Product category:
Warehouse management software
News Release from: 3M Supply Chain Solutions | Subject: HighJump Warehouse Advantage
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 April 2008
3M warehouse software improves
distribution
3M said that its HighJump Warehouse Advantage software has improved distribution operations for a Greek subsidiary by facilitating the launch of a third-party logistics (3PL) business.
3M Greece has installed a warehouse management system (WMS) in its distribution centre located near Athens The WMS from 3M Supply Chain Solutions went live in one day
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 May 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Six hour WMS in-house upgrade
HighJump Warehouse Advantage WMS system upgraded at Rosebys within an afternoon
Warehouse management system for fast growers
The warehouse management system (WMS) from 3m, HighJump Warehouse Advantage, is now available as a 'fast track' product for fast-growing organisations to achieve operating efficiencies.
It has enabled fast inventory cycle counts, as well as optimised batch order waves as well as reducing manual workload, increasing inventory control and improving lot traceability.
3M Greece's building lease was coming up for renewal and, as a lean organisation with a warehouse team of 18, the 6000m2 of warehouse space was too big for them to manage.
The HighJump Warehouse Advantage system allowed the company to achieve the following.
Further reading
Flexible warehouse management for paper company
3M supply chain solutions highJump software installed at gm2 Logistics to improve process efficiency and reduce cycle times
Lean initiatives for the supply chain
Achieving successful supply chain-wide lean initiatives in the automotive industry by Hugh Murphy, business development manager, 3M Supply Chain Solutions
* Maintain its own warehouse.
* Modernise operations for the subsidiary.
* Utilise the extra space.
* Apply its experience in logistics services to launch its own third-party logistics (3PL) business.
Human resources, logistics and IT manager of 3M Greece, Christos Baracos, said: "The entire project from conception to board approval, design and installation took eight months, yet the 'go live' was completed in just one day with few resources and minimal disruption or problems encountered." He continued: "Although we moved from a completely manual system, when we went live with the HighJump WMS the users did not have any problems whatsoever.
We didn't stop operations, not even for a day".
General manager EMEA, 3M Supply Chain Solutions, Leo Valentin, commented: "The 3M Greece DC has now entered a new era, and our WMS has received highly positive feedback from both warehouse staff and customers.
New processes for picking, packing, inventory counts and labeling have resulted in great improvements in terms of productivity, speed, accuracy and overall warehouse visibility".
* Inventory scanned 'on the spot' - the inventory location capability of HighJump Warehouse Advantage has optimised cycle counting in the distribution centre (DC).
Previously, staff had to shut the whole warehouse down for two days and bring in extra staff to run a stock count manually.
Now staff can scan inventory on the spot using radio frequency (RF) guns and conduct reconciliation of discrepancies on a daily basis without any interruption to the operation.
The HighJump WMS has not only enabled the DC to launch its new 3PL business, it has also allowed the DC to remain lean and more streamlined in its operations.
Staff numbers have not increased inn spite of the activity rising 400 order lines/day two years ago to an average of 650/day today.
Peaks are of 900 to 1000 order lines/day.
Furthermore, HighJump WMS has enabled smaller batch order waves that staff can prepare during the course of the day in a more efficient timeframe.
• 3M Supply Chain Solutions: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
