Page 13 - Logistics News - Issue 01 - 2024.indd

WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

resourced and chaotic one. Both had successful deliver. Give me the overworked, under-resourced and
outcomes, both followed their own distinct paths. chaotic lean team any day.

At one extreme, the WMS implementation team Maximise your ROI
has clear air to execute their tasks. The WMS team A good WMS implementation team will always be able
has open access to all in the client’s team. They can to highlight a client’s supply chain issues. No WMS will
discuss operational issues, understand constraints, reach its potential return on investment while these
agree on solutions and proceed. Finding time for remain unfixed. Why put new sails on a boat with a
training is often the challenge, but an efficient hull covered in barnacles? The best time to fix those
implementation gives more time to train the client’s problems is before the WMS implementation begins.
team. Improvements made upstream afterwards may conflict
with the new WMS. Are those WMS conflicts identifiable
At the other extreme, the WMS implementation is a and fixable? Yes. Is it ideal and efficient? No.
daily grind of challenges. The client team is a challenge
to meet with. They find it difficult to explain their Spend time to save time
processes. They disagree on the solutions. Time to Successful WMS implementations depend on a foundation
work on the WMS implementation shrinks. Milestones of solid supply chain processes. With all due respect to your
stretch further apart. The WMS implementation team senior management, you know the state of your upstream
must split its time. WMS implementation stops while processes. You know where the ‘rocks’ lie. You know what
supply chain processes are rebuilt. These aren’t only needs fixing. Fixing known upstream problems today will
within the warehouse operation, but upstream too. save time tomorrow. Remember, you want your new WMS
to deliver its full capability. Your new WMS can deliver
Implementations are best for clients who know what increased efficiency, accuracy and inventory control. You
they’re doing, what they need and are keen for you to want more than mild relief from upstream problems. •

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