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InvarSystems’softwaresolution,IWS,isanintegratedwarehousemanagementandcontrolsystemthatprovidesasingleintegratedsolution,allowingyoutoTAKEandKEEPCONTROL.
IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
PRODUCTBROCHURE
TakeControl.
invarsystems.com
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
CONTENTS
SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………………………….3
• WhatisIWSandhowcanithelpme?• GeneralIWSFunctions• WarehouseManagementSystem(WMS)/StockroomControl
SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES…..………………………………………………………………9• WarehouseControlSystem(WCS)• SortationControl• AdditionalModuleInformation
CONFIGURATION……………………………………………………………………………….12• ProductStructure&Elements
IMPLEMENTATION…………………………………………………………………………….13• AgileImplementationProcess
TECHNOLOGY..……………………………………………………………………………….…14• UserFriendly• MicrosoftTechnologies• IntelServers• WebServices/EthernetCommunications
SUPPORT…………………………….…………………………………………………….….…15• Comprehensive24/7Care
CONNECT…………………………….…………………………………………………….….…16
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUMMARY
Our software solution, IWS, is a warehouse management & control software solution that connectspeoplewithautomation.Oursoftwareprovidesintegratedcontrolformanualandautomatedfacilities.IWS interfaceswithupperandlowerlevelsystemsandcanbeimplementedasacompletesolutionorintegratedintoexistingclientsoftwaresystems.IWSiscomprisedofseveralmodulesandsub-systemsthatcanbecustomizedtofityourindividualneeds.Ourapproachistoevaluateeachclient’sneedsandprovidethebestsolutiontoenableyoutotakecontrolofyouroperations.Oursolutionshelpyoutakecontrolofyourwarehousewithaccuracy,efficiencyandproductivity.
IWSoffersmodulesforallaspectsofwarehousemanagementandcanbeusedforsingle-siteandmulti-site operations. The complete IWS platform includes the following sub-systems which house manycustomizable modules: Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Stockroom Control, WarehouseControlSystem(WCS)andSortationControl.
Whileeachapplicationhasuniquerequirements,IWScontainsconfigurableapplicationmodulesusedasthebaseforeachsolution.Eachconfiguredmodulecontainsstandardsthatarecommonacrossmanywarehouses andprovides the startingpoint forwhicha solutionwillbe configured. The toolswithinIWSallowforeasyintegration/updatetothesebasemodules,allowingInvartodeliveraproven,stablesolutiontoourcustomersthatcanchangeastheneedsofthebusinesschange.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUMMARY
IWSWAREHOUSEMANAGEMENTSYSTEM
ModuleswithinIWSmanageandcontroloperationalfunctionsincluding:
• hostinterface• receiving&shipping• ordermanagementandplanning,includingcontinuouswavemanagement• orderprocessing• replenishment• picking• inventorycontrol• sortationandputprocesses• routing• automationintegration• consolidation• shipping• otheroperationalrequirements
SomeoftheadvantagesofusingInvarSystems’softwaresolution,IWS,are:
• increasedinventoryaccuracyby10%–20%• reducedinventoryandlaborcostsby20%–30%• reducedforklifttraveltimebyupto50%
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUMMARY
IWSis:FeaturerichintegratedWMS/WCSProductKeyfeaturesincludesystemmanagementandoptimization,realtimeintegrationandcontrol,routing,errorrecovery,graphicalinterfaceandfullmonitoringandreporting.Configurable,scalable,upgradeableWhileeachapplicationhasuniquerequirements,IWScontainsconfigurableapplicationmodulesusedasthebaseforeachsolution.Duetothetoolsbeingconfigurable,itallowstheusertoputdatawhereitismostneeded.
UserFriendlyIWSusesuserfriendlytoolstosmoothoperatoracceptance.Itiswellacceptedbytheuser,IT,support,operations,andmanagementstaff.Screensaredevelopedwithafamiliarlookandfeeltomakeuseseamlessandcomfortablefortheuser.BuiltwithLatestTechnologyIWSusesthelatestMicrosofttechnologies.Eachconfiguredmodulecontainsstandardsthatarecommonacrossmanyoperationsandprovidesthestartingpointforwhichaparticularsolutionwillbedeveloped.ImplementedwithAgileMethodologyThisprocessisbuildusinganalysis,plandevelopment,systemconfiguration,emulatedandlivetesting,usertrainingtoprovidefullsupport.FullySupportedYou’llreceivepersonalsupportfromourexpertswhohavedecadesofindustryexperience.Weoffercomprehensive24/7supportcontractswithproductupgradesandfuturereleases.Ourexpertscanmonitoryoursystemremotelytomaintainsystemperformanceandcustommonitoringplansareavailabletomeetyourneeds.Evaluationsandpreventativemaintenanceareavailableaswell.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUMMARY
ADDITIONALMODULEINFORMATION
ReceivingThe module performs processes associated with bring stock into a facility and preparing it forhandling and processing. Functionality includes: ASN input and reconciliation, item/case/palletreceipt,POreconciliation,unitloadconfiguration,integrationwithorderprocessingforcrossdocking,hostsystemreporting.
