Inventory

Optimize Your Last Mile

Optimize Your Last Mile Management

Bossard Solutions: Last Mile Management

With the rise in Industry 4.0 and the increased adoption of smart factory manufacturing and smart logistics solutions, companies are working double overtime to adapt and improve their digital supply chains. Needing to constantly improve time-critical deliveries, companies often progress at breakneck speed when leveraging different digital solutions for improved logistics inventory management up until they get to the last mile management – where, unfortunately, they often encounter issues.

Last mile management system from Bossard

Last-mile management is aptly named because it focuses on optimizing restocking times by effectively speeding up the last-mile delivery from a given warehouse, storage hub, or facility to the customer. While real-time data tracking is an essential aspect of today’s digital inventory management solutions, it doesn’t completely solve the problem. This is largely due to the complexity involved in manual inventory counting and disjointed inventory tracking systems within warehouses coupled with having to properly track and monitor delivery and drivers in real-time.

Optimize Your Last Mile with Bossard

Replenishment process with Bossard Last Mile Management

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Demand request
At the work cell, a demand request is triggered semi- or fully automated – depending on the system.

Digital picking list
The demand request is online transmitted to the Bossard software ARIMS and is added automatically to the digital picking list.

Central storage locations
With the help of a digital picking list, the material can be efficiently picked at the supermarket, pre-assembly, warehouse, etc.

Optimized route plan
The milk run / water spider receives a route plan to replenish the work cells: path-optimized, paperless, reliable and time-saving.

Automated Procurement Solutions

Inventory management in logistics requires a digital solution predicated on a predictive analytics model – one where a cloud-based logistics and inventory management software tracks current usage and anticipates future demand to initiate a reorder, long before inventory counts are depleted. Simply put, it’s the difference between manually reordering when inventory counts are too low and hoping for flawless last-mile management execution versus relying on an automated procurement solution that optimizes replenishment times.

These automated procurement solutions must do more than just track inventory counts. They must do more than just provide a visual representation of current inventory volumes on a laptop or mobile screen. In essence, they must be stand-alone systems that operate independently and initiate reorders without procurement professionals having to manually do it themselves.

Success requires a digital automated procurement solution that tracks current usage in real-time, accounts for infrequent spikes or decreases in usage, and then generates a predictive model of future consumption. That usage data is then leveraged with historical delivery/transit times so that a reorder is initiated at the right time for the right volume.

Combining Automated Software with Proven Hardware

To ensure that last mile management operates seamlessly, today’s automated procurement solutions must be stand-alone, self-operating systems requiring minimal human intervention. They can’t rely on manual processes where users register inventory picks with barcode scanners or RFID scanners. Instead, cloud-based automated procurement solutions must be matched with proven hardware solutions.

Today’s smart scales are incredibly accurate and repeatable weighing systems. When combined with electronic shelf labels (ESLs), they ensure immediate data transfer on all things usage related. When linked to today’s automated procurement solutions, this effective combination can track real-time inventory usage and counts, effectively becoming the backbone of the automated procurement solution.

Optimizing Last Mile Management with Bossard

Bossard’s cloud-based SmartBin smart scale system combined with its SmartLabel (ESL) form an effective combination and multifunctional solution to optimizing logistics inventory management and last mile management. Both solutions are linked to Bossard’s user-friendly ARIMs Mobile iOS and Android App – an intuitive interface that simplifies inventory logistics and supply chain management.

With ARIMS Mobile, you’ll instantly be able to view time-based usage graphs, current inventory counts at multiple storage locations, and critical information on automated replenishment orders and lead times.

If you would like to learn more about how Bossard can partner with your company to dramatically improve last-mile management, contact us now.

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Bossard
July 26, 2024
Inventory, Supply Chain / Logistics
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What is Vendor Managed Inventory?

