Warehouse automation can help you increase throughput, streamline processes, reduce overhead, and minimize human error in your facility. Warehousing software and the systems it supports are essential to automating key processes and collecting valuable data, but it’s important to choose the right software system for the job. In this article, we’ll review how to choose the best warehouse management solutions for your facility.

Warehouse Management System (WMS)

The most general type of warehouse management solution is the WMS, or warehouse management system. A WMS is a software system that can help coordinate the many of the tasks you usually carry out in your facility, such as picking, receiving, putaway, quality control, labeling, order routing, receipts, shipping, and so forth.

In general, a WMS is a great way to improve the way you manage your facility since it gives you visibility over where things go and control over general processes. It can be a good stepping stone toward warehouse automation, though it mostly serves to give you information on where everything is in your process at any given moment.

Warehouse Control Software (WCS)

For more direct control over individual processes, a warehouse control system (WCS) is often the right solution. It handles the actual functionality of your processes, such as controlling conveyors, sortation devices, scanners, and so forth. It’s central to automation, and it’s one of the best warehouse solutions for those looking to reduce human error or streamline labor costs.

Some of the most reliable WCSs use a SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) system in order to carry out their functions. This system allows for communication with your WMS to send data back and forth, giving you complete visibility over your automated processes. This data paves the way toward system improvements and increased reliability through condition monitoring and predictive maintenance, further streamlining overhead costs.

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

When it comes to controlling individual functions in an automated process, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are the key. A PLC is a rugged industrial computer designed to control the individual functions of machines, such as the conveyors, sorters, and other equipment used in your warehouse. They do this by constantly monitoring the state of your machines and sending commands to keep everything moving smoothly.

PLCs are integral to any fully automated warehouse, and they combine well with a WCS, which can transmit instructions to the computer to execute specific functions.

Paperless RF (Radio Frequency) Warehouse Technology

Another type of technology that can be integrated into a warehouse management solution is a paperless RF (radiofrequency) system. RF warehouse technology uses handheld scanners and devices to handle picking and putaway without the need for paper forms.

When connected with your WMS, RF devices direct your staff members toward the items that need to be picked to fulfill orders. As items’ SKUs are scanned, the system updates the order and directs the worker toward the next item that needs picking.

RF warehouse systems can be combined with other technologies as well, such as pick to light / put to light, which uses LED lights to direct staff toward items that need to be picked/put away. This can speed up picking and reduce the risk of human error.

AGV MiR Software

Many warehouses use vehicles as part of their internal processes, and those vehicles can be automated just like any other component in your facility. Automated vehicles—known as AGVs (automated guided vehicles) or robotic fleet vehicles—are the primary way to accomplish this.

MiR fleet software is used to program and manage your robotic fleet, and it has a wide range of functionality that makes it perfect for a fully automated facility. Prioritization protocols allow the system to select the right machine for the current need based on its position, availability, the nature of the task, and so forth. AGV software is ideal for facilities that want to automate everything in their warehouse and keep systems as hands-free as possible.

PrecisionWare360, A Solution Customized WCS For Your Business

Naturally, the ideal solution for your facility will often incorporate multiple components. Our warehouse software solution—PrecisionWare360—does exactly that, bringing WCS, WMS, and compatibility with PLCs, paperless RF technology, and so forth into one cohesive system. The end result is an optimized solution that can automatically handle picking, stocking, returns, inspections, etc.

We can help you determine which software and hardware solutions are right for your facility and implement them in a system that matches your needs. To discuss your project, contact Precision Warehouse Design today.

Today’s consumer-driven economy is fast-paced and shows no signs of slowing down. As a result, the most critical thing warehouses can have these days is proper inventory management. The right pallet racking system can ease these burdens and make your warehouse run more efficiently.

Warehouse pallet racking systems provide innovative storage solutions in which the product is stacked horizontally with multiple levels. The best racking system for warehouse uses differ for each warehouse but will make your work life so much easier. The right pallet racking system will minimize the needed storage space yet is also easily expandable.

