iws invar warehouse system€¦ · iws invar warehouse system summary our software solution, iws,...

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InvarSystems’softwaresolution,IWS,isanintegratedwarehousemanagementandcontrolsystemthatprovidesasingleintegratedsolution,allowingyoutoTAKEandKEEPCONTROL.

IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

PRODUCTBROCHURE

TakeControl.

invarsystems.com

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

CONTENTS

SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………………………….3

• WhatisIWSandhowcanithelpme?• GeneralIWSFunctions• WarehouseManagementSystem(WMS)/StockroomControl

SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES…..………………………………………………………………9• WarehouseControlSystem(WCS)• SortationControl• AdditionalModuleInformation

CONFIGURATION……………………………………………………………………………….12• ProductStructure&Elements

IMPLEMENTATION…………………………………………………………………………….13• AgileImplementationProcess

TECHNOLOGY..……………………………………………………………………………….…14• UserFriendly• MicrosoftTechnologies• IntelServers• WebServices/EthernetCommunications

SUPPORT…………………………….…………………………………………………….….…15• Comprehensive24/7Care

CONNECT…………………………….…………………………………………………….….…16

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUMMARY

Our software solution, IWS, is a warehouse management & control software solution that connectspeoplewithautomation.Oursoftwareprovidesintegratedcontrolformanualandautomatedfacilities.IWS interfaceswithupperandlowerlevelsystemsandcanbeimplementedasacompletesolutionorintegratedintoexistingclientsoftwaresystems.IWSiscomprisedofseveralmodulesandsub-systemsthatcanbecustomizedtofityourindividualneeds.Ourapproachistoevaluateeachclient’sneedsandprovidethebestsolutiontoenableyoutotakecontrolofyouroperations.Oursolutionshelpyoutakecontrolofyourwarehousewithaccuracy,efficiencyandproductivity.

IWSoffersmodulesforallaspectsofwarehousemanagementandcanbeusedforsingle-siteandmulti-site operations. The complete IWS platform includes the following sub-systems which house manycustomizable modules: Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Stockroom Control, WarehouseControlSystem(WCS)andSortationControl.

Whileeachapplicationhasuniquerequirements,IWScontainsconfigurableapplicationmodulesusedasthebaseforeachsolution.Eachconfiguredmodulecontainsstandardsthatarecommonacrossmanywarehouses andprovides the startingpoint forwhicha solutionwillbe configured. The toolswithinIWSallowforeasyintegration/updatetothesebasemodules,allowingInvartodeliveraproven,stablesolutiontoourcustomersthatcanchangeastheneedsofthebusinesschange.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUMMARY

IWSWAREHOUSEMANAGEMENTSYSTEM

ModuleswithinIWSmanageandcontroloperationalfunctionsincluding:

• hostinterface• receiving&shipping• ordermanagementandplanning,includingcontinuouswavemanagement• orderprocessing• replenishment• picking• inventorycontrol• sortationandputprocesses• routing• automationintegration• consolidation• shipping• otheroperationalrequirements

SomeoftheadvantagesofusingInvarSystems’softwaresolution,IWS,are:

• increasedinventoryaccuracyby10%–20%• reducedinventoryandlaborcostsby20%–30%• reducedforklifttraveltimebyupto50%

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUMMARY

IWSis:FeaturerichintegratedWMS/WCSProductKeyfeaturesincludesystemmanagementandoptimization,realtimeintegrationandcontrol,routing,errorrecovery,graphicalinterfaceandfullmonitoringandreporting.Configurable,scalable,upgradeableWhileeachapplicationhasuniquerequirements,IWScontainsconfigurableapplicationmodulesusedasthebaseforeachsolution.Duetothetoolsbeingconfigurable,itallowstheusertoputdatawhereitismostneeded.

UserFriendlyIWSusesuserfriendlytoolstosmoothoperatoracceptance.Itiswellacceptedbytheuser,IT,support,operations,andmanagementstaff.Screensaredevelopedwithafamiliarlookandfeeltomakeuseseamlessandcomfortablefortheuser.BuiltwithLatestTechnologyIWSusesthelatestMicrosofttechnologies.Eachconfiguredmodulecontainsstandardsthatarecommonacrossmanyoperationsandprovidesthestartingpointforwhichaparticularsolutionwillbedeveloped.ImplementedwithAgileMethodologyThisprocessisbuildusinganalysis,plandevelopment,systemconfiguration,emulatedandlivetesting,usertrainingtoprovidefullsupport.FullySupportedYou’llreceivepersonalsupportfromourexpertswhohavedecadesofindustryexperience.Weoffercomprehensive24/7supportcontractswithproductupgradesandfuturereleases.Ourexpertscanmonitoryoursystemremotelytomaintainsystemperformanceandcustommonitoringplansareavailabletomeetyourneeds.Evaluationsandpreventativemaintenanceareavailableaswell.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUMMARY

