Case Study– E-Commerce Fulfillment for Electrical and Control Components
E-commerce fulfillment often involves a variety of order sizes across a large number of SKUS with a requirement for extremely high levels of customer service. E-commerce fulfillment for electrical components and controls further requires highly responsive systems with same-day response, a wide range of SKU characteristics and picking systems, rapidly changing and increasing SKU counts, and highly efficient operations. All of this requires a flexible, responsive, integrated, and real-time fulfillment system managed by a robust and highly accurate software management and control system. This case study illustrates a solution for e-commerce fulfillment of electrical and control products. For this system, Invar Systems provided the Invar Warehouse System (IWS) software solution to provide a modern platform for growth in the existing manual system and then to phase in automated technologies.
Challenge: Provide an e-commerce fulfillment solution that:
- Fits in limited space in high-value area.
- Accommodates wide range of SKU characteristics from large reels of wire to computers to small components.
- Improves manual operation while phasing in automation to accommodate growth and integrates manual and automated processes into a seamless operation.
- Waveless process that supports same-day shipment of orders in by 6:00, within shipper cutoff times.
- Manage international shipment documentation, including customs bills of lading and country of origin.
- Is extremely accurate, ensuring that fast turn orders are always correct.
- Accommodates rapid SKU demand changes.
- Is extremely labor-efficient.
- Provides high levels of visibility to management about order status, ensuring targets are met.
Solution
Integrated solution with manual and automated process, all controlled and managed by Invar Warehouse System (IWS). System includes:
- Receiving Systems (Manual and Automated)
- Two Multi-level Pick Modules
- Horizontal Carousels, Vertical Carousels, VLM
- Facility-Wide Carton Conveyor System (Pick and Pass)
- VNA Pallet Racking and Shelving
- Goods to Person Picking Systems with High Speed Shuttle and Put to Light
- Pallet AS/RS, Pallet AGVS
- Order Consolidation Process
- Shipping Sortation System
- Remote Facilities for Reserve Storage, Value Added Processes, Production
- Invar Warehouse System (IWS) Software Solution
Invar Provided Services
Provided Invar Warehouse System (IWS) warehouse management/warehouse control system to manage and control fulfillment system including:
- Inbound Receiving Functions (PO reconciliation, Inbound Process, Putaway)
- Order Management, Cubing, Inventory Allocation and Selection (FIFO Rules), Replenishment
- Management of Manual Areas through RF– Receiving, Forktrucks, Picking
- Management /Control of Automation– Conveyor, Shuttle, AS/RS, AGVS
- Goods to Person Picking System and “Dynamic” Slotting
- Integrated Shipping Solution– Domestic and International– Range of Shippers
- Special Product Handling including Part Segregation, Hazardous Goods.
- Management Reporting.
- Integration and management of material flow, automated equipment operation, manual operations
System Benefits Include:
- Integrated single software system for management of overall facility, receiving to shipping, manual and automated processes
- Highly flexible and accurate manual fulfillment operations
- Phased in automation for goods to person picking, AS/RS, AGVS.
- Integrated shipping solution supporting FEDEX, UPS, DHL LTL, Customer pickup
- Order management to support same-day shipment of orders in by 6:00
- Full product control and traceability from receiving through shipping
Contact Invar Systems today to turn your operational challenges into solutions and benefits.