Optimal warehouse management through modern software

A modern WMS not only supports manufacturing companies in managing their intralogistics and the control of their entire internal material flows. It also enables the economical production of trends such as batch size of 1. This is only possible if all processes are consistently networked and information is transparently available at all times so that each component knows when it has to be where and in what quantity and what is to be done with it. For this to be achieved, logistics and manufacturing processes must be integrated. This is made possible with linking WMS and MES (Manufacturing Execution System).

Both systems are equal partners, but use and generate different information. The MES knows what and how much each machine produces, which material is required when, and where it is stored in production. The WMS knows where the required materials are stored and controls the supply and disposal of materials, as well as the transport between production lines. It knows the means of transport, their characteristics and the topology of the plant and can therefore control the optimal routes and times for the transport of goods. The combination of these two systems enables work in progress inventory and thus more space in production, shorter throughput times and real traceability of goods, even with the smallest batch sizes - an important step towards a smart factory.