ADDITIONALMODULEINFORMATION

ReceivingThe module performs processes associated with bring stock into a facility and preparing it forhandling and processing. Functionality includes: ASN input and reconciliation, item/case/palletreceipt,POreconciliation,unitloadconfiguration,integrationwithorderprocessingforcrossdocking,hostsystemreporting.

PutawayThemodule,inconjunctionwithmovementrouter,performstheprocessesassociatedwithputaway.Itmaintainsputawayrulesalongwithstoragezoneconfiguration.

OrderManagementThismoduleperformsplanning logicassociatedwithorderfulfillment.Functionalityincludes:Orderentryandprocessing,outboundloadplanning,waveplanning,wave/load/orderrelease,andsoftandhardstockallocation.

OrderExecutionThismoduleperformsfunctionsassociatedwithorderexecutionandselection.Functionalityincludesforward reserve and replenishment(top off and demand based), dynamic and static pick slotmanagement,pickingexecutionviaapplicabletechnologies(RF,paperandvoicepicking,etc.),orderconsolidation, sortation/put process, cross dock fulfillment, labelling of picked loads(standard andcustomerspecific),outboundloadassembly,outboundvehicleloading,hostupdating.

ShippingModuleThismodule functionality that occursduring the shippingoperation. Configurationoptions for theshippingmodule include: Identification of areas allow allocation and areas that are valid shippingdestinations(i.e.DockDoors),Allow/Disallowtheordertobeshippedshort,allowpriorityalterationof order after order activation, allow consolidation of SKU’s on single ship pallet/container, PrintPalletShipbarcodeandPrintOrderSummarymanifest.

MovementRouterModuleThismoduledefinesthemovement/routesofproductcontainersinthesystem.Configurationallowsto identifytheroutinglocationsandflowconnectthe locationstogetherforpossibleroutingpaths.Notethatmultiplepathsmayexistfromlocationsinwhichthemovementrouterwillselectthebestpathbasedonthecurrentactivity/statusofthesystem.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUMMARY

ADDITIONALMODULEINFORMATION

RFConfigurationModuleThismodulecontrolstheinteractiontotheRFterminalsinthesystem.Configurationoptionsinclude:Scanthelocationbarcodeonputaway,MoveInstructions:FullyDirected,DirectedbyZone,OperatorChooses,DepositInstructions:FullyDirected,OperatorChooses,Pickup/Putdown/Pickconfirmations(pallet/location/item/checkdigits/buttonconfirmation)andAllowForkTruckoperatortolocatetheproductinadifferentlocationthantheIWSselected(manualsystems).AutomationModulesTheIWSproductarchitectureconsistsofacontrolprocessandacommunicationprocessforeachtypeofautomationsupport.Thecontrolprocessallowsforgenericparameterstobeconfiguredforthetypeofautomation device being interacted. The communication process is manufacturer specific, with thecommandprotocolbeingdifferentfrommanufacturetomanufacture.Thefollowingisalistofdevicesfor which Invar currently has control/communication processes in place: Conveyor Systems, ASRScranes, shuttle systems,Palletizers,Sortationequipment,Monorails,Orderselectionautomation(picktolight,puttolight,voice),Robots,carousels,VLMs,andrelatedequipment.WorkFlowManager(WFM)AuniqueelementofIWSdevelopmentistheWorkFlowManager.IWSstandardmodulesconsistofaseriesoflogicalworkflowsexecutedbytheWFMtoachievethedesiredresults.Newworkflowscanbecreated/added to the standard modules (i.e. receiving module) decision logic to achieve applicationspecificrequirements.GUIEnvironmentIWS contains standard screen functions in support or warehousing and automation control. Thesescreens are enhanced for particular facility requirements including warehouse environment, userdevices,touchscreensormousetobeused,andCustomerpreferences tobuttons, icon,andfunctionkeys.IWS GUI solutions are developed utilizingWindows Presentation Foundation (WPF).WPF developedscreens result in an aesthetically pleasing look for the user, while providing a virtual unlimiteddevelopmentlibraryforscreendesign,datadisplay,graphicalrepresentationanduseroptionselection.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUMMARY

