WMS

Maximize Warehouse Management Systems with Process Mining Technology

Short Introduction & Background

Courtesy of Soft Solutions

Warehouse Management System

Ordering & Receiving Goods to the Warehouse

Operational & Business Rules

Document Creation

Inventory Control & Quality

Assurance

WMS

WMS Terminology

Wave – Loop through a set of documents and create optimized tasks for

picking, put away etc., taking under consideration resources, space, volume

and other relevant parameters.

Task – A result of a wave that has a set of instructions that enables data

entry with time tracking and online error reporting.

Storage Zone – Physical or virtual storage space in the warehouse like front

storage, back storage or a gallery.

Warehouse Definitions (in Priority ERP)

Automation

• Real-time reporting on data

• Verification via barcode scanning

• Significant reduction on need to

work with paper

• Eliminates need for data entry

• Eliminates need for quality control

of picking

• Eliminates needs to rely on

memory and personal knowledge

of warehouse personnel

Optimization

• Task Consolidation

• Consolidating orders into one

picking

• Performing a number of

actions in one task

• Task Interleaving - mixing tasks to

reduce travel time, e.g. sending a forklift

driver to put away a pallet on his way to his

next pick

• Inventory Reserve

• Inventory replenishment by level or

orders

• Storage Optimization

Advantages of WMS

So now… how does WMS work?

Warehouse Tasks Details (in Priority ERP)

No. of open tasks for each user

PDA UI Forklift PDA or Laptop UI

Hand Held Device UI

PDA Pick sample

Pick recommendation

Pack Details

Show alternate Bins

Data entry Zone

Next/Previous Record

Copy Record Details

PDA Pick Example

WMS BI Dashboard

Analyzing Warehouse Tasks Handling

with Disco

Example Deliverables

The Planned Warehouse Task Status Flow

Notes: Tasks created by a wave, might be set to start with the status “To Do”. There are several task types (e.g., PUT, PIK), having the same planned flow.

The Required Data

The warehouse tasks data are exported from WMS and saved as Excel or CSV. The file contains the mandatory data and additional attributes (e.g., Task type, Customer ID).

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Task identifier

Task Status

Timestamp of status change

4 Additional Attributes

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Import Configuration Screen in Disco

1. Configuring the data file columns to the appropriate built-in process mining definitions.

2. Importing the data into Disco.

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Overview of the Imported Data in Disco

The Types of the Warehouse Tasks

PIK = Pick PUT = Putting away RPL = Replenish MOV = Moving

Analyzing PIK (Picking) Tasks

Info about the Number of Lines in PIK Tasks

Filtering Tasks with One Line Only

Map Display of the Actual Process - Frequencies

The map displays the various ways PIK tasks with one line were performed. Numbers, colors and lines thickness represent the frequencies of statuses and paths

accordingly.

Statuses & Paths Frequency

Number of tasks starting the process

Number of status occurrences

Number of times a path was taken

Number of times the path was repeated*

*Such loops may indicate inefficiency and waste in the process

The map displays the mean durations of performing PIK tasks with one line. The thickness of the arrows and the coloring of the paths visually support these numbers.

Map Display of the Actual Process - Performance

Display of the Mean Duration in Tasks Performance

The average time of the path between statuses

Locating the Slow Tasks

Average duration of PIK tasks with 1 line is approx. 1Hour. Tasks which take longer then 5 hours are filtered.

Statistical Info of the Workers involved in the Slow Tasks

Comparing Storekeepers Performance

PIK Tasks Distribution Among Storekeepers

The number of tasks allocated to a storekeeper

Comparing Storekeepers Performance

The numbers indicate the mean duration of paths between statuses

Performance of a Certain Storekeeper – Different Task Types

Performance of a Certain Storekeeper – Different Task Types

Analysis by Task Types

Example Deliverables

Task Types Comparison - Frequencies

Task Types Comparison - Performance

Further Analysis Suggestions

By Wave ID (instead of Task ID)

► Waves issues

By wave strategy types

Adding attributes from customer orders (or other ERP documents)

Locating influence/dependency among task types executions

Worker’s performance against established labor standards

Traffic in zones

Dafna Levy

Email: dafnal@nool.co.il

Phone: +972 (0)54-6881739

Web: http://bpmintro.wordpress.com

Disco website: http://fluxicon.com/disco/

Thank You!