What is a WMS Software? Warehouse Management Systems in the Food & Beverage Industry

理解和实现健壮的WMS解决方案对于企业来说可能很困难. Use this guide to understand how you can best meet your business’s warehouse management needs using a WMS software solution. 

What is WMS?

WMS stands for the warehouse management system. 包括食品加工厂在内的许多企业都使用WMS拉菲2注册登录来跟踪库存, from receiving through to shipping. For example, with robust and dependable WMS software, like Symphony WMS, 食品加工厂可以跟踪销售订单，从订单输入到采摘, 暂存, and shipping with a single application screen. Symphony WMS是Carlisle Technology食品工厂解决方案组合的一部分.]

What does WMS Software Do for Food Processing Plants?

WMS software solutions, if implemented correctly with a dependable platform like Symphony WMS, can provide a seamless food traceability process from supplier to customer.

Cost reduction, improved warehouse efficiency, reduced human error, 食品加工商可以从WMS系统中得到精简的仓库操作. 报告允许管理人员做出战略决策，并对仓库操作和需要改进的地方有充分的了解.  

WMS拉菲2注册登录解决方案使仓库管理人员能够以更低的成本更快地驾驭复杂的物流，并提供产品和服务. Software systems achieve these goals with organization, communication, and tracking features that support your work processes.  

Some of the benefits of a WMS for a food processor are: 

• Complex serialized inventory management
• (FIFO, holds, Cycle counting, locations, and warehouses) 
• Label management 
• Sales orders, purchase orders, product costing, and invoicing 
• Pricelist management 
• Reports on purchases, sales, and inventory

WMS in the Warehouse

A purpose-built and robust WMS Software like Symphony WMS:

• Works in tandem with the MES
• Integrates well with plant floor hardware 
• Enables data-collection 
• Seamlessly integrates with front-office ERP and Accounting systems 

MES和WMS协同工作，确保原材料从库存无缝地流入在制品流程, 同时也要确保产成品直接从生产地进入库存. WMS管理物料清单，并与MES协调供应生产线.

WMS拉菲2注册登录与硬件集成，确保简化高效的操作. 移动计算机是与WMS拉菲2注册登录通信的硬件组件之一. Operators can scan finished goods inventory to fill sales orders, label incoming products on the receiving dock, 并执行库存变动，如发放产品到在制品或循环盘点. 仓库中的硬件执行办公室的目标和任务，并将数据发送回WMS拉菲2注册登录进行报告, 查看, and visualizing the data.

Carlisle的Symphony WMS旨在最大限度地减少对工厂车间的影响，同时通过集成扫描仪自动收集数据, 尺度, and mobile devices. 这个过程将最大限度地减少员工对新技术的抵制，并通过减少培训时间，同时消除耗时和昂贵的人工数据输入错误，加速其采用.

WMS拉菲2注册登录可以集成到ERP和会计解决方案中，以弥合办公功能和仓库之间的差距. 当他们的ERP或会计系统没有扩展到仓库时，这对食品加工商是有益的. 

一个好的WMS系统不仅需要办公室的功能，也需要仓库的功能. Symphony WMS系统专门从事工厂数据收集，从底层开始专门设计，以优化生产效率并简化食品工厂内部的数据收集. 

Integrating WMS with ERP and Accounting Solutions

Many ERPs that are well known in the industry, such as SAP, 罗斯, 甲骨文, and Microsoft Dynamics, incorporate WMS systems to complement processes. ERP和WMS之间的集成需求将归结为公司如何决定其ERP的流程功能.

For example, 拥有ERP系统的公司可能使用ERP处理采购订单和销售订单，并使用WMS接收原材料, inventory, and order picking/shipping. A company will need to define the relationship between the ERP and WMS and how it will function relating to the warehouse.

ERP和会计系统(如SAP和QuickBooks)可用于从办公室创建采购和销售订单. A sales representative can create a sales order from the ERP, 通过集成，销售订单信息可以直接发送到WMS中进行挑选.  

Using the WMS, 仓库地板上的操作员将通过手持移动计算机接收拣货信息. Picklists typically contain information such as product SKU, order quantity, and the location of the product in the warehouse. Operators scan the inventory to fill the order, and through the WMS the office can real-time picking information.

The WMS also has functionality with inventory information. 如果公司的ERP正在进行生产调度，那么WMS可以发送原材料的库存信息, and packaging material, 这样加工者就能知道哪些产品可供生产，哪些产品需要订购.

A company needs to identify which system will handle which processes. Once they have marked out the territory for each system, 他们可以使用行业标准方法(如共享表)设计接口, flat file exchange, or web service.

What makes a good WMS?

没有WMS系统会使仓库的操作更加困难. A manual pen and paper system can be inefficient, susceptible to human error, time-consuming, and lead to higher operational costs.

WMS系统可以简化仓库的流程，并提供对日常操作的关键可见性.

What makes a good WMS comes down to two major components. How does it function in the office? How does it function in the warehouse?

A good WMS will augment how the front office operates. Purchasing, order management, 通过WMS拉菲2注册登录可以快速有效地完成订单. Sales Reps create orders, release them to the floor to be picked, approve the picked orders, and orders are shipped out quickly and efficiently with a good WMS.

好的WMS拉菲2注册登录还为办公室提供了对运营的实时可见性. Inventory reports by location, warehouse, 工厂内部的移动使办公室能够实时检查库存水平. Cycle counting, utilizing a FIFO system, 并且拥有诸如QA锁之类的控制是为处理器提供完整库存控制的标准功能.

Traceability reporting is a vital function of a good WMS. 从原材料接收到成品运输，有库存可见性是很重要的. This not only adheres to government regulation, but allows a processor to expand their market, meet supplier requirements for larger-scale distributors, and saves time and money.

Written by: Joe O’Keefe, Account Manager – Carlisle Technology