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— June 21, 2006

Execution Technology

Red Prairie: Dual-Purpose Terminals for Voice and RF Are Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
Dual-purpose terminals, combining radio-frequency (RF) capabilities with voice-recognition technology, haven't reached the point of operational feasibility, according to RedPrairie, the vendor of supply-chain execution software. But such technology should be along within the next year. In a recent update on warehouse and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, RedPrairie notes that the dual-purpose terminal has evolved from standard RF-based units combined with voice recognition, as they begin to standardize on Microsoft CE-based operating systems. By adopting the CE standard, hardware manufacturers have been able to load a voice-recognition client onto the terminal enabled device, so that it can operate as either a standard RF terminal or voice terminal. As of today, however, “none of these devices have been enabled to simultaneously operate in both modes,” RedPrairie says. Dual operation would allow companies to purchase just one type of device, enabling it to operate either way upon boot-up. But there are still some barriers to widespread adoption of that technology. The typical terminal requires specialized function keys to speed up operations, but it's those very keys that RF manufacturers have sought to eliminate as they design “dualie” terminals. In addition, RF terminals with full keyboards are larger in weight and size, reducing efficiency for the typical 10- to 12-hour work shifts running voice applications. Nevertheless, RedPrairie expects these barriers to be removed soon, enabling use of the first true “dualies” in warehouse terminal operations.
http://www.redprairie.com/

ARC Sees Steady Growth in Market for Supply-Chain-Management Execution Tools
The worldwide market for supply-chain-management (SCM) software and systems will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 8.6 percent over the next five years, ARC Advisory Group predicts. With a value of $5.5bn in 2005, that market should top $8.3bn in 2010, according to a new study by the consultancy. SCM applications include execution tools such as warehouse and production management, as well as planning applications geared toward longer horizons. Growth in the planning segment will be “anemic,” ARC says; it's on the execution side where the action will be. “Contributing to growth is increased demand from developing regions that are constructing new plants and purchasing best-in-class solutions to achieve world-class manufacturing capabilities and have their products well-accepted around the world,” writes ARC senior analyst Tom Fiske. Manufacturers are under growing pressure to improve their return on assets, he adds. In the process, they are seeking systems “that better link manufacturing operations with business objectives, that increase their flexibility and agility, and that synchronize their supply-chain operations.”
http://www.arcweb.com/

Book Wholesaler Implements New WMS for Distribution Center
Bookazine, a full-service book wholesaler, has implemented a new warehouse management system (WMS) at its 125,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center. With more than 1.2m titles and relationships with some 25,000 publishers worldwide, Bookazine found itself unable to keep pace with the rapidly growing number of titles and customers in its database. It turned for help to 3i Infotech, a provider of information technology systems. The vendor's Orion WMS allowed the company to streamline warehouse operations. It can now handle full and partial cartons of books directly from the receiving dock, integrate with in-line scales to determine the best fit in available slots, and communicate in real time with conveyor systems to sort and divert product correctly. Bookazine was able to optimize inventory and boost warehouse productivity through the use of radio frequency barcoding, radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging, and automated, handheld data-collection devices. The company needed integration tools that would complement its AS/400-based back-end system and update common data systems across platforms. Orion replaced a “weak link” in the customer's inventory process without impeding the picking, packing and shipping function, 3i Infotech said. The new system has laid the foundation for Bookazine to create a paperless distribution center.
http://www.3i-infotech.com/

Diversified Contract Manufacturer Deploys IFS Software at Two Locations
Tec Industries, LLC, a contract manufacturer of advanced carbon fiber composite products, will implement new business software from IFS Applications at two locations, its headquarters in Orange City, Ia. and the Quatro engineering and development facility in Poway, Calif. Orange City is host to the company's manufacturing and distribution operations. Tec Industries makes products for a variety of industries, including medical device, aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, wind energy and audio. Many of the items are used in diagnostic imaging. The company formerly was affiliated with another IFS customer, Civco, a medical device company. Its success with IFS Applications prompted Tec Industries to choose the same vendor. The goal, says chief operating officer Steve Roesner, was to create a seamless flow of information between the company's Iowa and California sites. IFS Applications allows companies to integrate engineering, production, distribution, project management and other key business processes. The tool will also help Tec Industries to boost efficiency and streamline compliance with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, while allowing it to respond more quickly to changing market conditions and customer demands.
http://www.ifsworld.com/

