Receiving Goods: When goods arrive at the warehouse, the receiving process begins. This involves verifying the shipment against the purchase order (PO) or advanced shipping notice (ASN) to ensure accuracy. Barcode scanning or RFID technology may be used to capture data and facilitate automated receiving.
Inspection and Quality Control: Incoming goods are inspected for damage, discrepancies, or quality issues. A WMS provides tools to capture inspection results, record any deviations from expected conditions, and initiate corrective actions if necessary. Quality control checks may include visual inspections, measurements, or testing.
Cross-Docking: In some cases, incoming goods may be transferred directly from the receiving dock to outbound shipping without being put into storage. This process, known as cross-docking, requires careful coordination to ensure timely movement of goods and optimise supply chain efficiency.
Putaway: After receiving and inspection, goods are moved to their designated storage locations within the warehouse. A WMS helps optimise putaway processes by generating optimal storage locations based on factors such as item characteristics, storage capacity, and picking efficiency. Barcode scanning or voice-directed picking may be used to guide warehouse staff during putaway tasks.
Inventory Updates: As goods are received and put away, inventory records in the WMS are updated in real-time to reflect the latest stock levels and locations. This ensures accurate inventory visibility across the warehouse and enables timely decision-making regarding order fulfilment, replenishment, and allocation.
Documentation and Compliance: Inbound processes often involve documentation and compliance requirements, such as recording serial numbers, lot numbers, expiration dates, and regulatory information. A WMS helps capture and manage this data electronically, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and customer requirements.
Vendor Management: Effective inbound processes include managing relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure timely deliveries, resolve discrepancies, and address quality issues. A WMS may provide tools for vendor performance tracking, communication, and collaboration to streamline inbound operations and improve supply chain efficiency.
Returns Processing: In addition to receiving incoming goods, a WMS may also manage returns processing for defective, damaged, or excess inventory. This involves inspecting returned items, updating inventory records, and initiating return authorisations or disposition instructions according to company policies and procedures.
Labour Management: Labour management is essential for optimising inbound processes and ensuring efficient use of warehouse resources. A WMS may include tools for labour scheduling, task assignment, performance tracking, and productivity analysis to maximize workforce productivity and minimize labour costs.
Continuous Improvement: Finally, inbound processes should be continuously monitored and evaluated for opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness. A WMS provides data analytics and reporting capabilities to identify bottlenecks, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and implement process improvements to enhance overall warehouse operations.
The THINK Warehouse Management System has a full-featured inbound module enabling our customers to not only take critical serial number information but also any additional information required.
Are you worried that a warehouse management solution will be too expensive, or that you will be trapped in a long contract? To arrange a demo or discuss your requirements, give THINK a call on 0330 350 0715, email enquiries@tkinv.com or complete the Quick Quote form below. We can work with your business to help save you money and drive down costs.
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