PutawayThemodule,inconjunctionwithmovementrouter,performstheprocessesassociatedwithputaway.Itmaintainsputawayrulesalongwithstoragezoneconfiguration.
OrderManagementThismoduleperformsplanning logicassociatedwithorderfulfillment.Functionalityincludes:Orderentryandprocessing,outboundloadplanning,waveplanning,wave/load/orderrelease,andsoftandhardstockallocation.
OrderExecutionThismoduleperformsfunctionsassociatedwithorderexecutionandselection.Functionalityincludesforward reserve and replenishment(top off and demand based), dynamic and static pick slotmanagement,pickingexecutionviaapplicabletechnologies(RF,paperandvoicepicking,etc.),orderconsolidation, sortation/put process, cross dock fulfillment, labelling of picked loads(standard andcustomerspecific),outboundloadassembly,outboundvehicleloading,hostupdating.
ShippingModuleThismodule functionality that occursduring the shippingoperation. Configurationoptions for theshippingmodule include: Identification of areas allow allocation and areas that are valid shippingdestinations(i.e.DockDoors),Allow/Disallowtheordertobeshippedshort,allowpriorityalterationof order after order activation, allow consolidation of SKU’s on single ship pallet/container, PrintPalletShipbarcodeandPrintOrderSummarymanifest.
MovementRouterModuleThismoduledefinesthemovement/routesofproductcontainersinthesystem.Configurationallowsto identifytheroutinglocationsandflowconnectthe locationstogetherforpossibleroutingpaths.Notethatmultiplepathsmayexistfromlocationsinwhichthemovementrouterwillselectthebestpathbasedonthecurrentactivity/statusofthesystem.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUMMARY
ADDITIONALMODULEINFORMATION
RFConfigurationModuleThismodulecontrolstheinteractiontotheRFterminalsinthesystem.Configurationoptionsinclude:Scanthelocationbarcodeonputaway,MoveInstructions:FullyDirected,DirectedbyZone,OperatorChooses,DepositInstructions:FullyDirected,OperatorChooses,Pickup/Putdown/Pickconfirmations(pallet/location/item/checkdigits/buttonconfirmation)andAllowForkTruckoperatortolocatetheproductinadifferentlocationthantheIWSselected(manualsystems).AutomationModulesTheIWSproductarchitectureconsistsofacontrolprocessandacommunicationprocessforeachtypeofautomationsupport.Thecontrolprocessallowsforgenericparameterstobeconfiguredforthetypeofautomation device being interacted. The communication process is manufacturer specific, with thecommandprotocolbeingdifferentfrommanufacturetomanufacture.Thefollowingisalistofdevicesfor which Invar currently has control/communication processes in place: Conveyor Systems, ASRScranes, shuttle systems,Palletizers,Sortationequipment,Monorails,Orderselectionautomation(picktolight,puttolight,voice),Robots,carousels,VLMs,andrelatedequipment.WorkFlowManager(WFM)AuniqueelementofIWSdevelopmentistheWorkFlowManager.IWSstandardmodulesconsistofaseriesoflogicalworkflowsexecutedbytheWFMtoachievethedesiredresults.Newworkflowscanbecreated/added to the standard modules (i.e. receiving module) decision logic to achieve applicationspecificrequirements.GUIEnvironmentIWS contains standard screen functions in support or warehousing and automation control. Thesescreens are enhanced for particular facility requirements including warehouse environment, userdevices,touchscreensormousetobeused,andCustomerpreferences tobuttons, icon,andfunctionkeys.IWS GUI solutions are developed utilizingWindows Presentation Foundation (WPF).WPF developedscreens result in an aesthetically pleasing look for the user, while providing a virtual unlimiteddevelopmentlibraryforscreendesign,datadisplay,graphicalrepresentationanduseroptionselection.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUMMARY
GENERALIWSFUNCTIONSUserAuthorizationModuleUseraccesstoIWSiscontrolledthroughthismoduleorthroughactivedirectory.ThismoduleprovidestheIWSloginverificationandcontrolsthefunctionsforwhichtheusermayaccess.ConfigurationincludesthedefinitionofUserprofiles(i.e.Admin,Supervisor,Maintenance,etc.),UsernameandPasswordcreation,andtheassignmentoffunctionsthataprofilecanaccess.StockstatusStockandlocationswithinIWScancarryseveralstatusesandthesecanbeconfiguredtosuittheoperation.Eachstatuscodecanbeflaggedwithintheconfigurationtopreventstockwiththatstatus,orinthatlocation,frombeingused.IWSprovidesfourfunctionsforchangingstatus;twoforlocationsandtwoforstock.Theseareasfollows:Changethestatusofstockinasinglebin,Changethestatusofasinglelocation,ChangethestatusofallstockmatchingselectedcriteriaandChangethestatusofarangeoflocations.Whenchangingthestatusofstockmatchingselectedcriteria,theWCSreportsthenumberofboxesthatwillbeaffectedbeforeaskingforconfirmation.ReportingFull reportingwithuserdefinedreports,Eventscheduling,Rulebasedoperations,Eventreportingtoscreens,email,SMS,Masterdatahostinterface(articles,customers,etc.)
