The Skinny on Order Completion Analysis
"Data analysis" is a name given to the process of evaluating and interpreting historical electronic data. In distribution environments, we most commonly look at historical product and order data, to look for patterns and opportunities that are not apparent from observation alone. This month I look at a specific type of analysis which can be done for operations that have a small number of SKUs common to many orders....
Tackling Shipping Costs – Strategies to Save 10%
Best-in-class operations use shipping as a strategic competitive weapon to attract new customers, improve sales conversion ratios and increase profitability. You can typically reduce shipping costs by 10% or more through carrier contract negotiations and other strategies....
Calculating the Cost of Contact Center Turnover
What does it cost you every time you lose a valued employee? Have you considered all the factors (hard dollars, soft dollars, direct costs, indirect costs) you should include? If you haven't, it will be difficult to assess which retention strategies will be profitable for you. The following is a list of costs you may want to include in your calculation. ...
Fulfillment Doctor: The Art of Data Conversion
Question: We are in the process of planning our file conversion as we implement our new order management system. Our vendor is telling us that they normally don’t write a file conversion program for most files. What’s your recommendation?...
Common Errors in Measuring System Performance
When a warehouse manager suspects poor system performance, the first step is typically to check the real data. Unfortunately, more than 50% of the time, system performance is measured incorrectly. Data is only as good as the methods used to calculate it; if something is measured the wrong way, the results will be wrong. This may lead to the justification of system changes, or even an entirely new system, based on imprecise data....
Vendor Troubles? Request a Sit-Down
No matter the amount of planning or communication upfront, there's always going to be a problematic vendor who either ships you damaged goods or consistently ships you the wrong amount. ...
Getting Ready for Holiday, Part II
In the first part of our series on preparing for the holiday, we listed the information that should be gathered for taking your operational pulse. This week, we'll show you how to apply it....
I Can Integrate This System Myself….Or Can I?
Let’s say, you're starting to plan a material-handling project, which looks as if it will have some conveyor, scanners, a pick-to-light area, a couple of label printers and other miscellaneous equipment. The system also must interface with your existing warehouse management system, enterprise resource planning, or host system....
Getting Ready for Holiday 2007
Now is the best time to start planning holiday 2007 because your people will remember vividly the good and bad anecdotal incidents from last year and you will also have the operational and benchmark data available. ...
On Racking and Shelving
Don't know your racking from your shelving? Here's a primer: ...
Crossing Into New Territory: The Multibay Vertical Lift Module
The vertical lift module (VLM) was introduced into the material handling industry more than 20 years ago. In that time, we’ve seen a variety of improvements, ranging from larger tray sizes to heavier capacities. All of these enhancements have been small changes to existing features, but this machine has now evolved into its next generation - the multibay VLM. ...
The Day of the Dashboard
Customer service representatives account for roughly two-thirds of a contact center’s operating costs. In addition to the considerable boost in revenue generated by improved up-sell and cross-sell efforts, well-trained agents provide organizations with a valuable opportunity to enhance the customer experience and improve loyalty. But training is an expensive, ongoing process that represents a significant investment – one that must be well protected. Agent attrition is a huge problem, and organizations are recognizing the importance of implementing tools that not only train agents, but also keep them happy and motivated. ...
Having His Say: A Different Take on Supply Purchase Agreements
I have to disagree with Bill Monk on his comments about supply purchase agreements in the June 6 issue of the O+F Advisor. Ostensibly, Monk reasoned that when evaluating the need to make a capital investment on void-fill machines, one should not blindly go for the promise of a free machine in exchange for buying a supplier's products exclusively. ...
Quick Tip: Think Twice About Supply Purchase Agreements
When evaluating the need to make a capital investment on void-fill machines, don't blindly go for the promise of a free machine in exchange for buying a supplier's products exclusively. According to Bill Monk, director of operations/transportation for basket merchant The Longaberger Co., in the long run you end up spending more money than if you'd purchased a machine independently and contracted for a better deal on the void-fill supplies. Shop around and do the math before you sign, he cautions, and if you do select this option, always have an end date for when the machines will be "paid for" and when you can subsequently shop around for another supplier....
The Fulfillment Doctor on Teamwork….
Q: We want to achieve world-class results in our operation, but our efforts seem to fall short of our expectations. How can I improve the level of teamwork in the operation?...
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