#4 Vendor Managed Inventory with Bossard

Modern industrial capacities and communications technologies make it possible for vendors to supply their clients with exactly what they need exactly when they need it. The ability to get crucial materials and parts to customers in a manner that virtually eliminates the need for long-term storage and related product loss is a must. Current communications technology enables vendor managed inventory (VMI) to supply needed production items promptly that ensures continued efficiency while also reducing costs.

VMI Explained

Vendor managed inventory offers a great deal of appeal to potential customers who need specific items at specific times during the production process. The best way for clients to ensure they have the materials needed to accomplish their goals is for a vendor to monitor the supply and replenish it before it runs out and halts production.

The vendor might be the manufacturer or a distributor of a particular item that the client needs to continue production. Many industrial operations have limited storage space and incur higher costs when storing large quantities of parts and materials that might not be needed right away. Instead of keeping those items on-site, a VMI program delivers them on time to ensure production continues. 

Benefits of Vendor Managed Inventory

A properly run VMI program reduces production and operating costs while enabling greater workplace efficiency. The vendor provides the initial items and monitors the supply using current technologies that provide real-time data analytics on the client’s supply of goods. The lower costs make clients more competitive in their respective markets while also helping to improve product quality.

As production needs change over time, clients can inform their vendor partners of the changing needs and budgetary constraints. The vendors can either produce the items within the provided engineering specs or use them to locate the ideal products. Once secured and delivered, clients can use the new and improved materials to manufacture better products at more competitive prices. Advancements in smart technology will make already highly beneficial VMI systems even better while regularly streamlining the production process. 

Smart Factory Logistics

With Bossard’s exclusive Smart Factory Logistics systems and solutions, you can experience the benefits of VMI and achieve lean manufacturing within your factory. With options like SmartBin, SmartLabel Cloud, and more, we can automate your inventory management and make sure you have the products you need when you need them. Furthermore, with solutions like Supplier Consolidation Solution, Bossard can help you optimize your supplier base to create efficient supply chain management.

Our interactive ARIMS platform also allows you to have full visibility into and control of your inventory levels and material flow. And with the ARIMS mobile app, you can access the information right from your factory floor.

For more information about our Smart Factory Logistics methodology, email us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com. 

 

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NEXT UP

4 Inventory Management Strategies to Help Your Business Succeed

5 Lean Manufacturing Principles to Improve Efficiency

Bossard
May 14, 2021
Inventory
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4 Inventory Management Strategies to Help Your Business Succeed

When you’re in a business that keeps inventory, having an efficient inventory management strategy is critical to growing your company. Effective inventory management strategies allow your business to track your stock levels efficiently, saving you time and money. Your goal is to minimize the cost of holding inventory without losing the ability to provide customers with what they need when they need it. 

Inventory Management Strategies Matter

Not paying attention to your inventory levels can cripple your business. Even big companies like Walmart have had inventory management problems. They have since recognized these issues and used various inventory management techniques to overcome their obstacles. Here’s how you can do the same:

1. Automate your inventory management

It may work for a while to manually track your inventory, but it will become cumbersome at some point. You’ll eventually need to move to something more efficient. Inventory management systems take the guesswork and human error out of the equation and allow everyone to be on the same page. 

2. Be aware of transit time

Knowing how long it takes you to get a new product in hand will help you plan better and avoid out of stock or backorder issues. If you’re ordering from overseas, that means that by the time you realize you’re out of a product, you’ve now got to wait upwards of four or more weeks to get it in hand again. 

3. Pay attention to the data

Data drives your business in many ways, and inventory management is no different. Knowing the numbers and the history behind your ordering can help you plan. 

4. Be consistent

However you decide to manage your inventory, it’s important to be consistent in how you receive, track, and purchase it. This includes your auditing processes. 

Getting Your Inventory Under Control

Utilizing these strategies are just some of the ways you can make managing your inventory and supply chain easier. Bossard Inventory Management is ready to help you incorporate these and many other strategies so your business can succeed. 

Bossard
March 05, 2021
Inventory, Uncategorized
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