GENERALIWSFUNCTIONSUserAuthorizationModuleUseraccesstoIWSiscontrolledthroughthismoduleorthroughactivedirectory.ThismoduleprovidestheIWSloginverificationandcontrolsthefunctionsforwhichtheusermayaccess.ConfigurationincludesthedefinitionofUserprofiles(i.e.Admin,Supervisor,Maintenance,etc.),UsernameandPasswordcreation,andtheassignmentoffunctionsthataprofilecanaccess.StockstatusStockandlocationswithinIWScancarryseveralstatusesandthesecanbeconfiguredtosuittheoperation.Eachstatuscodecanbeflaggedwithintheconfigurationtopreventstockwiththatstatus,orinthatlocation,frombeingused.IWSprovidesfourfunctionsforchangingstatus;twoforlocationsandtwoforstock.Theseareasfollows:Changethestatusofstockinasinglebin,Changethestatusofasinglelocation,ChangethestatusofallstockmatchingselectedcriteriaandChangethestatusofarangeoflocations.Whenchangingthestatusofstockmatchingselectedcriteria,theWCSreportsthenumberofboxesthatwillbeaffectedbeforeaskingforconfirmation.ReportingFull reportingwithuserdefinedreports,Eventscheduling,Rulebasedoperations,Eventreportingtoscreens,email,SMS,Masterdatahostinterface(articles,customers,etc.)

CustomdatafieldsMostoftheoperationsdatatablescanhavecustomdatafieldsdefined.Thisallowscustomerspecificdatatobecarriedandreportedandallowsnewdatarequirementstobeaddedatalatertimewithoutmakingsoftwarechangestothesystem.AlarmsAlarmsareprovidedtoalerttheusersthataneventhasoccurredthatneedsattention.Alleventsandalarmsarerecordedinthetransactionjournalalongwiththedateandtimetheeventoralarmoccurred.Eventsandalarmscanbeconfiguredtocarryoutotheractions,asrequired.Theseincluderaisingausernotification(showinganeventflaginthebottomrighthandofthescreensofselectedusers),sendingemailmessages,andactivatinganaudible/visualalarm.Differentalarmsandeventsareconfiguredwithdifferentactions.DataaccessbyothersystemsSQLServerallowsintegrationwithotherMicrosoftproductsandtherearemanythird-partyproductsavailabletoprovideaccess.AccesstoSQLServerisstrictlycontrolledtopreventunauthorizedaccesstoinformation.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES

WAREHOUSECONTROLSYSTEM(WCS)

InvarSystems’warehousecontrolsystem,withinIWS,providesintegratedcontrolforautomatedfacilities.OptimalperformanceofautomatedequipmentisprovidedusingthekeyfeaturesofourWCSincludingsystemmanagementandoptimization,realtimeintegrationandcontrol,routing,errorrecovery,graphicalinterfaceandfullmonitoringandreporting–productivity,KPI,maintenance,historicaldataretrieval,etc.IWSisbuiltforspeed,controllinghighspeedautomatedequipmentwithsub100millisecondresponsetimes.OurWCSoperationswithexistingWMSorfullInvarWarehouseSystem.

OurWCSisconfigurableandrulesdrivenallowingyoutotakecontrol.CreateandmaintainrulestoprovideadetaileddefinitionofSKUmanagement,putawayandpickingprocess,locationselectionprocess,routing,users,andresources.

Thewarehousecontrolmoduleisusedfor:

• Persontogoodsorderpicking• Goodstopersonorderpicking• Pickfacemanagement• Dynamicandstaticpickslots• Demand/consumptionreplenishment• Outboundloadassemblyandprocessing• Crossdocking• Fullrangeofautomatedequipment,manualprocesses,hostsystems,data

collection,RFID

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES

WAREHOUSECONTROLSYSTEM

SystemManagementandOptimizationFeaturerichfunctionalitytoimprovetheperformanceandoperationofthesystemincluding:PutawayandInventoryControl,ResourceManagement,OrderManagementandReal-timeFlowManagement/Routing

AdvancedStorage/SelectionAlgorithmsPallet,Case,andItemBasedRulesInboundrulesbasedonminimizingstopsandaisles,stockspread,co-location,pre-plannedorders,resourcemanagement.Outboundrulesbasedonlotcontrol,inventoryturns,FIFO,LIFO,wavecompletion,resourcemanagement,minimizingstopsandaisles.Commandinterleaving,providingsimultaneousinboundandoutboundactivity.

