Dave Williams Over the past year, the shortage of truck drivers not only made headlines, but is also forcing warehouses to rethink their order fulfillment processes. This shortage—which could rise to 175,000 by 2024, according to the American Transportation Associations (ATA)—is compromising the reliability of fleets. This means that, if a truck does not arrive on schedule, warehouses that stage orders hours in advance often find those goods sitting, taking up valuable space and preventing their entire operation from flowing smoothly. As a result, many warehouses are beginning to implement just-in-time (JIT) order fulfillment strategies, in which they begin the order fulfillment process as the truck arrives at their facility for order pickup. While warehouse automation technology in the form of automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) is helping to enable these strategies, it is the software applications behind the automation that are often the driving force. Traditionally, warehousing organizations used two separate applications within their operations—a warehouse management system (WMS) and a warehouse control system (WCS). The WMS manages the workflow of the operation, while the WCS executes the workflow utilizing the automation. However, using both systems effectively can require complex integrations. And, if they are not properly integrated, companies run the risk of inventory inaccuracies, misrouted products and confusing workflows, all which hinder the order fulfillment process. In order to best optimize the order fulfillment process and easily implement JIT strategies, warehouses should consider a warehouse execution system (WES), which combines the functionality of both a WMS and WCS in a single application. Within one system, a WES can direct inventory management, order management, billing, workflow, and the direction of material handling equipment and personnel throughout a facility. Enabling JIT Order Fulfillment with a WES The combination of a WES and automation allows warehouses to quickly and […]
