Released on: February 27, 2008, 3:04 pm

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: Mobile Warehouse Optimization Critical to Process
Manufacturers

Press Release Body: The term escape velocity refers to the speed that is necessary
for an object to overcome gravity and soar into space. EVS provides direct
applications for businesses looking for a catalyst, not just a software package.
Process manufacturers require the best software solution coupled with industry
experience that will accelerate the velocity with which they race towards their
goals. The gravity of status-quo opposes aggressive, cutting edge organizations as
they strive towards high quality and short lead time delivery while reducing
inventories and operating costs.

Manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler profiles the importance of mobile
warehouse optimization in the current issue of AutomationMedia.com. The entire
article may be read at http://automationmedia.com/TRCutler.asp?ID=%2042.


By minimizing the learning curve on new processes and technologies employees will
adopt to the new culture more easily and rapidly, thus increasing the return on
investment of the new application. Evan Garber, President of Escape Velocity System
(www.evs-sw.com) suggests, "Effective warehouse automation systems can navigate,
lookup, and validate entries with the scan of a single barcode. Warehouse and plant
functions handled by these mobile technologies eliminate the need for employees to
hit a series of keys and commands to get to a function within the system, lookup
selected data, and risk putting the correct information in the wrong field." No
longer will the lot number accidentally end up in the location field. By Increasing
the visibility and accuracy of warehouse operations lean efficiencies are realized.


Increase the accuracy, speed, and effectiveness of the receiving department with a
Mobile Warehouse Smart-Barcode technology quickly teaches employees how to perform
the receiving function. With a couple scans from a barcode reader, inventory is
received, compared to the purchase order, and validated against the receiving rules
that have been clearly defined; labels are then printed with desired information. By
empowering receiving personnel to enter inventory receipts at the dock lean
efficiencies are realized.

According to Garber, "The benefits of real time data entry with a Mobile Warehouse,
empowers employees to capture data at the point of origination providing faster and
more accurate inventory reporting."

Creating a Pull environment - caps the amount of WIP in the system, and ensures that
processes are driven by actual demand. In a near to overcapacity environment,
controlling the release of work into a work queue is equivalent to controlling the
"gas pedal" on the lead time of a process. Garber suggests, "By regulating how work
is released into job-specific work queues, companies can greatly reduce lead time
variability, which is shown to lead to higher work efficiency in a near capacity
environment. The relationship between amount of WIP and lead time is described by
"Little's Law", a cornerstone of Lean understanding. Controlling WIP can also can
increase velocity of cash flow by prioritizing inputs, and making sure that the
higher value processes get priority."

Warehouse management often serves as one of the most costly components of a growing
organization. Centrally managing orders to reduce costs, automating the receiving
and put-away process to improve productivity, achieving optimal inventory control,
keeping customer commitments with error-free order fulfillment, integrating shipping
operations, and increasing productivity with mobile computing are central to
cost-containment and short-term ROI of mobile warehouse technology investments.
While change is often difficult, a change in technology systems, processes, and
culture need not be difficult for employees. Adoption of new lean solutions must be
a central element of strategic planning and operations automation excellence.


Escape Velocity Systems
www.evs-sw.com
Evan Garber
President
solutions@evs-sw.com
303.494.1765 x114



Web Site: http://www.evs-sw.com

Contact Details: Escape Velocity Systems
2530 55th St.
Suite 204
Boulder, CO 80301
303-494-1765