the combination of these technologies can drive increased throughput and accuracy while lowering operating costs. Gain a better understanding of how voice-directed work and RFID: Add value to DC performance by leveraging their respective strengths, provide business benefits today, uniquely positioning companies who adopt it, and realize a new perspective on voice and RFID and the role they play in supply chain visibility.
Sponsored by: Vocollect
Slotting: It's Not What You Have, It's Where You Put It
Take a closer look at how properly slotting products directly affects how quickly and accurately the product gets out the door and to the customer. Learn general rules of thumb on slotting—such as categorizing your product into fast, medium and slow movers; storing each type of mover in the most efficient storage medium; and making product flow decisions at the dock when product is received.
Sponsored by: FastPic Systems
Discover how to see the fine print when you buy a WMS, what many companies learn about WMS the hard way, and how you can be a smart buyer of enterprise software.
Sponsored by: HighJump Software
2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m
10 Critical, Yet Often Overlooked Factors in High-performance Distribution Operations
Learn details about actionable items easily applied to your operations and about other companies that have paved the way. In a short time after returning to work, you can dramatically improve you company's distribution while drawing attention to your own awe-inspiring change management skills.
Sponsored by: Sedlak
Several technologies available today can be used to replace yesterday's paper-picking methods. RF terminals and scanners were the first major leap over paper pick lists. They were joined by pick-to-light and pick-to-display systems for even greater performance. Now voice-directed applications enhance the opportunity for near-errorless picking in a very safe environment. Each technology has its benefits and applications. Learn variables such as entry fee, training, safety, flexibility, productivity, accuracy and where each technology is best applied.
Sponsored by: Diamond Phoenix
Capital Project Comparison and Justification
Capital project evaluations can promise attractive financial returns, but these returns often come after significant capital investments. Business leaders should be driven to make decisions based on creating value for their companies. Investments can range from a small project to improve a specific job, up to a new automated DC. In either case, the business leader will be presented with different options to achieve the end goal. This seminar discusses an approach to choose the best option.
Sponsored by: St. Onge Co.
3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Singulation's ROI: Fewer Employees Equals Higher Throughputs
How singulation technology can help a DC reduce personnel while increasing throughputs will be examined through data from existing projects.
Sponsored by: Sandvik Sorting Systems
The Science and Economics of Successful DC Design
Space. People. Equipment. Systems. All have costs. This session will help you evaluate the trade-offs and come up with optimal solutions. The rewards of objectively assessing your business through this analytical process can effectively generate significant return on investment and bottom-line improvement.
Sponsored by: Peach State Integrated Tech.
Beverage Order Selection in the DC
Industry experts will discuss the opportunities faced by all beverage distribution operations, clearly defining the direction and future challenges in the industry. This session will describe the various solutions available to address these specific challenges.
Sponsored by: Swisslog
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Cost Justifying Your Reusable Container and Pallet Program
You know all about the benefits of reusable containers and pallets, including waste reduction, one-time use packaging reduction, product damage reduction, etc. But how can you cost justify a program that will achieve these benefits? Come learn how to perform a cost justification analysis on the time value and accelerate your ROI.
Sponsored by: ORBIS
Six Months: Up To 600% Warehouse Performance Improvement
Discuss major issues such as space, productivity, work flow, project funding and labor and learn potential solutions to achieve up to a 600% increase in efficiencies in six months. This "warehouse on steroids" approach will use Six Sigma and lean techniques to help increase your efficiencies. Discuss ways to get project funding to increase your warehouse efficiencies and receive a free ROI/IRR tool.
Sponsored by: Remstar International, Inc.
Reduce Your Total Cost of Ownership with Motor Driven Rollers
Learn how to reduce the total cost of ownership of a material handling system using 24 volt brushless DC (BLDC) motor driven roller (MDR) technology. Compared to lineshaft or belt-driven live roller conveyors, 24V BLDC MDR conveyor is simpler to design, easier to integrate and more economical to operate. Gain a working knowledge of this technology and learn how much other end users have saved by implementing it.