Capital Gets the Party Started With New Visibility Software
Capital Party Rentals, a party-supply rental company serving both business and individuals, has found a way to streamline its delivery operations. The company is deploying visibility software from Cube Route to plan, track and monitor its delivery fleets in real time. As a result, it can optimize routes, cut labor cost, narrow delivery windows and improve customer service, Cube Route said. Capital's customers include large events such as community festivals, graduations, company picnics, weddings and private parties. It focuses on clients in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Prior to adopting the new fleet-management software, it was using spreadsheets to plan all routes. The Cube Route tool has allowed the company to narrow delivery windows from eight hours to less than three, according to Capital chief operating officer David Stuckey. Through Cube Route's Visibility, dispatchers can create, access and modify planned routes in real time. And they can provide end customers with more accurate estimated times of arrival, since route planning now accounts for activity-based load and service times, in addition to drive times based on street-level data.
http://www.cuberoute.com/

Acsis Converges Its Shop-Floor Systems With SAP Software
Acsis, Inc. has released a software platform designed exclusively to work with SAP xApp Manufacturing and Intelligence (SAP xMII) composite applications. Acsis's Data-Link Enterprise Platform helps companies to fill in missing shop-floor information gaps between people, devices and supply chains. Using SAP xMII as part of the SAP NetWeaver platform, Data-Link unifies shop-floor process automation components, such as multi-vendor device technology, off-the-shelf applications and real-time radio frequency identification and plant analytics intelligence. The result, claimed the vendor, is leaner and more adaptive supply chains. Companies get a foundation on which to address requirements for productivity automation and data analytics specific to the consumer product goods, chemical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries. The converged shop-floor automation platform can be up and running quickly, according to Acsis.
http://www.acsisinc.com/

Apriso, Pertinence Team Up to Boost Supply-Chain Agility
A new partnership between software vendors Apriso Corp. and Pertinence combines manufacturing intelligence and operations-execution functions. The deal integrates Pertinence's Rules Maker and Operations Advisor business intelligence software into Apriso's FlexNet operations execution platform. Customers get a new tool for capturing data and gleaning best practices from product and process history. The integrated offering can help companies to understand and monitor their entire supply chains, while adapting processes for optimized performance. Pertinence's tools help users to analyze, understand and optimize business processes. Apriso makes it possible to follow and apply rules of manufacturing excellence throughout the supply chain. The combined products will be aimed at customers in Europe and North America, the partners said.
http://www.apriso.com/

Qualcomm Devises Critical Event Reporting for Drivers
Qualcomm Inc. has created a new vehicle data-reporting application for use with the OmniTRACS mobile communications system, to become commercially available this summer. The new Critical Event Reporting application can help truckload carriers and private fleets to improve driver performance and operational efficiency while managing liability exposure, Qualcomm said. The application provides a critical-incident record, initiated by either an automatic or manual trigger. Immediately following an incident, the record is automatically sent over the air. According to the vendor, the new application can help truckload carriers and private fleets improve driver performance and operational efficiency, while reducing liability exposure. In a related development, Qualcomm has developed a new server-based business intelligence platform, designed specifically for the transportation and logistics marketplace. The DataVisor platform initially has been developed for use with Qualcomm's SensorTRACS/400 performance-monitoring application. Over time, it will integrate data from a wide variety of Qualcomm applications and external data sources, the vendor said. The initial version provides data in a format that is easier to use for trend tracking, identifying top performances and allowing for better business decisions, according to Qualcomm. SensorTRACS delivers data from a vehicle's sensor inputs or onboard data bus, including individual driver-performance reports, speed-to-RPM ratios and extended idle-time identification.
Critical Event Reporting: http://www.qualcomm.com/
DataVisor: http://www.qualcomm.com/

Emptoris Builds Tool Kit Linking Supplier Management to SAP
Emptoris Inc., a provider of supply and contract management software, has created an integration package that links the vendor's supplier relationship management (SRM) software with SAP applications. The product, designed for Release 4.6C of SAP's R/3 enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, has been certified to provide seamless business process-flow integration, Emptoris said. Based on the SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure component of the SAP NetWeaver platform, the tool can help companies link sourcing and contract decisions with the ERP procure-to-pay process. Emptoris 6 already bears “Powered by NetWeaver” status. It is offered on the NetWeaver Application Server, with integration to the NetWeaver Portal. The pre-packaged system can aid in synchronization of key control and materials master data between the Emptoris sourcing and contract system and ERP procurement execution systems, the vendor said. Contracts are automatically created in Emptoris with valid supplier pricing and payment terms. Purchasing Online Agreements are created in SAP procurement applications directly from qualified contracts, without the need for rekeying data.
http://www.emptoris.com/

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