Completed WMS projects
Manor AG
Consulting and Selection of a warehouse management system
Branch
- Retail industry
- Food industry
- Textile industry (clothing, shoes)
The team warehouse logistics was asked by the company Manor AG (Manor) for assistance during the selection of a warehouse management system (WMS) for all warehouses and transshipping platforms in its food section.
„The core of Manor’s business are the department stores which are well-established in all Swiss language areas. And here we only know one central aspect: our customer.“ This is the slogan of Manor, Switzerland's largest department store. In addition to department stores Manor also includes furniture and sports goods shops. Manor owns 74 department stores in Switzerland divided into the sections Multimedia, Fashion, Beauty, Food, Sports, Accessories, Maison and Kids.
Motive and goal
The introduction of a new WMS was initiated by the expansion of the ERP functions of the warehouse management. Partial goals were, among others, the preparation of a function requirement specification and of a list of potential WMS providers. This should ensure, on the one hand, that the WMS meets the current function requirements as well as future requirements regarding the information flow. On the other hand, it should be ensured, that the potential WMS provider “suits” Manor and possesses the multilingual skills that are required in Switzerland. Manor wants a WMS which provides complete IT support while meeting the requirements.
Requirement profile
Main focus was given to the careful definition of the requirement specifications. For this purpose, the storage processes and material flows were recorded during an as-is analysis. Then, the processes were represented plastically and analysed and suitable target processes were developed. The resulting target concept represented the starting point for the preparation of the requirement specification.
The special requirements which Manor puts on the new WMS and its implementation are, among others, the possibility to independently configure changes and new demands as well as for parameterisations.
International market survey WMS
The requirement specification sets the basis for the software requirements profile which was weighted together with Manor's staff. The International Market Survey Warehouse Management Systems by Fraunhofer IML was used to find potential WMS providers. The study offers an extensive overview over the WMS market. Currently, it holds about 3.500 single aspects of more than 75 WMS. During a workshop the team warehouse logistics put the potentials providers to “the acid test”.
- The functions of the WMS were compared and their strong and weak points were pointed out.
- The providers were compared and the company size, number of employees, references, etc. were analysed.
The data evaluation revealed 5 potential WMS providers who met the requirements and were invited to bid. Call for offers and selection of offerers The team warehouse logistics prepared the tender documents for the five remaining providers. The predetermined offer structure allowed for the objective comparison and evaluation of all offers regarding price structure, support services and functions. Together with the team warehouse logistics Manor asked three WMS providers to present their offer on a meeting moderated by the team warehouse logistics.
Result
- The results of the consulting by the team warehouse logistics are: A function requirement specification clearly describing all requirements
- A list of providers whose WMS and business structure meets Manor’s requirements.
- Tender documents allowing for an efficient comparison
- Moderation of the offer presentation by selected providers following by a recommendation of the best suitable WMS