Key Factors to Consider When Looking at Rack Systems

Every warehouse space has different needs required for a storage solution to increase productivity, inventory management, and reduce the number of damaged goods. However, some of the key factors you should consider when it comes to choosing the perfect rack system are:

• Your budget – This is one of the essential things to consider to ensure a pallet racking system is perfect for your warehouse.
• Maximizing floor space – Your racking system should utilize every foot of warehouse space.
• Utilizing storage capacity – Make sure you have enough space in the racks for all your items and that it can hold the eight of the inventory
• Aisle width – If you have bulky or heavy inventory that requires a forklift, you want to make sure your warehouse racking system can accommodate
• Expansion – As your business grows, can your rack keep up with a wider variety of inventory
• Inventory management – Does the system work well with how you take inventory

Selective Pallet Rack Systems

When it comes to racking systems in warehouses, this one is one of the most popular as it’s friendly on the wallet, comes in three different widths, resists wear and tear, and doesn’t require any special machinery to load or unload inventory from the racks.

Selective pallet racks can store a wide variety of inventory and hold different pallet sizes, making it a very versatile option. We only use certified steel that meets the strictest of requirements. Our steel racks are welded with either highly advanced AI or certified welders to prevent accidental bean displacement.

Pros:

• Direct access to pallets
• Simple inventory management
• Adaptable to your inventory dimensions
• Budget-friendly
• No specialized forklifts required

Cons:

• Limited storage height
• Requires more space as inventory volume increases

This warehouse racking system is perfect for those just getting into pallet racking and who don’t want to spend a great deal on their first setup.

Pallet Flow Racking Systems 

If you run a high-volume warehouse and want to make sure that what comes in first goes out first, then this is your solution. This storage system is very versatile, storing a variety of different items.

Pallet flow racks can help traffic flow as one end has loaders, and the other has pickers/packers without the need for them to get in each other’s way. There are various ways these racks can be set up, such as in-line wheel tracks, conveyer tracks, or damping systems.

Pros:

• Provides high-density storage
• Uses the First In First Out, or FIFO, inventory system
• Helps traffic flow
• Elevated racks use no electricity for product movement
• Very versatile

Cons:

• More expensive
• Must be precise on pallet dimensions and weight of inventory

Pallet flow systems are perfect for the warehouse that holds perishables, but any business that wants a gravity flow storage solution will benefit from a pallet flow racking system.

Push Back Racking Systems

Our push-back system can hold up to five pallets in a single spot at once. With slightly inclined racks and rolling rails, there will always be a pallet at the front of the rack, allowing forklifts to grab easily, reducing damaged inventory.

Pros:

• Saves space
• High-density storage
• Pallets sequence forward gradually
• Low maintenance
• Fast loading and unloading times

Cons:

• The choice is limited for pallet selection
• It isn’t as compatible with perishables or quickly expiring goods

Any warehouse with high-density inventory will benefit from a push-back racking system. For those with limited warehouse storage space, this is also a great option.

Drive-In/Drive-Through Racking Systems

If you want to turn your entire warehouse into storage space, this is the pallet rack system. There are no aisles, and the only limit to the amount of storage you can have is how big your warehouse is.

There are two types of pallet racking systems. The drive-in racking system has only one loading and unloading point, which means the last thing in is the first thing out. The drive-through system is accessible from both ends.

Pros:

• Maximizes the square footage of your warehouse
• It has a ton of room for high-density products
• Storage depth is only limited by the size of your warehouse
• Cost-efficient
• Saves time stocking

Cons:

• Last In First Out, LIFO, storage system
• Damage to racks is more common due to high traffic

Drive-in racking systems are widely used by the manufacturing and food and beverage industries due to their ability to hold an exceedingly high product density.

Pick Module Racking Systems

This is an all-in-one storage solution that offers efficient picking racking. These racks come elevated, so palletized loads are moved by gravity through the system. Then, they get broken down into individual cartons or loose items before being packed and shipped out.

Pros:

• Optimum flow efficiency
• Reduces costly picking errors
• Helps efficiently run fast-paced warehouses
• Reduces picking times
• Handles both carton and loose products

Cons:

• Expensive
• It can’t be reconfigured easily

If your warehouse does so many orders that it makes your head spin, and you can invest serious capital, the pick modules are for you. They are used mainly by distribution centers capable of handling one hundred thousand orders a day.

