Warehouse Control System Provides Distinctions from WMS According to Industry Expert
Released on: August 29, 2008, 3:49 pm
Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler
Industry: Software
Press Release Summary: Warehouse Control System Provides Distinctions from WMS According to Industry Expert
Press Release Body: Kevin Tedford is a seasoned industry veteran with over thirty years experience in distribution. Tedford recently explained the difference between a Warehouse Control System (WCS) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) noting, "They may sound the same, but they perform very different functions in the warehouse. Think of the WCS as bridging the gap between corporate software applications such as ERP and WMS Host systems, and the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and/or PC-based cell controllers that control the material handling equipment."
Tedford's worldwide experience includes Red Prairie (formerly McHugh Software International) where he was one of the original partners, and Forte Industries where he served as Vice President of Technical Operations. In 2005, he founded KT Consulting, LLC. During his career, he has helped companies achieve distribution related operational efficiency and productivity goals through the appropriate use of material handling automation equipment, information systems and business process improvements. Recently QC Software, the leading WCS (warehouse control system) provider published Tedford's response to some of the key roles of a WCS. According to Tedford, "If you have a small warehouse, it's possible to keep manual records or a spreadsheet, one's own memory can usually suffice or you can ask a fellow employee where the product is stored. But as the size of your operation and facility expands, those methods are insufficient and fail miserably. WMS, (warehouse management systems) in general, are deployed in facilities to address the inventory control problem when a facility grows. The primary purpose of warehouse management software is to control the movement and storage of materials and process the associated transactions, including shipping, receiving, putaway, picking, cycle counting, etc."
Tedford also pointed out some of the limitations of a WMS suggesting, "Many warehouse management systems communicate with material handling equipment such as Pick-to-Light (PTL), conveyors, A-Frame, Print and Apply, etc. In most cases, the WMS is interfaced directly to those pieces of equipment. The limitation of the WMS is that it doesn't link all of those areas of automation together. The WMS can download data to the PTL or A-Frames, telling them what picks are required from that area, but it lacks the ability to orchestrate the flow of material through the warehouse. It is safe to say that anyone that's been in a high volume facility understands that the ebb and flow of material doesn't go smoothly. Therefore, if you have one section of the warehouse controlled by a material handling subsystem running at a certain rate, and another area running at a different rate, you've created an imbalance."
Tedford believes a WCS help address the imbalance because, "Warehouse Control Systems were designed to control the warehouse floor and islands of automation. They provide the capability to route products, and regulate the workflow between areas of automation. They provide real-time information directly to management to enable them to take the necessary action in an environment that's never constant. The mix of orders in a warehouse on any given day can vary consider ably. The warehouse manager needs to move people from one area to another to handle the 'hot spots'. The WCS provides management with the visibility and the tools to manage the systems and the people by deploying them in the most effective manner-to get the right product out the door, at the right time in an uninterrupted, steady flow." QC Software is the leading provider of Tier 1 warehouse control systems to the warehousing and distribution industries. Since 1996, QC Software, utilizing state of the art technology combined with extensive research, development, and rigorous testing, has developed the QC Enterprise suite of products. Designed to be modular in nature, easily configurable, and platform independent, this highly scalable solution satisfies the needs of any size warehouse.
QC Software, Inc. www.qcsoftware.com Jerry List JerryList@qcsoftware.com (513) 469-1424
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