CustomdatafieldsMostoftheoperationsdatatablescanhavecustomdatafieldsdefined.Thisallowscustomerspecificdatatobecarriedandreportedandallowsnewdatarequirementstobeaddedatalatertimewithoutmakingsoftwarechangestothesystem.AlarmsAlarmsareprovidedtoalerttheusersthataneventhasoccurredthatneedsattention.Alleventsandalarmsarerecordedinthetransactionjournalalongwiththedateandtimetheeventoralarmoccurred.Eventsandalarmscanbeconfiguredtocarryoutotheractions,asrequired.Theseincluderaisingausernotification(showinganeventflaginthebottomrighthandofthescreensofselectedusers),sendingemailmessages,andactivatinganaudible/visualalarm.Differentalarmsandeventsareconfiguredwithdifferentactions.DataaccessbyothersystemsSQLServerallowsintegrationwithotherMicrosoftproductsandtherearemanythird-partyproductsavailabletoprovideaccess.AccesstoSQLServerisstrictlycontrolledtopreventunauthorizedaccesstoinformation.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES
WAREHOUSECONTROLSYSTEM(WCS)
InvarSystems’warehousecontrolsystem,withinIWS,providesintegratedcontrolforautomatedfacilities.OptimalperformanceofautomatedequipmentisprovidedusingthekeyfeaturesofourWCSincludingsystemmanagementandoptimization,realtimeintegrationandcontrol,routing,errorrecovery,graphicalinterfaceandfullmonitoringandreporting–productivity,KPI,maintenance,historicaldataretrieval,etc.IWSisbuiltforspeed,controllinghighspeedautomatedequipmentwithsub100millisecondresponsetimes.OurWCSoperationswithexistingWMSorfullInvarWarehouseSystem.
OurWCSisconfigurableandrulesdrivenallowingyoutotakecontrol.CreateandmaintainrulestoprovideadetaileddefinitionofSKUmanagement,putawayandpickingprocess,locationselectionprocess,routing,users,andresources.
Thewarehousecontrolmoduleisusedfor:
• Persontogoodsorderpicking• Goodstopersonorderpicking• Pickfacemanagement• Dynamicandstaticpickslots• Demand/consumptionreplenishment• Outboundloadassemblyandprocessing• Crossdocking• Fullrangeofautomatedequipment,manualprocesses,hostsystems,data
collection,RFID
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES
WAREHOUSECONTROLSYSTEM
SystemManagementandOptimizationFeaturerichfunctionalitytoimprovetheperformanceandoperationofthesystemincluding:PutawayandInventoryControl,ResourceManagement,OrderManagementandReal-timeFlowManagement/Routing
AdvancedStorage/SelectionAlgorithmsPallet,Case,andItemBasedRulesInboundrulesbasedonminimizingstopsandaisles,stockspread,co-location,pre-plannedorders,resourcemanagement.Outboundrulesbasedonlotcontrol,inventoryturns,FIFO,LIFO,wavecompletion,resourcemanagement,minimizingstopsandaisles.Commandinterleaving,providingsimultaneousinboundandoutboundactivity.