Automated Systems

There are plenty of automated systems out there with different pallet racking types, and none of them are cheap. Still, if you want to reduce your variable and labor costs while increasing your automation and using your warehouse space more efficiently, then one of these systems could be perfect for you.

Automated systems include but are not limited to pallet shuttles, vertical buffer modules, horizontal carousels, and vertical lift modules.

Pros:

• Reduction in labor expenses
• Automates repetitive tasks
• Safer than other storage options
• Better utilization of warehouse space
• Automates inventory replenishment

Cons:

• Lengthy onboarding
• Regular repair and maintenance required

E-commerce, pharmaceuticals, cold storage industries often use an automated system, helping reduce human error and labor costs.

Wrapping it Up

When it comes to the perfect pallet racking systems for warehouses, figuring out your unique needs is key. Depending on budget, warehouse space, and how much technology you want involved is just the tip of the iceberg regarding finding the right storage solution for your warehouse environment and improving your warehouse efficiency.

Conveyor systems have become more widely used throughout the world, with the global market reaching $8.8 billion in 2020 and still climbing. Different types of conveyors, such as chain conveyors, belt conveyors, or the roller conveyor, offer various benefits, and many have a range of uses. As technologies advance, types of conveyor systems are developed and optimized. The efficiency they lend to warehousing applications in various industries likely contributes to this sustained growth.  Naturally, this begs the question of how to choose the right conveyor system to support your organization’s needs. From high volume to automated sortation needs, we can help you find the best solution.

Getting Started Choosing the Right Conveyor System

A conveyor system consists of rollers, conveyor belts, buckets, wheels, chains, or other apparatuses to carry materials through a production process, sort items in shipping and warehousing, etc. The type of system and components you choose will largely depend on what you intend to do with it. For example, this means you should know whether you need a system that sorts or moves up or down, as well as how much the conveyor system will be moving.

Basic Components of a Conveyor System

A conveyor system is primarily comprised of the following three components:

• A drive system, which keeps the other components moving. It’s often motorized.
• Belt support, which keeps the belt level and prevents sagging.
• A pulley system, which controls the belt’s movement. Each conveyor unit will usually have an active (or powered) pulley at one end and an idle one at the other.

Of course, there are often additional components added onto conveyor systems, but the basic elements described above are what keep the whole system functioning. Add-on items would depend on your intended application.

Common Uses of Conveyor Systems

Conveyor systems are used in many applications, including warehousing. In a warehouse setting, they might be used to move the following items:

• Pallets
• Trays
• Bags and totes
• Boxes
• Mailers
• Cases
• Bulk materials

The function of these machines in warehousing is typically sortation, in which items are sorted along the line into different areas depending on where they are stored, whether they’re being shipped, etc.

Common Types of Conveyor Systems

Conveyor systems come in various types that are designed for specific needs, including:

