Vanderlande Brings Continuous Improvement to the Warehouse Process with VISION.BPI

For each warehouse and distribution centre, effective process analysis is the first step towards performance improvement. Vanderlande’s VISION.BPI Business Process Intelligence makes it possible to improve warehouse performance significantly.

Up until now, process analysis has usually been done on an ad hoc basis, using observations and measurements over a short time period. Essential data from control systems is usually not stored in a database, or is kept for only a short time. The result is that analyses of system and process performance are often based on ‘gut feeling’ or at best on data over a short time span, rather than on proper measurements over the full range of operating conditions and workloads. Vanderlande’s VISION.BPI makes it possible to improve warehouse performance significantly.

Add value to the operational process

To deliver measurable added value to everyday logistic operations, Vanderlande has developed a diagnostics and performance management tool called VISION.BPI to continuously work on process improvement. VISION.BPI is part of Vanderlande’s VISION Warehouse Management and Control System software suite. This tool allows costs and throughput times to be reduced and process performance to be improved. As a result, customers are able to improve control of both system performance and their overall logistics process.

Access to operational data

Key aim of VISION.BPI is providing the operational data on which to base the process analysis. This tool extracts and stores the required performance data from the control systems. By automatically generating a wide range of customer specific reports, VISION.BPI provides comprehensive insight into system and process performance, so corrective actions can be taken and performance can be fine-tuned to better meet operating needs. VISION.BPI retains data from the control systems for a longer period, for example one year, in a central database. Linked to the database is a reporting tool which contains a range of standard reports. Customised reports can easily be added to meet specific requirements.

Performance monitoring and troubleshooting

The reports allow performance monitoring at system and component levels, showing faults and errors as well as trends in system performance and workload. Using this information, process optimisation and corrective actions can be taken based on the ‘top 10’ most relevant issues, instead of following a time consuming ad hoc approach. Fast, effective troubleshooting is supported by drilling down to root causes. Actions can even be initiated remotely, shortening response times and reducing on-site service calls. As well as supporting performance optimisation, using VISION.BPI also increases service effectiveness, replacing ‘fire-fighting’ by controlled, predictive maintenance. Preventive maintenance becomes condition-based instead of time-based.

A range of reports for different information needs

Reports can be generated about topics such as predictive/preventive maintenance, tracking and tracing, disturbance and failure and flow and capacity. Vanderlande specialises in designing and building intelligent, IT-driven material handling systems and related services, which cover the entire warehouse process, from Goods Receiving to Shipping. The company has successfully automated more than 1,000 warehouses and distribution centres worldwide.

More information
Vanderlande Industries
Martin Clasen
Tel: +49-2319-7942455
www.vanderlande.com/web/Distribution.htm