MART warehouse control software (WCS) is critical to the success of automated distribution logistics solutions.
It creates a single user inter face for order fulfilment and pro vides the wide-ranging function ality necessary to drive and effi ciently manage the range of transactions that take place daily in busy distribution centres.
Dematic’s WCS interfaces with the user’s host computer, typical ly an ERP system or, in some cases, a WMS, facilitating real- time operations control.
It monitors the flow of materi als and orders, constantly report ing order status back to the host, enabling global inventory data to be updated in real time, and directs other processes including automated invoicing and ship ping documentation.
WCS provides real-time control and visibility of order fulfilment systems and personnel. It inter faces order picking technologies — voice picking, pick-to-light, put- to-light and RF picking, plus automated systems including conveyors, ASRS, carousels, a- frames and ergonomic picking stations — into a single integrat ed order fulfilment system.
The software enables users to implement a variety of order picking technologies and apply them across alternative distribu tion methodologies including zone routing, batch picking, buffering and sequencing.
This enables the most appro priate solution to be applied to different areas of the product movement curve, optimising per formance and minimising costs.
WCS provides immediate access to data to assist order management and decision sup port, dynamically manage the workflow, and balance the work load across the available order picking resources to maximise efficiency and productivity: order detail with zone-by-zone status; container contents and location tracking; picker and zone productivity reports; work load reports to aid allocation of resources; zone map selection to aid workload balancing; and reports of short orders.
Dematic WCS delivers its func tionality and real-time systems integration capabilities through a number of software sub-sys tems including: LCS (Location Control System for identifying stock put-away locations); MFC (Material Flow Controller for managing the routing of goods on conveyors); OFS (Order Fulfilment System to manage and balance the workload); PTL (Pick-to-Light functional soft ware); MIS (Management Information System).