Tips To Avoid Warehousing Mistakes

The smallest mistakes in your warehouse management plan can cost you more heavily than you can imagine. If we had to point the single biggest mistake that you can make in managing the warehousing and logistics of your company, it would have to be not hiring a professional to guide you on the latest developments in logistics. Relying on guesswork or on past experiences will not suffice, especially considering the dynamic advancements being made in warehouse management technologies. 

A major faux pas committed by small businesses is overlooking the need to effectively streamline the inventory, and identify fast-moving products from slow-moving ones. If your inventory is overstuffed with products that have been lying for a long time, and are not expected to move anytime soon, you are losing on valuable space and need to take action immediately. Using upgraded technology to identify the goods that are taking up space can help you to boost the efficiency of your inventory up to 99%.

If you are still among those companies that are relying on paper records to document various stages of the warehouse management process, it’s high time you made a switch to digital data. Replacing humans with machines will not just help you to cut down on labor costs and work force management, but will also boost the efficiency of your warehouse by several notches. You can track processes as they take place in real time, and can instantly tally data to identify any loopholes in your strategy.

Considering that transport and material handling figure among the top costs of the complete warehouse management system, you need to make an effort to cut down on these costs. The easiest way to do this is to ensure that the central warehouse and distribution center is as close to your main stores as possible. For this, it is important for the warehouse distribution center to have multiple locations, which shall translate into shorter shipping distances, and hence lower transportation costs.

Finally, not having sufficient inventory space can be detrimental to the growth of your business. This can happen due to the storage space being taken up by seasonal items, or due to the need for sudden expansion. In any case, a warehouse management company that is equipped with sufficient space resources to meet your needs will be an asset to your company. Even if you do not plan to expand any time in the future, this is a factor that you should consider right from the word- go.

For more tips contact McLane Logistics Technology. It is renowned to provide customized Warehouse Management Software solutions to various large as well as medium business firms. For more details visit them at 4001 Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call at 1-800-989-7568.

Warehouse Management System - WMS For AX

Elements Of Logistics Management

Logistics management is a key factor in the supply chain processes of any business. It is that part of the supply chain that serves as its nucleus, ensuring that all the processes, right from manufacturing to delivery, are carried out with precision and utmost efficiency.

The major aim of any logistics management endeavor is the utmost satisfaction of the final customer. For this, it is essential for a link of communication to be effectively established at each stage of the process, to ensure that the right services are delivered to the right person at the right time.

An essential element of logistics management is inbound and outbound transport management. While inbound transportation is essential to lower the prices of the final goods by reducing the costs during the various processes, outbound transport is what is actually visible to the customer.

Another important element is fleet management, which is closely related to transport management. This refers to the management of the various vehicles that are used by the company, including vans, trucks, rail cars, and cars. Everything, right from the fuel and finance management to their maintenance and management of drivers falls under logistics management.

Logistics management also includes the key elements of warehousing and inventory management, both of which are critical to the efficiency of the supply chain. While warehousing involves all the factors that go into the storage of the goods, inventory management is the central process that determines how much of each product is needed when, and where.

A logistics management company must be able to devise a working logistics network, by keeping important considerations like security, space costs, labor rates, supplier and customer locations, etc. in mind. There must be a well-devised plan in place to take care of the ultimate aim of the whole process, which is order fulfillment. This process begins when the customer places an order, and goes on until it is delivered to him, and even after that, in case of any complaints.

Most companies are now opting for logistics automation, in which advances logistics management software is employed for various stages of the process. There is separate software available for each stage, such as transport, material handling, warehousing, etc.

A modern logistics management enterprise must be well-versed with important technological aspects of the process, such as bar coding, electronic data interchange, enterprise and differential resource planning, etc., all of which are pivotal to e-commerce.

McLane Logistic Technology can empower your business with effective logistic management system, designed to take huge and complex loads and to keep your logistic management process efficient and trouble free. For more information, visit them at 4001 Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call us at 1-800-989-7568.

Integrated Logistics Management System - Logistics Management Information System

Tips On Saving Costs In Supply Chain Management

Considering that the whole purpose of Supply Chain Management (SCM) is to effectively manage movement of products and to reduce the cost incurred by a company, it is logical for the SCM itself to be as cost-efficient as possible. In fact, research shows that cutting down on the costs of SCM is substantially more beneficial to the bottom line, than is a proportional increase in the sales. Saving costs at the first level of SCM is a relatively easy task, with simple strategies such as competitive bidding and strategic inventory limiting being sufficient.

However, when it comes to the second level of this process, it needs more expertise, and becomes increasingly challenging for supply managers to efficiently identify and achieve opportunities that would further lower the cost involved in the supply chain. With the margin of success at this level varying from a cost reduction of just 5% to up to 30%, it is imperative to identify the correct technique, and follow an organized approach to make these techniques work.

