Entry-Level Warehouse Management Systems
Tier 3 warehouse management systems form the baseline for true WMS systems. They are more robust than IMS systems, and offer scalability into larger systems as a company's needs grow. Typically, a Tier 3 WMS will have all the features of an IMS plus these additional features:
Tier 3 WMS Features
- Serial Number Tracking
- Lot Number Tracking
- FIFO (First In, First Out)
- LIFO (Last In, First Out)
- Directed Put-Away: The WMS has rules to determine where received product must go
- Wave Picking: Typically used where trucks are loaded by stops. The last stop is picked first, next to last stop picked second, etc.
- Zone Picking: order picking method where a warehouse is divided into several pick zones, order pickers are assigned to a specific zone and only pick the items in that zone, orders are moved from one zone to the next (usually on conveyor systems) as they are picked (also known as "pick-and-pass").
- LP (License Plating): Each pallet has a unique ID and the WMS understands what product is on that pallet.
- BOM (Bill Of Material): – allows for a single part number to represent multiple parts that make up a Kit.
- Work Order: used in manufacturing environments where inventory is pulled to be moved into manufacturing. Typically parts that are pulled into manufacturing are referred to as “Raw Goods”. Products that are manufactured and then moved back into a WMS are usually referred to as “Finished Goods”. For example, a BOM can define the Raw Goods required to build a Finished Good.
- Cross Docking: Product is received and then immediately shipped. The product is never actually Put Away into the WMS.
- Pallet Tracking: Related to LP
- Multiple Units of Measure: – Used when product can be handled by different UOM. For example, product may be received in by the Case, but picked and shipped by the Each. Traditional UOM is three levels for most products:
- Pallet
- Case or Carton
- Each or Piece
- Compliance Shipping Labels
- Some level of integration into an existing Accounting or ERP system.
A perfect example of a Tier 3 WMS is Quick-Trak Inventory Enterprise. This robust system is flexible, affordable and scalable.
Quick-Track Inventory Enterprise | |
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Quick-trak Inventory Enterprise offers entry level Warehouse Management System
functionality. Designed for use in larger distribution centers or by companies
that have higher sales volume, Quick-trak Inventory Enterprise was built from
the ground up for scalability and ease of use.
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