• Belt conveyors. These basic devices are the classic idea of a conveyor. Pulleys turn with the help of a motor that then rotates the belt.
• Belt-driven live rollers. Similar to a belt conveyor, these operate using a single belt that moves the rollers above. 
• Motorized-drive roller conveyors. Using a little ingenuity, this conveyor system puts a motor inside the roller. Typically, only one motor per zone is required, and they move materials and packages at high speeds. 
• Line shaft driven conveyors. Line shaft conveyors use a shaft drive that stretches parallel to the conveyor. With the use of elastic polymer bands, energy is transferred from the line shaft to the rollers on the conveyor.
• Bucket conveyors. These types of conveyors are meant to move materials vertically by scooping them up into their bucket and then spilling the materials out at their destination. Grain elevators are an excellent example of a bucket conveyor system.
• Chain-driven conveyors. Using rollers, these devices have sprockets at the ends that are driven by a chain that is connected to a motor. 
• Gravity conveyors. These are the simplest, and oldest, of all the devices. Gravity roller conveyors use the power of gravity to move materials. With a line of rollers set at a very slight downward angle, materials are pushed along the conveyor with gravity and momentum.
• Pneumatic conveyors. Through a vacuum, or with air pressure, materials that are dry from one area to another. This type of conveyor works best for dry bulk goods that can move with fluidity, such as sugar, sand, metal powders, or flour. 
• Cable conveyors. Cable conveyor systems are perfect for keeping some materials quarantined from others. They’re also incredibly versatile and can move horizontally, vertically, and even around corners if need be. Using steel cables, materials are moved along the belt.
• Spiral conveyors. Set in a spiral shape, this conveyor system can transport materials, medium and large, vertically and continuously. They can typically move quickly and are easily customizable for your facility’s needs. 
• Narrow belt conveyors. For very tight spaces or narrow goods, narrow belt conveyor systems operate in much the same way as a standard belt conveyor. They are equally as customizable and can be used just as easily for very small goods.
• Skate wheel conveyors. This type of conveyor system uses simple skate wheels that can be attached to axles. They can be on flexible systems or rigid systems, and they work great with rigid containers with flat bottoms. 
• Roller wheel conveyors. Roller wheel conveyors are similar to skate wheel conveyors, but they’re typically more like tubes and roll in much the same way as skate wheel conveyors. In addition, they’re also best used for containers with rigid, flat bottoms. 

In warehousing applications, a belt conveyor and a roller conveyor are the ones you’ll most commonly see. While they may be the most common conveyor systems, they may not be the best option for every facility. There are other factors you’ll want to consider when building the best conveyor system for your facility.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Conveyor System

Conveyor machines can offer a wide range of advantages in a plant operating environment, a warehouse, and other facilities, but only if the proper selection of the conveyor type was made or if they’re properly designed. Selecting the right conveyor for your business can be difficult especially due to floor space, the special layout of your facility, or how much room you have available and existing equipment. So when choosing components and layouts for your conveyor system, keep the following key factors in mind to help with proper conveyor selection.

Safety

First and foremost is safety. An effective conveyor system allows heavy materials to be moved across facilities, up and down levels, and so forth, all without the risks of manual handling (dropping, falling from height, muscle straining, etc.). Systems that don’t require manual involvement are ideal for safety purposes since they don’t require someone to try to make adjustments as the system is moving. The system you choose should be engineered for safety with effective failsafe mechanisms in place.

Volume

A well-designed conveyor system will also be able to handle the volumes of product you need to move in your facility. For heavier volumes of materials and goods, chain conveyors and live roller conveyors are two great options for high-volume material handling systems. Belt conveyors, gravity conveyors, and roller conveyors work well for light material loads.

Sortation Needs

These systems offer a wide range of conveyor units and sorters to match your sortation needs. The vast number of possible configurations allows the system to be designed to precise specifications. Spiral conveyors can be adapted for multi-stream flow, but nearly every type of conveyor system can be customized and adapted for sortation purposes. 

Process Automation Needs

By automating sortation, warehouses are able to utilize their personnel in a more efficient manner while also reducing their processes’ exposure to human error, ultimately creating a more reliable system that can increase productivity. Automated systems are ideal for facilities that have lighter staffing, but they can also help lessen the amount of staffing needed for some facilities. Automation can be incredibly helpful and can also assist with safety by taking the human element out of the equation. 

Conveyor Machine FAQs

Some common questions we get about conveyor systems include the following.

Whether required to transport materials vertically, horizontally, between facilities, or across a wide or narrow space, conveyor systems do the heavy lifting so that people don’t have to.

Designing an Effective Conveyor System

To design a conveyor system that will do everything you need it to do, consider the following factors before beginning the design process:

• Product specifications, such as weight, size, fragility, etc.
• Flow rate requirements, including both your typical daily flow rate and peak demand. Consider the lightest load you’ll have to move, as well as the heaviest. Also, determine how much the system will be used. 
• Process requirements, such as the distance items will need to be moved, their transfer speed, available space, etc.
• Transfer requirements, as in points where items will be transferred to and from the conveyor system.