The following tips are effective in reducing supply chain management costs:

• Analyze the total cost components that are involved in obtaining a particular product.
• Tweak the various processes involved during the supply chain and see if any reduction in cost is possible.
• See how costs during transaction, which involves ordering, payment, requisition, etc., can be reduced.
• Replace existing materials with cost-effective ones, while still meeting quality regulations. 
• Improve the quality of materials and instruments, for greater efficiency.
• Outsource non-core activities related to purchasing and supply to contractors. 
• Effectively manage surplus material and equipment, with an effort to recover maximum possible cost.
• Standardize material variations and specifications, to cut down on inventory costs. 
• Establish a line of active communication between different teams, so as to share effective practices and coordinate programs, with an ultimate aim of reducing costs.
• Engage the fastest carrier to reduce delays in delivery, and hence expedite cash flow. 
• Identify and eliminate products that are causing monetary losses, and hence also cut down on “loser tax”.
• Engage valuable resources in the most critical areas, which include engineering, supply chain management, design and production.
• Make active efforts to increase labor productivity, and hence reducing production throughput and errors. 
• Do not engage in low bidding, and instead, use effective pre-selection techniques to find vendors who will help in design and development.

McLane Logistics Technology provides state-of-the-art supply chain management software solutions. For more details contact them at 4001 Central Pointe, Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call at 1-800-989-7568.

Distribution Management Software - Distribution Management Systems

Bar Coding And Inventory Management

Bar coding is an effective inventory management tool that can be incorporated into your company’s processes for increased levels of efficiency at all levels. Bar coding essentially consists of a bar coding device that is able to recognize and also create unique barcodes for different products. Most businesses these days are adopting bar coding as a method of professionalized inventory management as there is a decreased level of errors associated with bar coding as compared to manually entering in the products being received or sent for sale. Maintaining a count of inventory at all stages is an important component of inventory management systems and generally requires a significant amount of manpower. Bar coding thus serves as a good replacement to manual methods of record keeping as there are no chances of error in this automated technique.

There is a high level of accuracy associated with bar coding and you are able to exercise better control and supervision over all your products. The best part about bar coding is that it helps to automatically enter the appropriate information into inventory management software as soon as a product is scanned through a bar code sensor leading to an update of all your systems. This helps point out the exact location of your products which can prove to be quite useful whenever you need to find out where a certain item is in the supply chain.

There are several other benefits that accrue to companies using bar coding as a technique of inventory management. There is a significant decrease in the count of lost or pilfered goods as an effective track of inventory can be maintained in the supply chain. It also becomes easier to fix responsibility and accountability of the employees under whom such losses may have occurred. Before going in for a bar coding system, you should conduct a cost benefit analysis of whether the installation of such a system is going to be economically viable for your company in the long run or not. The quantity and kind of products that you deal in should be considered while making this decision. If the variety of goods that you deal in is quite large, a bar coding system can help alleviate many problems associated with handling and recording a massive inventory.

For more information about inventory management, visit McLane Logistics Technology, located at 4001 Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504. You can also call them at 1-800-989-7568.

Inventory Management Software - Inventory Management System

Supply Chain Management: Adds Value To Your Business

The supply chain is a key business process that helps to create and deliver value to your customer. If managed well, it offers enormous opportunities to improve an organization’s profitability. Good supply management helps a business to improve efficiency, customer service and cost effectiveness to compete in demanding markets and stand out from the competition. By streamlining work processes, forming stronger relationships with suppliers, and incorporating technology, you can significantly increase your company’s profitability.

The performance of a company depends on the vendors that supply goods to it, as well as the customers that buy products and services from it. They are linked through their transfer of information, materials and funds.  The collaboration amongst these entities to satisfy customer needs and reward all members of the supply chain is what is referred to as supply chain management. Today, it is a leading process-improvement, cost-saving and revenue-enhancing business strategy.

Key elements of effective supply chain management

• Delivering quality products, on time and within the budget.
• Planning ahead and executing the business deals as per the plan.
• Conducting the business in a professional and ethical manner and charging a fair price for the products and services.
• Focusing on best practices and continuous improvements.
• Using technology to improve services.

Reliability and performance are critical to adding value to your business through supply chain management. High reliability will result in decreased inventories, reduced labor costs, better cash flow, improved lead times, and better reputation. All these factors are crucial at maintaining an edge over other businesses and standing out of the crowd.

