WMS – Warehouse Management
Systems
Amy Severance
What is a WMS?
• WMS – Warehouse Management System
• Tracks inventory from the point of receipt to
the point of shipment
• Provides RF (radio frequency) functionality to
enable mobile workforce
• Provides shipment creation, rating
functionality
What is a WMS?
• Not an order taking system
• Not an inventory allocation system
• Requires a “Host” system to interface to
– ERP (such as SAP)
– OMS (Order Management System)
– Purchase Order data, Sales Order data, Item
Master data
Why is it important to have a WMS?
• Inventory Accuracy
– Safety Stock: reduce shortages, reduce variability
– Reduce capital investment in inventory
– Reduce labor invested in cycle counting
– Reduce labor dealing with inventory discrepancies
• Improve productivity
– Automate manual processes using RF or Voice
– Provide productivity reporting for employee
management
Why is it important to have a WMS?
• Visibility
– Provide management with visibility for running
the operation
• Number of orders in process
• Number of ASN’s in transit
• Customer compliance
– Shipping Labels, packing lists, other
documentation
– Packaging Requirements
– RFID tags
WMS Vendors
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Manhattan Associates
Red Prairie
High Jump
SAP WMS
How do you select a WMS?
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Document the business requirements
RFP – Request for Proposal
Sales process
Contract Negotiation
Sign Contract
Phase 0:
Initiation
Phase 1:
Design
• Review Requirements• Discovery
Site Visit
• Hardware Sizing
• Functional Design
Questionnaire
• Transportation
Questionnaire
• Modification List
• Product Demo
• Statement of Work
& Project Plan
• Attend Training
• Interface Design
Phase 2:
Development
• Client Training
• Conversion
Planning/
Installation
Phase 3:
Integration
Testing
• Mock
Conversion
• Integration
Testing
• Modification
Development
and Testing
• Label/Carrier
Compliance
• System
Config
and Testing
• Solution
Validation
• Volume Testing
Phase 4:
Implementation
Phase 5:
Client Support
• Go Live!
• Project Closure
• Post
Implementation
Support
• Transition to
Customer
Support
• Initiate Transition
to Customer
Support
• Ongoing
Maintenance
• Risk Assessment
• Development of
• End-user Training
User Training
Project Management
• Project Planning
• Conversion Planning
• Status Reporting
• Resource Planning
• Issue Maintenance and Resolution
• Project Budget Management
• Risk Assessment
• Scope/Deliverable Management
• Timeline Management
WMS Functionality - Inbound
• Yard Management and Appointment scheduling
• Pre-Receiving
– ASN’s
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Receiving
Directed Putaway
Replenishment from Overstock to Forward Pick
Cycle Counting
Returns
WMS Functionality - Outbound
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“Wave” Management
Label/Document Printing
Picking
Packing
Manifest, Prepare shipment
Ship Confirm
Generates Variety of Compliant Bar
Code Labels
location label
Receiving
Report
parcel carrier tracking
number
iLPN
label
case pick label
pallet
label
oLPN UCC128 label
outbound
pallet label
Receiving
Picking
Inventory
Packing/Shipping
•in advance
•on demand
• upon wave release
• upon wave assignment
• reprints
• upon rerouting
• upon pack verification
• release from pack & hold
• reprint