With these criteria in mind, Precision Warehouse will work with you to design the right conveyor system for your facility. With many different options to choose from, no matter the shape and size of your facility, our customizable systems can help you move whatever materials and goods you need safely and efficiently. 

Precision Warehouse Design offers a wide range of conveyor units and sorters, and our process includes best practice components that allow us to design and deliver complex systems faster than our competitors. With nearly 20 years of operation, Precision Warehouse Design strives to offer the best to each of our clients through exemplary customer service, and the very best in engineering and design. To learn more, take a look at our portfolio, or contact Precision Warehouse Design.

We are thrilled to announce that after a 14-year journey of providing quality warehousing solutions to customers throughout the U.S., Precision Warehouse Design has become an authorized Hytrol distributor! Hytrol is one of the premier manufacturers of conveyors and materials handling equipment, and that means we can offer our customers a superb level of quality when it comes to designing and building conveyor and racking systems.

About Hytrol

Since 1947, Hytrol has produced high quality materials handling equipment for numerous industries. Their catalogue is expansive, boasting a wide range of conveyors for use in transportation, accumulation, sortation, pallet handling, and more. Their products are renowned for their quality, durability, and dependability.

Since the beginning, Hytrol has made their products available exclusively through their Integration Partner Network. These partners are companies they know they can trust to provide reliable expertise to their customers, from initial design through to set-up, testing, and shipment. Their network gives their customers full confidence that they’ll be satisfied with the materials handling solutions they implement in their facilities.

What This Means for Our Customers

Given the high standards Hytrol has for their partners, we are honored to be able to offer their high quality equipment to the organizations we serve throughout the nation. This partnership constitutes a valuable upgrade to our world-class services, and it will allow us to provide better service than ever before. We’re excited to offer Hytrol’s stellar equipment in conjunction with our proven industry experience and design expertise.

About Our Services

At Precision Warehouse Design, we have designed and implemented warehousing solutions for customers throughout Texas as well as the U.S. With over 270 years of cumulative experience and our partnership with Hytrol, we can help you build and improve your operations to make them as efficient and effective as possible.

To learn more about what we offer, check out our services here.

Take a moment to conceptualize one of the biggest warehouses your mind can imagine? How large is that warehouse? Is it 50,000 square feet? How about 100,000 square feet? If so, you’re barely scratching the surface of today’s largest warehouses in the world.

What everyday people do not realize is how large the logistics industry has become over the years and how, with so much product moving from point A to point B, warehouses have grown exponentially. We’re talking millions of square feet and countless pieces of warehouse equipment.

Here are the ten biggest warehouses in the world today!

There you have it, ten of the largest warehouses in the world. No doubt this will change, as companies like Tesla and Amazon continue to grow and expand their influence worldwide. With Tesla’s planned expansion of Gigafactory 1, and Amazon opening new facilities annually, the distribution industry is about to shake things up!

Precision Warehouse Design has continued to install automatic material handling systems throughout lockdowns and cross-border restrictions. The strict border requirements implemented by Canada in 2020, prevented PWD from traveling to several active job sites. A recent 2021 project completed in Canada benefitted from our cutting edge controls and real-time monitoring software.

Precision Warehouse Design’s team, headquartered in North Texas, partnered with Canadian mechanical and electrical installation partners. As a result, the client’s new construction distribution center had a large conveyor system integrated by PWD virtually. Although it was a challenge, our team was able to communicate via video conference and test all systems remotely.

Conveyor Equipment and Services Included:

• High speed sortation with (8) downlines and recirc line over dock doors
• CSA certified PWD designed control panel
• (10) pack out stations
• Induction platform
• Extendable conveyors for fluid loading
• PrecisionWare360 (controls software package)

Client Testimonial: “We recently consolidated multiple facilities into one new DC to service Central and Eastern Canada.  Our integrator, Precision Warehouse Design, could not physically be on-site to test and support start-up, due to Covid restrictions.  They did this 100% remotely using their state-of-the-art software and controls technology.  We were nervous, but after the first day we were amazed at how well the system performed!  Kudos to PWD and your Project Management and Controls Engineering Teams!”