The following are important steps in reducing the supply chain costs:

• Order management: It involves keeping track of the product availability. Shipping accuracy, lead times and invoice accuracy,
• Electronic commerce: This involves using standardized computer codes, barcodes, standard numbering system etc.
• Inventory management: It comprises of keeping a tab on obsolescence of goods, price change, vendor managed inventory and communication of inventory optimization schemes.
• Logistics management: Within its purview come products return rates due to shipping damage, cycle time for delivery, proof of delivery etc.
• Sales productivity: This involves pre-sales support, post-sales support, marketing support, and business support.

For more details about supply chain management, contact McLane Logistics Technology. They are located at 4001 Central Pointe, Parkway, Temple, TX 76504. You can also call them at 1-800-989-7568.

Supply Chain Management System - Supply Chain Management Software

Simplify Logistics With Transport Management

Transportation is an important aspect of logistics. An effective transport management system is crucial in addressing and supporting your specific business goals, objectives and challenges. It’s a mandatory element for effective logistics management and it helps keep your logistics more organized and accurate. Transportation management is the backbone of the whole supply chain that helps to deliver the right product in the right quantity, at the right place, at the right time, to the right consumer.

A transport management system helps you plan your logistics business effectively. It involves cutting down on the transport cost, having less lead-time, fewer stops etc. With the help of such a system, businesses can calculate the transport cost and adjust the routes so as to decrease the transportation costs. One can easily find out which routes yield better profit margins and which stops are harming your profit ratio. In addition to this, you are sure to increase your goodwill as customers will enjoy timely delivery of products due to your effective transportation.

An intrinsic part of transport management systems are detailed and customized analytics reports. These reports help you understand your business better and find out the areas that need improvements. You can also compare the performance of various months to see where you stand. An important tool of transport management is the GPS vehicle tracking facility which helps you track your fleet of vehicles with the help of satellites. This facility enables you to give your customers an idea as to when they’ll receive the goods and helps in effective billing and accurate report generation. It also makes it easy to communicate critical data and shipments in real time through a web based portal for collaboration with your logistics suppliers and carriers.

Companies are increasingly switching over to the use of transportation management software to keep their customers happy globally. This software is of immense help in keeping a business organized, efficient and profitable. One can easily keep a tab on the logistics and avoid any chances of confusion, mistakes and miscalculations that can cost you a reliable customer. Whether you operate your own fleet or procure outside carrier services, a transport management system is required to simplify, optimize, and reduce the costs of managing a complex transportation logistics management network. It provides in-depth insight, control and visibility into all the details of your transportation operations.

McLane Logistics Technology provides reliable and customized distribution management/ supply chain management/ logistics management software to give your business an edge over competition. For more details visit them at 4001 Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call us at 1-800-989-7568.

Supply Chain Management System - Supply Chain Management Software

Supply Chain Management: The Backbone Of Service Industries

Supply chain management is a central component of every business chain, which involves delivering the right goods to the right person, at the right time. Even though this might sound as an easy task, when considered at a small level, it is actually a complex multi-step process, which requires perfection and strategy at each stage. The basic objective of any supply chain is to synchronize supply with demand, along with focusing on net value. The importance of supply chain management can be understood by taking into account the different functions performed by this component of the business chain. These function are as follows:

1. Configuration of the business network- This includes ascertaining the number and location of different people involved throughout the process. It starts from the suppliers and producers, extending to the distributers, warehouse managers, and finally the consumers.
2. Devising a strategy for distribution- This step includes various stages, which start from determining whether the operating control shall be centralized, decentralized, or shared. The next step is analyzing the best mode for delivery. Direct shipment is a practical option for most businesses. Others include cross docking, pool point shipping, and direct store delivery. The supply chain management also needs to determine the best mode of transportation to suit the company’s needs as well as budget. 
3. Proper coordination for low logistics cost- It is the duty of the SCM to ensure that all the above mentioned processes are carried out at the lowest possible cost. The key in this step is trade-offs, which are vital for optimizing logistics costs. Making choices like Full Truckload versus Low Than Truckload shipments, is the role of the SCM, and can have a significant effect on the end-process net cost.
4. Effective inter-process communication- Considering the various entities involved in the complete process, it is essential to have a binding link between each process. This role is played by the SCM. All potential collaboration is taken care of, and vital information about factors like demand signals, transportation, and forecasts, is effectively communicated to the concerned persons. Timely cash flow throughout the process is also taken care of by the SCM.
5. Inventory management- The final, yet probably most important role of the SCM is managing the inventory. With the inventory not in order, none of the aforementioned processes can be carried out smoothly.

Considering all the roles played by the Supply Chain Management in any business enterprise, it would not be an overstatement to term it as the backbone of the service industries.

For more details about supply chain management, visit Mclane Logistics Technology located at 4001 Central Pointe, Parkway, Temple , TX 76504. You can also call them at 1-800-989-7568.

Supply Chain Management System - Supply Chain Management Software