News
New questionnaire for selecting warehouse management systems is online on the logistics platform warehouse logistics
16.03.2015
The validation of the warehouse management systems (WMS) listed on warehouse-logistics.com guarantees the high quality of the information stored in the WMS Database and makes it possible for users to perform a custom selection process and detailed system comparison using constantly updated vendor data.
Team warehouse logistics has once again updated and expanded the validation questionnaire for 2015 to take into account the current market developments and trends and keep the WMS Database up to date for its role as a logistics platform for WMS vendors and WMS users.
The basis of the annual validation of a system is a questionnaire that covers approximately 3 500 criteria. Large structural and content changes were made to the questionnaire this year to ensure that it adheres to the new VDI Standard 3601 Warehouse Management Systems. This standard was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML together with industry experts and it defines the scope of the functionality and performance that characterize an IT system designated as a warehouse management system.
To update the questionnaire for the upcoming validation round it was necessary to partially restructure the functional aspects in the main core functionality categories of shipping, receiving, and internal warehouse processes. This involved adding new questions that covered functionality including archiving, (de) consolidation in receiving and shipping, and functional support for quality control. The additional functionality categories of cross-docking, weight control, handling unit management, package optimization, and scrapping were also reworked and expanded.
The WMS vendors also had the opportunity to indicate what aspects they thought were missing from each question category for possibly inclusion in upcoming versions of the validation questionnaire. Almost 100 WMS vendors were directly involved in developing the content of the questionnaire in addition to the Warehouse Logistics Advisory Committee and the personal discussions that took place at the annual participants meeting in Dortmund.
The WMS Database on warehouse-logistics.com is the world’s largest platform for comparing the functionality of warehouse management systems. By participating in the database, WMS vendors have the opportunity to present their products to the world and have their system validated by the neutral Team warehouse logistics. After a system has been successfully validated, it is awarded a validation stamp – an industry quality seal. WMS users can use the extensive search criteria catalogue, which is based on the database-based WMS Online Selection tool, to quickly find the most optimal system for their warehouse or for their requirements. Visitors to the platform can also view information about validated WMS reference projects for each vendor.
For more information, visit
www.warehouse-logistics.com
www.iml.fraunhofer.de
Contacts:
Dipl.-Logist. Tim Geißen
Phone: +49 (0) 231/9743-227
Email: tim.geissen@iml.fraunhofer.de
B.Sc. Björn Krämer
Phone: +49 (0) 231/9743-180
Email: bjoern.kraemer@iml.fraunhofer.de