Savage (Columbus is the solution for the distribution center)

Situation

Dynamic development of SAVAGE company and rapid expansion of retail chain stores dictated the solution of management on expansion of warehouse spaces and moving on a new modern warehouse of high-rise storage of class "A". Along with moving it was decided to change intra warehouse processes radically. In the company there was the accounting system, but with the decision on moving on a new warehouse, it became clear that new, more powerful system on management of a warehouse which could satisfy new requirements of actively developing company is necessary for SAVAGE.

Choosing a Solution

A system which not just would facilitate control of warehouse processes was necessary for the company, but also would allow to accelerate work of employees of a warehouse significantly. SAVAGE the modern technologies giving the chance most effectively to use warehouse spaces and allowing to make a fold personnel mobile interested.

Alexey Zhogov, logistics director of SAVAGE: "The company did not hold the special tender for the choice of the solution. We already cooperated with Columbus IT within the preproject during which the circle of our requirements was determined by automation of a warehouse. Communicating with specialists of the company, I learned that Columbus IT has a ready-made solution for management of the warehouse Warehouse Management System based on Microsoft Dynamics® AX. The solution contained all necessary options and required the minimum completions during implementation. Besides the solution WMS is easily scaled and is open for implementation of new modern technologies that was for us very important factor".

Solution

Within the project consultants of Columbus IT jointly with specialists of SAVAGE company carried out works on the implementing solution WMS. In the Microsoft Dynamics AX system all major problems and business processes of a warehouse were automated. Necessary modifications for the best adaptation of a system to user requirements and procedures of work were defined and executed.

In a new warehouse of SAVAGE accounting of goods by warehouse zones, racks, tiers, cells and also the reference book of goods with all necessary characteristics is entered (including the weight, amount, the barcode, the supplier, the number of units in a box, a package size, etc.).

Tasks for placement of goods and need of replenishment of area of a complete set the solution creates automatically, also as tasks for formation of ready orders for clients and for shipment. Sales managers can see all changes of the statuses of order processing as well at the central office thanks to solution integration of WMS and the accounting system of 1C Savage.

Automatic separation of warehouse tasks for selection between different zones and rack passes became one of options, important for a big narrow-passage warehouse. Now the warehouse equipment is not crossed with employees of a warehouse that considerably reduces danger of injury rate and allows to reduce runtime of tasks.

In addition, in a warehouse of SAVAGE one of the Russia's first projects on system implementation of voice actuation was executed. Instead of use of shaped codes in a warehouse the SAVAGE company decided to apply voice technologies on an assembly step to marking of products and control of orders. With respect thereto within the project specialists of Columbus IT carried out solution integration of WMS with the system of voice assembly of orders. A system is capable to give information on location of necessary goods to the employee of a warehouse, transferring the text from the database to a voice. Using the microphone and earphones the employee of a warehouse obtains information on the location of goods, on quantity and a product name, necessary for assembly of the order. Having executed a part of a task, the employee of a warehouse speaks about it to a system which also monitors the order fulfillment course, and if necessary announces that it is necessary to hurry. A system is adaptive and can recognize not really accurate pronunciation, at the same time the manager can monitor task performance in real time.

Results

Implementation took place quickly enough. In 2 months after the beginning of the project on a new warehouse the first deliveries of goods began. In a month the warehouse began to ship the first orders for shops. The transparent accounting system with a full range of the reporting and accounting of labor costs on each transaction allows management to obtain quickly reliable information and increases efficiency of planning.

Employees got used to voice technology not at once, but thanks to a system the management of a warehouse had an opportunity to increase efficiency of a zone of control, and significant increase in quality of assembly of orders became the most important effect. The convenience is also available – during the work there is no need to hold paper or the terminal in hand. As a result significantly the quantity of the shipped commodity units grew.

The solution WMS excludes a task for the employee of a warehouse and for loaders in the same pass of a warehouse that reduced risks of getting injured and increased the speed of execution of works.

Alexey Zhogov, logistics director of SAVAGE company: "System implementation passed quickly enough and qualitatively. Thanks to the Columbus IT command and functionality we could use the solutions WMS as much as possible the modern warehouse technologies including considering features of narrow-passage warehouses. The command from Columbus IT showed high examination and professionalism during the project and also during personnel training of SAVAGE company. At us there is a lot of ideas, and I am sure that we will continue cooperation with Columbus IT".

Prospects

Specialists of Columbus IT continue work with the solution, giving support to users and implementing new opportunities of the solution WMS for a warehouse of SAVAGE company.