AIMS WMS
Even with a long laundry list of capabilities, any good WMS must do two things: provide measurable improvements in efficiency and accuracy. All design decisions that Minerva makes in regards to AIMS features revolve around this principle.
- Rules driven, system directed transactions provide operators with the information needed to perform a task, not mindlessly wander and search for locations or parts throughout the warehouse
- A real-time WMS updates inventories as transactions take place, not locking the system to perform only one warehouse function at a time
- Reports provide up to the second information, and immediate feedback to managers prevents disruptions to your supply chain operations
- Utilizing RF mobile computers drastically increases accuracy over paper based inventory management, barcode verification scans on products and locations capture errors when the product hits your dock door and before they arrive at your customer’s door
- AIMS captures detailed information on all warehouse transactions, providing measurable labor savings, measurable reductions in inventory levels, and measurable declines in inventory write-offs
These main tenets in our design philosophy provide the base for AIMS WMS, a software solution field-proven with over 20 years of service. Some of the key features are listed below, but this is by no means exhaustive, call us today to discuss your unique challenges and requirements.
Real-time, system directed WMS
- Inventory is updated in real-time, allocation and reallocation is done in real-time, communication to external systems in real-time
- Operators are directed by the system via RF mobile computers thru all warehouse transactions, including barcode validations
- All transactions are logged, providing a comprehensive audit trail
Inventory Control within the four walls and beyond
- Track inventory by part, lot, serial, expiration, UCC, etc.
- Multiple alias for a given part
- Rules driven transactions and inventory tracking in multiple storage areas (rack, bulk, piece pick, automated equipment, freezer, cooler, hazmat, etc.)
IT Environments
- AIMS WMS runs on Windows Server or various Unix server (AIX, Solaris) operating systems
- MS SQL or Oracle as the database manager
- AIMS WMS runs on client desktop machines running Windows XP or higher
- AIMS WMS runs on RF mobile computers running Windows Mobile 5 or higher
Receiving
- Planned and unplanned receipts
- Verification against PO/ASN/EDI
- Pallet tear-down, pallet build for put-away as operations dictate
- Receive and transfer into inspection, quarantine, sampling, etc.
Put-away
- Slotting-AIMS WMS will find the optimal location for the product based on best fit algorithm
- Takes into account part velocity, storage requirements, store by lot/expiration requirements, top off of existing inventory, replenish to primary locations before put-away to secondary, etc.
- Garbage in, garbage out—a fluid flow of materials starts with receiving and put-away, not pick/pack/ship
Pick/Pack/Ship
- AIMS WMS downloads orders from host, allocates based on system logic
- Supports FIFO, FEFO, LIFO, selects the appropriate locations based on standard case and pallet sizes, inventory availability in primary and secondary locations
- Continuous flow or wave management for order allocation
- Supports multiple pick methodologies: pick and pass, pick and pack, pick to tote, batch pick, pick and sort, etc.
- Supports cartonization (also called containerization, pick to ship carton dimensions based on product dimensions)
- Pick kits and BOM to stock or to order
- Interfaces to TMS, parcel systems, and other third party manifest systems to eliminate manual data entry, automatic printing of packing and shipping documents
- Available pack and hold, consolidated order staging, misc. outbound staging modules available
Cycle Counts
- Full ABC cycle count module
- System generated, supervisor generate, or host generated cycle counts
- Glance count functionality, empty bin count functionality
- Custom logic available for stringent cycle count requirements for your industry (i.e. pharmaceutical, military compliance, etc.)
Interface to MHE and other devices
- Interface to horizontal and vertical carousels, vertical lifts, cranes
- Interface to MHE accessory equipment like light trees, sort bars, and task complete buttons/stations
- Interface to conveyor controls
- Interface to barcode and label printers
- Interface to RF mobile terminals
- Interface to weigh scales, Cubiscan devices
- Voice technologies
- Pick to Light systems
- RFID readers