– Vice President of Operations

Even if you are following industry best practices for efficient warehouse operations, you still must continually assess its productivity and effectiveness. All too often, we see warehouses with less-than-efficient layouts, systems, and practices in place. An inefficient warehouse can drag your entire operation down and harm its profitability.  But how can you make your distribution center more efficient? Let’s explore ideas for improving warehouse efficiency.

1. Use the Right Storage Systems

Your warehouse equipment is one of your largest assets, but are you making the most of it? Are you using warehouse storage systems that suit your products?  An investment in the appropriate pallet racking systems for your products may involve an initial capital expense that will pay off in the long run if the result is reduced bottlenecks, fewer accidents and faster throughput.

Another way to maximize efficiency is to expand up rather than out. Make use of vertical space by installing taller storage racks, alongside the proper equipment to organize and pick products, to truly maximize your warehouse floor space.  Consider a mezzanine system to add additional storage, production, or office space.

2. Add Automation Where It Makes Sense

Your team is likely performing many repetitive tasks that, depending on the nature of your business, could be automated.  Here are some examples of how automation can make a warehouse more efficient:

• There are many options for automated storage solutions such as those that can quickly sort and consolidate small items quickly, automatically pick small items from vertical or horizontal carousels, or load and unload pallets with a shuttle system.
• Carousels and conveyor systems can move products from a storage area to the assembly area. 
• Robotics Systems can handle repetitive tasks, saving money, time and productivity lost to injury.  Robots can open boxes, move materials through the warehouse, and handle numerous other repetitive tasks.
• Automated Pick-to-Light Technology can help warehouse personnel pick more orders, with greater accuracy, in less time.  The light-based system guides employees through the warehouse to the items for each pick without worrying about lists and locations.

3. Invest in Software to Improve Warehouse Efficiency

One way to boost efficiency relatively quickly is by using warehouse management software (WMS).  This software looks at your products and warehouse processes and uncovers ways that the warehouse can run more efficiently.  WMS will recommend specific locations for SKUs, placing high volume items in the optimal location and items that are picked less frequently in their appropriate place.

A warehouse management system can optimize packing, picking, receiving, allocation, restocking, returns, shipping, and more. A WMS module provides automated pick lists sent directly to mobile devices, which helps to eliminate mistakes. Furthermore, barcode or radio frequency identification (RFID) systems help improve accuracy and reduce picking errors

4. Evaluate Warehouse Layout & Design

Is your warehouse designed for the business you have, or has the design just happened as your business has grown? If your current warehouse space doesn’t work for anymore, you may just need a reorganization rather than an expansion.  Our FasTrak Design service can help you get a more efficient, workable warehouse layout in just three business days. 

5. Cross-Train Employees

Training employees on more than one job function works toward improving warehouse efficiency in a number of ways. It can increase productivity when an employee is out sick because an existing employee can step into their job. During peak season, you can move employees to the areas where they are needed most, reducing the need for seasonal employees.

Cross training isn’t just good for the company, it’s good for the employee, too, making them more valuable by increasing their skills.  And, when you invest in an employee by giving them additional training, you are showing them you value them, which may increase their loyalty to the company and decrease turnover.

Tips for Management

As warehouse management, or business management in general, taking steps to implement efficiency best practices can appear, at first glance, overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help:

• Offer an incentive program to better involve your employees in their training and general organization tasks around the warehouse.
• Design a quality training process from the ground up with the help of experienced warehouse managers or outside contractors.
• Research top-rated warehouse management systems and choose the one best suited to your needs.

Warehouse Systems and Software at Precision Warehouse Design

Alongside the countless tips we offer for warehouse efficiency improvement, Precision Warehouse Design proudly provides businesses of all sizes with complete warehouse solutions from pallet racking to conveyor systems to  software solutions, including warehouse management systems.

For efficient warehouse systems, layouts, and software designed to help make running your business easier, contact Precision Warehouse Design today. We help businesses like yours maximize warehouse efficiency every day.

In order to run your manufacturing or distribution business successfully, you must have the right information to manage the goods constantly moving in and out of your warehouses. With that in mind, business owners like you turn to business software tools. There are plenty of options available, including warehouse and inventory management systems. Some business owners may not know the difference between inventory and warehouse management. 