Sponsored by: Holjeron Corporation
Tuesday, January 911:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Innovation in Lift Truck Technology: Lowering Your Bottom Line
This seminar will discuss innovative technology such as AC motors, controller and CANBUS systems, reclamation of electric power, lowering of maintenance costs and increasing reliability.
Sponsored by: Jungheinrich Lift Truck
Replacing Complex Conveyor Systems with Singulation in a DC
Continuous flow processing transforms a bulk flow of packages into a manageable single stream for downstream sorting. Learn how this technique eliminates costly accumulation conveyor and saw-tooth merges.
Sponsored by: Sandvik Sorting Systems
Learn how a major foods and confectionery corporation initiated a program to improve service and reduce costs as the key objectives of its new U.S. network design. The overall project included four new DCs of approximately 3.3 million square feet. This presentation will focus on the start-up of the 1.1 million square foot DC that was the cornerstone of this major network consolidation.
Sponsored by: St. Onge Co.
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Driving Warehouse Performance with Voice-Directed Distribution
Voice-directed distribution helps boost productivity and increase fulfillment and inventory accuracy. Retail, manufacturing and 3PL organizations are taking advantage of voice-directed distribution's unmatched performance and fast ROI to increase their supply chain velocity. Come examine common issues that should be considered to successfully enable your DC, such as where to apply voice, demands of the environment, justification, implementation, equipment needs, training, management and support.
Sponsored by: Vocollect
Using ROI to Get Project Funding
Understanding and calculating your ROI can make funding approval easier than you've ever dreamed. This session will outline the steps and information gathering necessary in the ROI process. Real life examples of how ROI was used to get funding approval to automate warehouses will be reviewed. You will receive an ROI worksheet and a clear understanding of how you can apply ROI to your operation and get the funding you need to improve operations and increase your bottom line.
Sponsored by: FastPic Systems
Applying Best Practices Benchmarking in Warehouse Operations Improvement
Driving continuous improvement in warehouse operations requires three things: a measure of current operational performance (baseline metrics), an understanding of what is possible based on the nature of the operations (best practices benchmarks), and a roadmap for planned movement from baseline to best practices. This session will present a process for establishing the baseline and building the plan for moving to best practices performance.
Sponsored by: CIBER, Inc.
12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Delphi Automotive JIT/JIS Case Study
Learn about the on-time, in-sequence delivery of hard-to-handle parts to two automobile assembly lines. Delphi partnered with ARD Logistics to deliver wiring harnesses on a just-in-time/just-in-sequence basis to two Mercedes SUV assembly plants. Automated materials handling allowed Delphi to synchronize the delivery of parts from ARD's logistics center to the Mercedes campus. The solution includes plastic totes and containers, gantry-mounted load handling, a sophisticated WCS and an AS/RS with 2,640 storage locations and is enabled by a tightly integrated information system using manufacturing software, the WCS, bar codes and radio frequency communication to link Mercedes with Delphi and ARD in real time.
Sponsored by: Daifuku America Corp.
RFID Shipping Pilot: What We Learned
See how a tier two automotive supplier is using RFID tags embedded in bar coded master labels to achieve 100% accuracy in its trailer-loading process. Learn the physics-related and business process issues that had to be addressed and how RFID can be practically integrated into existing bar code-based processes. This case study presentation includes a four-minute video showing the actual RFID system, from creating and applying the master labels to loading the trailer via the RFID portal at the shipping dock.
Sponsored by: SPEDE Technologies
Practical Ideas to Fine-Tune Operations
Get 15 high-impact suggestions and tools that can be implemented and/or used to better manage operations. Receive specific and realistic strategic ideas, many of which can be implemented immediately without major financial investments.
Sponsored by: Fortna, Inc.
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
A New Paradigm for Automating Storage and Retrieval and Order Picking in Apparel and Footwear
A creative new approach to order fulfillment for the apparel and footwear industries has been developed. Using an innovative storage, retrieval and picking technology, the system can accommodate both reserve storage and picking. Picking rates are increased, replenishment labor is eliminated, overall building square footage is reduced and material handling investments can be reduced.
