Creating an efficient distribution environment takes more than just a good material handling design. It also means utilizing that design to the best of its capabilities.
That is where SI Systems excels. Not only is SI a leading designer and integrator of material handling systems that include automated picking equipment, but the company also provides software that optimizes distribution operations for increased productivity, accuracy and profitability.
SI Systems' DC Xcellerator is a prime example of the company's commitment to developing innovative optimization tools. DC Xcellerator allows users to maximize efficiencies within all of the picking systems found within the distribution center. It analyzes the building's storage and picking systems in real time, whether manual, automatic or semi-automatic, and determines the proper technology for each type of product and where it should optimally be placed within that technology to gain the greatest amount of efficiency and productivity.
The result is a proven slotting strategy that greatly reduces traveling and walk time. It also eliminates bottlenecks, allows labor to be more effective, increases throughput and creates operational flexibility. "A good slotting strategy can reduce as much as 50 percent of the walk time within a facility. That translates into huge labor savings," explains Jeff Wetherell, SI's director of software products and services.
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Unlike other slotting software on the market, DC Xcellerator does not require a warehouse management system to operate. It simply needs information about your products, their order characteristics and a CAD layout of the facility. It then analyzes the optimal placement of the products within the various storage and picking systems found in the building. Next, a list is generated showing the moves that should be made in order to slot products for peak efficiencies. It also determines the cost associated with making each move compared to the cost savings that will be generated with the optimization. The facility manager can choose which moves to make based on these recommendations. Once made, the system will then monitor the actual moves and generate detailed reports of the efficiencies that have been created. Generally, there is better than a six month payback as a result of the analysis, with some moves paying for themselves within only a week.
"This is a service that allows users to reduce a major component of their costs, allowing them to be more competitive," adds Wetherell.
Another major benefit of DC Xcellerator is that there is no capital investment to make and little involvement is required from IT staff. While the software is available for larger companies to purchase, organizations of any size can benefit right away by taking advantage of SI's Software as a Service program. Under this valued arrangement, users simply provide SI with the initial data, and then SI does all of the work. Once the information is loaded, the actual analysis takes only minutes and can be done as often as needed to maintain optimized operations. Savings go directly to the bottom line, while the distribution facility itself experiences peak performance.
For more information on SI Systems, call 800-523-9464 or visit www.sihs.com.
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