There was a time when simply knowing what was going on within the four walls of your warehouse was enough to keep your company growing and productive. No more, said Wilson Rothschild, supply chain management solutions manager at Infor, sponsor of this conference program.

Today distribution touches activities both inside and outside the warehouse. “You have to also look outside the walls, because the two environments are interdependent,” said Rothschild.

To make that new reality work, more real-time data is needed both in and out of the warehouse. As evidence, he pointed to AMR Research’s findings that 20 percent of orders are filled imperfectly, and that companies are holding $1.2 trillion in stockpiled inventory. “Everyone can relate to the fact that inventory requires investment. Inventory has to be sold,” Rothschild said.

In this session, Rothschild gave practical examples of how shippers can utilize real-time execution technologies, such as radio frequency (RF), voice-directed picking, and radio frequency identification (RFID), in conjunction with performance and exception management to improve order visibility and accuracy; speed up receiving, putaway, picking, packing, and shipping; and improve overall fulfillment performance.

In identifying core characteristics of the real-time warehouse management system, he singled out paperless operations, real-time communication with operators (RF), system-directed activities, and high levels of data accuracy (bar codes, RFID) as the key components.

Using Sony as an example, Rothschild noted that the manufacturer replaced manual warehouse activities, which were contributing to long lead times and other challenges, with directed radio frequency systems. These have since resulted in improved stocking, reduced order-cycle times, and higher pick rates. “They can now do much more with the same workforce,” he said.

For shippers who are thinking of making the switch from manual systems, he advised that they carefully assess their data-collection technologies and enterprise systems first, and then make the transition to real-time tools such as RF and RFID.