MonitoringandReportingProcessandtransactionloggingwithconfigurablealarmingandreportingtools,includingdashboards,graphicaldisplays,e-mailsandtextmessages.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUBSYSTEMS&MODULES
WAREHOUSECONTROLSYSTEMRealTimeRoutingandControlRealtimerouting,managementandcontrolforautomatedequipment,manualprocesses,externalsystems,anddatacollectiondevices,AS/RS,ConveyorandSortationSystems,Carousels(Horizontal,Vertical,Shuttles),PicktoLight,PuttoLight,Voice,RF,AutomatedPicking/PackingProcessesandRobotics,HostandExternalSystems,RFID,PrintandApply,Scanners
ErrorRecoveryFullmanagementoferrorrecoveryprocesswithemphasison:Safety,InventoryIntegrity,RapidandMeaningfulNotification,Informationmanagementfortrendingandrootcauseanalysis
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
CONFIGURATION
IWSisconfigurable,scalableandupgradeabletogrowwithyourbusinessandtakecontrol.Itfeaturesproductstructurewithdataandparameterdrivenfunctionality.Setupandchangescanoccurwithoutsoftwaremodificationsanduses“Wizards”forstandarditems.Italsofeaturesgraphicalscreensforcustomizeditems.
Pre-definedconfigurationelementsinclude:
•Sitelayouts;bothinternalandexternal•Unitsofmeasure•Tasksandworkflows•Handlingequipment•Usersandroles•Eventsandeventhandling•OrderandShippingdocumentation•Printers•Movementroutes•Inventorycheckingrules•Labellayouts•Reports
IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
IMPLEMENTATION
Includedinouragileimplementationprocessis:
•Operationsreviewandanalysistooptimizethesolutionandimplementationplan
•Flexibleconfigurationprocessallowssetupandtestearlyintheprojectcycle.
•Testingofautomationandequipmentwithintegratedemulators
•Trainingwiththeconfiguredsystem
•Earlylifesupportandassistance
•UserFriendlyToolsSmoothOperatorAcceptance
InvarSystemsprovidesfullsupportthroughouttheprojecttoensureasuccessfulimplementationisachieved.
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TECHNOLOGY
IWSusesthelatestinformationandhardwaretechnologies.Itisdesignedtotakefulladvantageofdevelopmenttoolstosimplifyconfigurationandmaximizesupport.Technologiesinclude:
•MicrosoftWindows.NETclient/serverapplication•VisualstudiodevelopmentenvironmentandC#languageforGUIdevelopment•Webservicesforcommunicationsbetweenprocesses•MicrosoftSQLServerrelationaldatabase
Standardhardwareconfigurationbasedon:
•RedundantIntelserversforwarmbackup•StandardWindowsworkstations•Ethernetcommunicationstoprinters,scanners,otherperipherals
IWSiswellacceptedbytheuser,IT,support,operations,andmanagementstaff.Keytechnologyfeaturesare:
•LatestMicrosofttechnologies
•Screenswithfamiliarlookandfeelcomfortableforoperators
•Configurablemonitoringandreportingtoolsputinformationwheremostneeded
•Configurablelabels,reports,RF
•Accesstotasksandfunctionssecuredthroughlog-incontrolandprocess
•Personalizeddisplays,reports,“favorites”,“mostused”functionsbyuser
IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
SUPPORT
Ourteamhasdecadesofindustryexperiencehelpingourclientstakecontroloftheiroperations.Thisexperienceisanintegralpartofeverysolutionandthesupportweoffer.
Thanks,inparttooursizeandexperience,you’llreceivepersonalsupportfromourexperts.Yourneedsareattendedtobyoneofourprofessionalsandarenotpassedofftoaself-serviceautomatedmachine.
Weoffercomprehensive24/7supportcontractswithproductupgradesandfuturereleases.Operationsauditsandreviewsarealsoavailableforongoingfunctionalityupgradesandcontinuousimprovements.
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IWSInvarWarehouseSystem
CONNECT
CONTACTUSTODAYTO
TAKECONTROLOFYOUROPERATIONS.
Cranfield Atlanta Erlanger GrandRapidsUniversityWay 1718PeachtreeSt.NW1895AirportExchangeBlvd. 5234PlainfieldAveNECranfieldTechnologyPark Atlanta,GA30309 Suite234 SuiteCCranfieldBedfordshire +1(404)418-4971 Erlanger,KY41018 GrandRapids,MI49525UKMK430EQ +1(859)380-6211 +1(616)304-3979UnitedKingdom+44(0)1234-436000
invarsystems.com