MonitoringandReportingProcessandtransactionloggingwithconfigurablealarmingandreportingtools,includingdashboards,graphicaldisplays,e-mailsandtextmessages.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES

WAREHOUSECONTROLSYSTEMRealTimeRoutingandControlRealtimerouting,managementandcontrolforautomatedequipment,manualprocesses,externalsystems,anddatacollectiondevices,AS/RS,ConveyorandSortationSystems,Carousels(Horizontal,Vertical,Shuttles),PicktoLight,PuttoLight,Voice,RF,AutomatedPicking/PackingProcessesandRobotics,HostandExternalSystems,RFID,PrintandApply,Scanners

ErrorRecoveryFullmanagementoferrorrecoveryprocesswithemphasison:Safety,InventoryIntegrity,RapidandMeaningfulNotification,Informationmanagementfortrendingandrootcauseanalysis

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

CONFIGURATION

IWSisconfigurable,scalableandupgradeabletogrowwithyourbusinessandtakecontrol.Itfeaturesproductstructurewithdataandparameterdrivenfunctionality.Setupandchangescanoccurwithoutsoftwaremodificationsanduses“Wizards”forstandarditems.Italsofeaturesgraphicalscreensforcustomizeditems.

Pre-definedconfigurationelementsinclude:

•Sitelayouts;bothinternalandexternal•Unitsofmeasure•Tasksandworkflows•Handlingequipment•Usersandroles•Eventsandeventhandling•OrderandShippingdocumentation•Printers•Movementroutes•Inventorycheckingrules•Labellayouts•Reports

IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

IMPLEMENTATION

Includedinouragileimplementationprocessis:

•Operationsreviewandanalysistooptimizethesolutionandimplementationplan

•Flexibleconfigurationprocessallowssetupandtestearlyintheprojectcycle.

•Testingofautomationandequipmentwithintegratedemulators

•Trainingwiththeconfiguredsystem

•Earlylifesupportandassistance

•UserFriendlyToolsSmoothOperatorAcceptance

InvarSystemsprovidesfullsupportthroughouttheprojecttoensureasuccessfulimplementationisachieved.

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TECHNOLOGY

IWSusesthelatestinformationandhardwaretechnologies.Itisdesignedtotakefulladvantageofdevelopmenttoolstosimplifyconfigurationandmaximizesupport.Technologiesinclude:

•MicrosoftWindows.NETclient/serverapplication•VisualstudiodevelopmentenvironmentandC#languageforGUIdevelopment•Webservicesforcommunicationsbetweenprocesses•MicrosoftSQLServerrelationaldatabase

Standardhardwareconfigurationbasedon:

•RedundantIntelserversforwarmbackup•StandardWindowsworkstations•Ethernetcommunicationstoprinters,scanners,otherperipherals

IWSiswellacceptedbytheuser,IT,support,operations,andmanagementstaff.Keytechnologyfeaturesare:

•LatestMicrosofttechnologies

•Screenswithfamiliarlookandfeelcomfortableforoperators

•Configurablemonitoringandreportingtoolsputinformationwheremostneeded

•Configurablelabels,reports,RF

•Accesstotasksandfunctionssecuredthroughlog-incontrolandprocess

•Personalizeddisplays,reports,“favorites”,“mostused”functionsbyuser

IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

SUPPORT

Ourteamhasdecadesofindustryexperiencehelpingourclientstakecontroloftheiroperations.Thisexperienceisanintegralpartofeverysolutionandthesupportweoffer.

Thanks,inparttooursizeandexperience,you’llreceivepersonalsupportfromourexperts.Yourneedsareattendedtobyoneofourprofessionalsandarenotpassedofftoaself-serviceautomatedmachine.

Weoffercomprehensive24/7supportcontractswithproductupgradesandfuturereleases.Operationsauditsandreviewsarealsoavailableforongoingfunctionalityupgradesandcontinuousimprovements.

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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem

CONNECT

CONTACTUSTODAYTO

TAKECONTROLOFYOUROPERATIONS.

Cranfield Atlanta Erlanger GrandRapidsUniversityWay 1718PeachtreeSt.NW1895AirportExchangeBlvd. 5234PlainfieldAveNECranfieldTechnologyPark Atlanta,GA30309 Suite234 SuiteCCranfieldBedfordshire +1(404)418-4971 Erlanger,KY41018 GrandRapids,MI49525UKMK430EQ +1(859)380-6211 +1(616)304-3979UnitedKingdom+44(0)1234-436000

info@invarsystems.com

invarsystems.com