Sponsored by: Diamond Phoenix
New Megatrends in AGV Applications
Learn more about the latest AGVs and applications. Find out how AGVs can increase your productivity while reducing operating costs. This presentation will include video of new AGVs at work, including the new automatic truck loading vehicle.
Sponsored by: Jervis B. Webb Company
Dynamic Distribution: An Optimized Warehouse Means Improved Efficiency
Find out how to control operational costs, increase productivity and unlock hidden revenue through advanced supply execution capabilities that optimize warehouse resources and provide greater visibility into its workforce. This presentation will highlight advancements in slotting optimization and labor management technology, including examples of how labor and slotting functionality can work together to track productivity, determine time and expense of resources and calculate specific labor costs by customer.
Sponsored by: Manhattan Associates
2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Five Solid Ways to Better Use Your Space and Increase Your Productivity
Discuss key concerns and current challenges facing operations management. Based on the issues and challenges generated, you'll be provided a logical step-by-step plan to meet your needs through applying the various types of AS/RS. Participant will leave with a new vision of possible solutions to improve their ever-changing operations.
Sponsored by: Remstar International, Inc.
Transportation On-Demand: A Step-by-Step Roadmap
As companies attempt to reduce up-front costs and better align expenditures to value received, on-demand applications are becoming more popular. This trend is accelerating in transportation management, especially for small to medium-sized companies, but increasingly for larger firms as well. Discuss the factors driving transportation on-demand adoption and the pros and cons for various types of businesses. Get a roadmap for evaluating the appropriateness of this application for your organization.
Sponsored by: RedPrairie
Pallet Racks: Considerations for Selecting, Installing, Maintaining and Operating
This session will address features, details and benefits of various styles of pallet racking and related accessories. Special emphasis will be given to flexibility, maintainability and safety.
Sponsored by: Rack Manufacturers Institute
3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Supply Chain Execution Powercourse: From Idea through Implementation
Using a recent installation as a case study, participants will follow a step-by-step process for assessing and implementing a WMS and other SCE applications. Highlights include the critical step of fine-tuning existing warehouse operations and processes, a roadmap for requirements definition, an alternative evaluation and solution selection and the methodology for driving successful implementations. Additional discussion will center on post implementation tips and the proper expectations of costs and benefits.
Sponsored by: ESYNC
Multi-modal Communication: Convergence and Collaboration
Enterprise mobile computing technology has entered a new era. Devices that previously performed only one function now perform many. Learn how this client/server-based communications solution allows the user of a handheld computer, vehicle-mounted computer or PC to communicate with other users within an organization. The available communication formats are "push-to-talk" style voice-over IP and environmental messaging media such as text, handwritten, picture, voice, broadcast voice and Exchange mail.
Sponsored by: Psion Teklogix Inc.
Trends in Automated Replenishment
This seminar will provide an overview of trends in high-performance order fulfillment operations. By combining AS/RS technology, predictive replenishment and dynamic slotting, companies can now achieve 100% product availability.
Sponsored by: FKI Logistex
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
New Trends in Increased Throughput and Productivity
Hear common steps and suggestions on increasing your throughput in specific areas that always prove to have hidden productivity enhancements. Receive a free template to use in your own organization.
Sponsored by: Intelligrated Inc.
Mobile Robots Transform Order Picking
Recent advances in mobile robotics enable fulfillment operations where any picker can access any item at any time, where orders are filled in real-time without the need for batching or waving, and where new capacity can be added in a day. In addition to tripling operator productivity, this new approach to order picking improves quality, reduces cycle-time and increases flexibility, fundamentally changing the way DCs are designed and operated.
Sponsored by: Kiva Systems
Getting Started: Tips for Budgeting Your RFID Application
Learn how to budget for your RFID project. Whether you have a work-in-process application or a project mandated by a retailer, this seminar will cover the costs of everything from tags and applicators to conveyors and installation.
