Slotting optimization software released

On Monday, industrial engineering and software solutions company IDS Engineering (Booth 532) unveiled the release of Slot3D 2008 and SlotLE 2008 in a press conference held at its booth.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 4/21/2008 10:36:00 AM

The two products have several new features that make them easier to use and quicker to configure, explained Ellsworth Collins, chief operating officer at IDS.

“Each includes several new tools for slotting optimization analysis,” he said. “Both tools allow users to compare traditional velocity-based slotting options against economics-based slotting.”

“Cost variables include the cost to pick, replenish and store items,” added Ken Miller, IDS’ manager of industrial engineering. “The software generates a side-by-side cost comparison of the different slotting drivers, showing users the amount of travel distance a re-slotting can save. This even translates into a green effect, by cutting fork truck travel time, resulting in less fuel and power use.”

Employed by materials handling consultants, integrators and warehouse engineers, users input business rules, facility layout, storage technologies, SKU characteristics, as well as order forecasts and history. The systems measure the economic impact of one slotting arrangement versus another, generating optimized warehouse design based on least operating cost.

Slot3D includes an AutoCAD component, producing a graphical representation of possible slotting scenarios and color-coding the best solutions.