ViaOptimize Promotes More Effective Supply Chain Processes Through Scheduling,
Capacity Planning and Dynamic Slotting Modules
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. and CHICAGO, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Provia Software,
a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, announced the
availability of a new product solution for supply chain execution
optimization. The product suite, ViaOptimize, is an advanced step for
companies who have automated their facilities with Provia's warehouse
management system and are now looking at optimization as a key area of
improvement, efficiency and cost reduction. The product announcement was made
today at a noon press conference at Frontline Supply Chain Week in Chicago.
"For years AMR has seen distribution centers struggle with the challenges
of managing daily cost, equipment, inventory and personnel issues -- all
constraints that can negatively affect a DC's ability to operate profitably,"
commented Larry Lapide, vice president of supply chain management, AMR
Research. "Bringing optimization capabilities into the warehouse has the
potential to quickly deliver an incremental improvement in productivity,
thereby justifying the investment in this type of system."
Provia is the first supply chain execution software provider to offer a
product specifically designed to handle optimization tasks. Already in the
implementation stages with one of the world's leading entertainment retailers,
the ViaOptimize suite consists of three products: Scheduler, Capacity Planner,
and Dynamic Slotting. These applications, when combined with the ViaWare
Warehouse Management System (WMS), allow distribution facilities to deliver
maximum throughput and resource utilization through the optimization of orders
throughout the facility.
"The benefits of this real-time supply chain execution optimization suite
are numerous for all of our customers, regardless of size and complexity,"
said Paul Crist, vice president of sales and marketing, Provia Software. "By
allowing our customers to take into account existing and changing constraints,
and order configurations, ViaOptimize maximizes throughput, efficiency and
quality, while making the most out of the company's existing resources."
"The products in the ViaOptimize suite enhance the ability of ViaWare WMS
to manage order execution schedules by providing real-time feedback of actual
versus scheduled performance," said John Pulling, vice president and chief
operating officer of Provia Software. "When unexpected events occur, such as
inventory shortages or equipment breakdowns, the Scheduler is immediately
notified, an updated schedule is produced that takes into account the new
constraints, and the WMS workflow in the distribution center is automatically
changed through task management."
Scheduler - The Scheduler product considers the potential constraints or
bottlenecks, including available labor, equipment, value-added services, order
complexity and transportation requirements that can affect the optimal output
of a facility and produces a constraint-based daily schedule that includes
order release times, requirements for warehouse equipment, personnel and
assembly workstations, in addition to detailed schedules for staging lanes,
dock doors and carrier appointments. The schedules are transmitted to the
ViaWare WMS where new Wave Plans are generated and released to the DC
workforce. Real-time feedback of actual versus scheduled performance allows
for "on-the-fly" adjustments to the schedule if an unexpected event occurs.
In the case of an unexpected event, the Scheduler is immediately rerun and an
updated schedule is produced, taking into account the new constraints and
allowing the maximized output of the facility to continue uninterrupted.
This real-time optimization of the fulfillment process will enable Provia
clients to configure complex, multi-step kitting and assembly operations in
make-to-stock, make-to-order and configure-to-order environments by trading
off constraints like temporary or overtime labor costs, equipment
capabilities, transportation costs, inventory availability and required
delivery dates to ensure the optimal sequence in which orders should be
released for processing.
Capacity Planner - The Capacity Planner product looks at all the work and
related costs to fulfill orders and perform activities in the distribution
center over a several day span and allows managers to evaluate the associated
cost trade-offs. As an example, the Capacity Planner evaluates the work and
true cost required to get a particular order out the door and to its
destination to meet a required delivery deadline. The cost/effort of using
temporary/overtime labor and sending the item out today versus using expedited
shipping and sending it out tomorrow can now be accurately compared and
evaluated so that planners can develop the most effective labor, operations,
and transportation plan that delivers orders on time and at the lowest
possible cost.
The Scheduler and Capacity Planner products are OEMed from Taylor
Scheduling Software (http://www.taylor.com ).
Dynamic Slotting - The Dynamic Slotting product continually evaluates the
"popularity" of items in a distribution center and makes sure that the items
picked the most often are rotated to positions closer to the dock doors. As
items lose favor due to seasonality or other reason, they are placed
continually farther from the dock doors. "Having faster moving items closer
to the dock doors reduces the travel time required to pick those items and
increases the productivity of your labor force," added Provia's Pulling.
"Automating the reslotting process allows for continual optimization, rather
than relying on staff to notice that an item isn't moving as quickly."
"This is the first time that our clients will have the ability to meld
shipping requirements with the various constraints that affect a distribution
center environment each day to deliver a greater level of supply chain
execution optimization than has ever been available," said Ken Lewis, Provia
President and CEO. "Provia Software is committed to ensuring that our clients
offer unparalleled customer service and realize heightened cost savings, while
also maintaining a low total cost of ownership for all of our products."
About Provia Software - With over 500 global installations, Provia
delivers The Power of Delivery(TM) for such enterprise and third-party
logistics (3PL) clients as Gillette, Menlo Worldwide, Graybar Electric, US
Freightways, Spencer Gifts, Lanier Worldwide, and Owens Corning. Provia's
Supply Chain Execution solutions include RFID-enabled warehousing,
transportation, order and yard management products seamlessly integrated
together with web-based visibility tools to create a real-time, end to end
supply chain execution solution. For more information, visit http://www.provia.com .
SOURCE Provia Software
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Related links:
http://www.provia.com
http://www.taylor.com
CONTACT:
John P. Clark, Manager of Marketing of Provia
Software, +1-616-974-8689, john.clark@provia.com
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