Sponsored by: Accu-Sort Systems
Wednesday, January 1010:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Retail Order Selection: Automation vs. Manual
Discuss multiple solutions for retail order selection challenges. Industry experts will provide feedback on when to look toward high automation as a viable option to a manual or semi-manual solution.
Sponsored by: Swisslog
Increase Capacity, Reduce Costs and Streamline Throughput with Storage Optimization
Sales growth, SKU proliferation and mass customization are putting the squeeze on warehouse and DC capacity. Learn how to use a data-driven approach for facility sizing, layout, storage media selection and inventory slotting to make better use of existing space without sacrificing throughput.
Sponsored by: ESYNC
DC Analysis: Four Cost Effective Methods for Performance Improvement
Based on analysis of hundreds of DCs nationwide, this seminar will examine four key components that separate top performers from poor performers. Learn how to improve operations, boost employee morale and increase profitability.
Sponsored by: Fortna, Inc.
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This seminar outlines the fundamentals of automatic guided vehicle (AGV) systems. It includes a complete review of major system components, as well as an outline of what makes a successful application (warehousing and manufacturing).
Sponsored by: FMC Technologies Inc.
Finding Balance in Manufacturing, Assembly and Processing Operations
Manufacturing output doesn't always parallel assembly schedules. Inventory availability may not match processing schedules. An order for your merchandise doesn't always match available inventory. Excess manufactured product must sometimes be stored so it is available when the customer can accept it. This presentation will address these and other challenges businesses face and offer solutions and case references of companies that have implemented successful solutions.
Sponsored by: Diamond Phoenix
Driving Warehouse Performance with Voice-Directed Distribution
Voice-directed distribution helps boost productivity and increase fulfillment and inventory accuracy. Retail, manufacturing and 3PL organizations are taking advantage of voice-directed distribution's unmatched performance and fast ROI to increase their supply chain velocity. Come examine common issues that should be considered to successfully enable your DC, such as where to apply voice, demands of the environment, justification, implementation, equipment needs, training, management and support.
Sponsored by: Vocollect
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Streamlining Returns within a DC
How do you handle the challenge of catalog returns? This seminar looks at how automation can replace this manual area and transform that unwanted part of the business to a profitable commodity.
Sponsored by: Sandvik Sorting Systems
Understanding the Differences in Data Collection Techniques
Compare and contrast bar code scanners, imagers, RFID readers and voice recognition technologies and learn how each can be implemented in various applications.
Sponsored by: Psion Teklogix Inc.
Order Picking 750 Lines Per Hour Per Operator
Learn simple strategies to increase picking efficiencies up to 750 lines per hour per operator. Key is focusing on basics such as material flow, pre-positioning, floor space utilization, basic automation and software implementation, organizations are meeting their picking requirements. Discuss theory and real examples of how to implement these basics in your facility.
Sponsored by: Remstar International, Inc.
12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Best Practices in Tracking Your Reusable Containers and Pallets
As you implement your reusable container and pallet program, it is critical to track these assets for maximum efficiency throughout your supply chain. Come learn best practices in asset tracking regardless of technology (bar code, RFID, etc.).
Sponsored by: ORBIS
3D Sensing for Material Handling
Discover an innovative new approach to 3D sensing using time-of-flight technology.
Sponsored by: IFM Efector
How to Get Control of an Out-of-Control Warehouse
This session will offer suggestions on systems, methodology and designs that will help eliminate problem areas in an out-of-control warehouse. Get back in control and increase your overall bottom line.
Sponsored by: Intelligrated Inc.
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Selecting and Integrating the Right Order Fulfillment Methods and Technologies for Your DC
This presentation will offer insight into an array of various order-picking techniques, such as traditional picking and putting, "pick and pass" and cluster picking. Discussion will highlight the technologies available to enhance the execution of these fulfillment functions for your DC.
Sponsored by: FKI Logistex
Automated Receiving: Saving Money at Your Dock Door
Learn how to cut costs at your dock door. As integration with many WMS systems becomes easier and print-and-apply technologies become more advanced, achieving an ROI through automated receiving is now a viable option at your DC.
