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AutoSchedulerAutoScheduler

Copyright © 2002

www.WarehouseOptimization.com

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AutoScheduler Plans all AutoScheduler Plans all Activities in a Warehouse or Activities in a Warehouse or Campus of FacilitiesCampus of Facilities

AutoScheduler Is a WMS add-on

AutoScheduler Uses expert rule-driven planning engine to: Set inventory levels Schedule picking, inbound and outbound shipments Assign trailers, and dock doors

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AutoScheduler’s Goals: Meet AutoScheduler’s Goals: Meet Customer Requirements + High Customer Requirements + High productivityproductivity

AutoScheduler efficiently uses constrained resources: People (Pickers, loaders, etc) Lift trucks Dock doors Staging space

Results: lower cost, better customer service

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AutoScheduler Coordinates ALL AutoScheduler Coordinates ALL ActivitiesActivities

Receiving

Where? When?

What inventory level?

Case Picking

Replenish inventory?

Loading

Time?

People etc?

But it all ties back: you can’t load material that has not been picked!

Which receipts?

From Where?

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AutoScheduler Coordinates AutoScheduler Coordinates ActivitiesActivities

• AutoScheduler reduces complexity and management effort in large, complicated operations.

• It would be easy if there were one product and one customer

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……but Complexity Makes it Hardbut Complexity Makes it Hard

Manufacturing

takes over warehouse space

So outside warehouses are added

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… … The Right Product is Never in The Right Product is Never in the Right Placethe Right Place

So product is moved out

...and then it is moved back to

get the right mix

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Coordinating ActivitiesCoordinating Activities

Loading Unloading

Production

Cross Docking

Direct line loading

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..and There are Never Enough ..and There are Never Enough ResourcesResources

This much Work

But never enough of forklifts, people, dock doors or inventory

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……worse, Many Resources are worse, Many Resources are Competed forCompeted for

Storage/RetrievalLoading

Unloading

Line take away

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Planning all the Activities is a Planning all the Activities is a ChallengeChallenge

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……but the AutoScheduler but the AutoScheduler Software Coordinates Software Coordinates EverythingEverything

A genius in a PC….

AutoScheduler

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……but the AutoScheduler but the AutoScheduler Software Coordinates Software Coordinates EverythingEverything

AutoScheduler

AutoScheduler checks every function: e.g. shipping early to use available loader time

Are there enough people?

Dock doors?

Will it hurt another customer?

Trailers?

Inventory?

Lift trucks?

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AutoScheduler Minimizes AutoScheduler Minimizes Unproductive ActivitiesUnproductive Activities

– Administration– Storage and retrieval– Unnecessary movements– Travel– Idle time (Waiting for work or inventory)

While meeting customer needs within constrained resources

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Unproductive Activities Unproductive Activities Example: Storage and Retrieval Example: Storage and Retrieval of Productionof Production

LOAD

PALLETIZERETRIEVE

STORE

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Example: If it can, AutoScheduler Example: If it can, AutoScheduler changes Loading Times to Coincide changes Loading Times to Coincide with Productionwith Production

LOAD

PALLETIZE

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AutoScheduler Checks all AutoScheduler Checks all Available Information When Available Information When Making a Decision Making a Decision

ProductionSchedule

InboundShipments

People

Inventory

Orders &Load Time

Trailers

Rules

AutoScheduler

Project inventory for each item in each location.

Test various shipping sequences which meet customer load-times.Select best feasible shipment plan

WARNING: Any

Unresolvable problem!

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AutoScheduler Creates AutoScheduler Creates Productive Use of Labor and Productive Use of Labor and ResourcesResources

Loads by Hour

0

50

100

150

200

250

Time

Requested shipping time

Yes!

Can this be moved without

• causing inventory shortages?

• congesting the dock?

• violating labor constraints?

Loads by Hour

0

50

100

150

200

250

Time

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...and Report Usage of ...and Report Usage of ResourcesResources

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Major BenefitsMajor Benefits

• Substantially reduces planning time and effort: Plans are available very quickly

AutoScheduler considers a large number of problems and mitigates them

Reduces total planning effort

• Total loading/unloading effort is reduced: More efficient use of staff

More “single-move” operations (dual-tasking and cross-docking)

Higher peak capacity - prepares early when peak is coming

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Contact Us for More InformationContact Us for More Information

Warehouse Optimization, LLCPhone (615) 791-8000

Email: info@WarehouseOptimization.com