Download “The changing face of
Logistics and WMS” article hereWhy K-Store not WMS
K-Store approaches the problems of warehousing from the shop floor. We have designed the package to be intelligent in it’s approach but not to over complicate the picking operation. Our engineers can modify the package to suit your needs as a business, as well as add more functionality as required. This system can also be integrated with live routing of cartons on our conveyor systems with full carton or tote tracking. We can also offer sortation of items using fixed head or omni directional scanners.
Modular WMS
We have various modules to our software which we call upon depending on your requirements. For instance, you may need volumetric calculations for box size calculations or maybe just stock control with article inventory. We at Keymas provide solutions based on our knowledge of the industry and our background in control and automation.
Only Get What You Need
At Keymas, we specialise in control systems, but what we don’t specialise in is putting software in for the sake of it. Keymas looks at each individual working operation and identifies with the customers requirements and determines how best to achieve this more efficiently.
However, the industry trend seems to be – let’s put in a WMS and then make the necessary changes to the business to work with the software package. There are obviously certain parameters which have to be followed with every software package, but the importance is to identify these from the start so we can prevent any unwelcome business changes.
How it Works
Our software replaces your current paper operation. Our software reads in your customers orders and processes them electronically. We can read in your details in any format or protocol to suit your needs. These orders are then picked via our hand held terminals, live, and once completed the order is then passed back to your system for invoicing. I have obviously simplified the operation as we have incorporated picking routes, zones, stock movement, put away and Delivery note printing.
Not One Central Source
At one time this was considered to be a strength – to be looked on as one central point, controlling all operations. However, contrary to this view, Keymas recognises this can be a weakness – not a strength!
In a conventional WMS system, all information goes into one central point. Also, all communication with ancillary equipment, whether it is from radio data or fixed terminals, weight scales, or a conveyor in the system, all information is routed back and processed by one central call.
If there is just one problem in that central call, or if there is one element that goes astray, then the whole operation comes to a standstill. In-feed of equipment stops, conveyor operation could stop, labelling could stop, radio data terminal communications – everything is jeopardised by that one point. Hence, as opposed to being a strength of the system, it can now be considered a weakness because there is so much pressure on that one point.
Therefore, if we add K-Store in to your WMS , the principal would be as follows. Let the WMS do what it is primarily good at doing – Dealing with finances, handling customer requirements, managing the customer database and looking after the commercial running of the business. Then put in a system which is subservient to a WMS, which looks after the warehouse itself – a system that manages the warehouse increases throughput and gives traceability. With traceability and ease of use comes less errors.