Sponsored by: Accu-Sort Systems
Global Perspectives on Project Management in Material Handling
This seminar will provide guidelines on using project management techniques effectively to develop and install your material handling systems. Attendees will gain insight into how to manage projects on a global scale.
Sponsored by: Jervis B. Webb Company
2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
LEANing Your Processes toward Automation
This session will discuss the real opportunities to lean-out the inefficiencies in a day-to-day operation by improving and creating processes when cost effective automation has been implemented. Lean-ing of processes through optimized material storage and flow will allow companies to reduce labor costs through increased efficiencies, decrease errors in the supply chain, reduce injuries, have a tighter inventory control and, yes, we can still save space. In today's global competition, can you really afford not to take advantage of something so simple?
Sponsored by: FastPic Systems
With the push economy of the past giving way to the pull economy of today, suppliers and retailers must be much more agile and adaptive in meeting customer demand. The demand-driven supply network (DDSN) approach has proved effective in this environment. Now advances in workforce performance management improve upon DDSN to make distribution labor planning and allocation more adaptive to demand signals, creating the demand-driven workforce. This presentation will explain how the demand-driven workforce enables better planning and scheduling of distribution labor to increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer service.
Sponsored by: RedPrairie
Innovation in Lift Truck Technology: Lowering Your Bottom Line
This seminar will discuss innovation technology such as AC motors, controller and CANBUS systems, reclamation of electric power, lowering of maintenance costs and increasing reliability.
Sponsored by: Jungheinrich Lift Truck
3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
20 New Ways to Improve Industrial Battery Performance, Life and Safety
Batteries fail quietly and as they do, the equipment they power is damaged. The battery can become unsafe and people can get hurt. Productivity is lost and expensive batteries must be replaced far too soon. Learn how simple battery operating procedures and attention to safety will preserve your battery and equipment assets.
Sponsored by: Quick Cable Corporation
Smart Links in Your Supply Chain
Optimization is not just in your warehouse. Or in your manufacturing facility. Or in transportation. Learn how linking these areas provides real supply chain excellence.
Sponsored by: HighJump Software
Alcoholic Beverage Distribution Case Study
In Utah all spirits and wine are distributed from a single facility. A rack supported AS/RS has improved process flow and doubled facility capacity. Learn how this project included unique engineering solutions for pallet handling, replenishment of forward picking, construction of a 110 foot tall building on poor soil interfacing to an existing 25 foot low bay facility and implementation in one year.
Sponsored by: Daifuku America Corp.
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
An Alternative Approach to Strategic Supply Chain Design
Strategic network designs traditionally attempt to solve the questions of what the distribution footprint should be and what mission it should serve without evaluating impacts on inventory deployment strategies. This session will identify the potential pitfalls of traditional network design and define a robust integrated approach to solving the supply chain question considering major impacts to the supply chain including distribution asset costs, freight costs, transportation availability, inventory costs, etc.
Sponsored by: St. Onge Co.
Achieve Compliance, Plan for the Future and Maximize Your RFID Investment
Faced with implementing RFID for your own trading partners, it's tempting to go with the lowest initial price tag solution. But a "throwaway" approach could leave you with a solution that doesn't allow you to scale your RFID capabilities for the future, wasting time and money. Industry experts will address ways companies can start small with slap-and-ship and grow into a fully automated, integrated manufacturing-line and conveyor-based processes with shipment and receipt reconciliation capability—without replacing their original software.
Sponsored by: Manhattan Associates
After the Audit: What to Do Following a Diagnostic Assessment of Your Distribution Operations
This seminar provides a roadmap for getting the most results out of your operational assessment. Beginning with a very brief recap of the assessment process, you'll learn how to reap the benefits of both short- and long-term improvements to your operations from receiving through shipping, including storage and innovative picking/packing methodologies. Examples and case histories will be provided.
Sponsored by: Sedlak
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