Despite their similarities, the two are distinct software systems that can boost your company’s profitability and efficiency to different degrees. Read on to learn more about the key features of warehouse management systems and inventory management tools and what sets them apart.

Inventory Management vs. Warehouse Management

 Most use inventory management and warehouse management interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same.  Note the main difference between inventory management and warehouse management systems:

• WMS — A warehouse management system covers the entire day-to-day operations of a warehouse, including inventory management. A competent WMS offers inventory allocation optimization, receiving and putaway, picking and packing, everything to do with shipping, like packing lists and invoices, and reporting tools to analyze.
• Inventory Management — Alternatively, warehouse inventory management systems cover the very basic processes involved with inventory. This system involves cycle counting inventory strategies, barcode tracking, tracking inventory levels, receiving orders, and managing locations within the warehouse.

Differences Between Warehouse Inventory Systems & WMS

With so many similarities, what are the differences between warehouse inventory systems and warehouse management systems?

• Complexity — An inventory management system in a warehouse is more simplistic — a bare-bones package for businesses that allows a small business to get up and running quickly. Warehouse management systems are more complex, allowing companies to manage their entire warehouse system to scale.
• Integration — An Inventory management system will cover the preliminary phase of each process in your warehouse, like product tracking. But what about the rest? A warehouse management software solution, on the other hand, integrates with every aspect of the warehouse, including production, supply, sales, quality assurance, and distribution.
• Control — An inventory system for a warehouse provides your company with data regarding in-stock products and quantities. That’s the extent of its capabilities. But a WMS provides more complete information including specific locations where SKUs are located within the warehouse. This type of control makes a huge difference. A WMS also provides you with data you need to run other areas of the business more efficiently. 

Types of Inventory Management Systems

What is an inventory management system? Let’s review the commonly used systems.

Manual

For small-time operations, manual inventory management in warehouses is a viable system. This involves either hiring an outside vendor to come in and manually track inventory or spending internal resources to do the same. In some cases, businesses shut down for a full day or two to manage their inventories.

Of course, the downside of manual tracking is the possibility of human error. Your employees must physically track and record data.

Barcode

Another option is the tried-and-tested barcode system, which requires a UPC code on every product, package, and pallet in the warehouse. Using a scanner, employees input data directly into the computer system via digital readings, which ensures accuracy.

RFID

RFID, or radio frequency identification tags, that come in two flavors: active and passive. A dynamic RFID system uses tag readers throughout the warehouse to offer real-time inventory count and location data. A passive system only operates when an employee activates the reader, which is generally a hand-held device.

Types of Warehouse Management Systems

We’ve looked at inventory management systems; now, let’s explore the types of warehouse management systems out there.

Standalone WMS

A standalone warehouse management system features the core basics of a WMS. You’ll enjoy a reduced cost but miss out on many supply chain functions that help a business operate. The included features are generally inventory management and warehouse operations, like barcode scanning, cycle counting, slotting, receiving, picking, packing, and shipping.

ERP Module

Most of today’s top ERP (enterprise resource planning) software solutions will include a warehouse management system that features everything a growing business requires. These systems often include components to handle receiving, allocation, picking, manifesting/shipping, returns, voice pick data management, RFID, single-user inventory management, labeling systems, check weigh, maintenance management, bulk operations, kitting, plus supervisor monitoring and reporting, and more.

Cloud-Based WMS

A cloud-based warehouse management system, as the name would suggest, features an entirely web-based, centralized-computing model that utilizes cloud technology to easily track and store data. It’s often a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model that offers fantastic scalability and quick deployment for growing businesses. One of the standout features of cloud-based WMS is in its flexibility, allowing businesses to customize their software based on their needs.

A Solution Customized for Your Business

Precision Warehouse Design works directly with companies like yours to implement industrial warehouse management software that helps you better interact with and manage your warehouse from top to bottom. Our tried and true process analyzes your operation and applies best practice principles to put together the optimal WMS software solution for your business.

For the warehouse management systems that will take your operations to the next level of efficiency, contact us today!