| In the newest issue of Industry 2.0 magazine, leading | | | | Many of the WCS modules have been running for |
| manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, described | | | | over more than six years.” |
| the “Deciding Factors in WCS (warehouse control | | | | Hite goes on to say, “WCS modular functionality |
| systems.) According to Cutler “The reason WMS | | | | is important because additional functionality can be |
| (warehouse management systems) are no longer | | | | added as required. The system can grow as the |
| providing this transactional role is that when a WMS | | | | customers need to grow. You don’t lose your |
| operates more than a single warehouse, they are | | | | initial investment when new functionality is needed. |
| generally located off site, and tend to lose | | | | We’ve seen this growth in clients ranging from |
| transaction speed. WCS offers configurability and | | | | Tommy Hilfiger to Under Armour to Arbonne.” |
| flexibility.” | | | | WCS reliability is not a ‘buzz word’, it |
| The result is making warehousing a key element in | | | | provides a specific benefit according to Hite, |
| enterprise strategy much more so than just five | | | | “When a WCS goes down, the lost man hours, |
| years ago. The concept of renewed centrality of | | | | late shipments and cost to the warehouse, can be |
| warehouses within supply chains may be a paradigm | | | | tremendous – add diminished customer |
| shift more about how new warehouse control | | | | satisfaction, and it can literally cost the client |
| systems are part of lean efficiency, than simply the | | | | significantly more money. The WCS market has |
| new role of warehouses in strategic thinking. | | | | grown because it has taken on the traditional |
| If a large company wants to know the cost to install | | | | ‘transactional’ processes that the warehouse |
| at multiple sites as well as the stability, financial status | | | | management system (WMS) historically provided, |
| and size of the WCS company, it is quickly addressed | | | | such as order fulfillment, shipping and localized |
| by establishing referrals and a strong industry | | | | inventory control.” |
| reputation. Depending on the organization’s | | | | QC Software is the leading provider of Tier 1 |
| objectives, source code availability may also be a | | | | warehouse control systems to the warehousing and |
| concern. | | | | distribution industries. Since 1996, QC Software, |
| The cost of doing nothing may be most expensive. | | | | utilizing state of the art technology combined with |
| Rich Hite, President of QC Software, ( suggests, | | | | extensive research, development, and rigorous |
| “The most important aspects of WCS for major | | | | testing, has developed the QC Enterprise suite of |
| distributors include dependability, modular functionality, | | | | products. Designed to be modular in nature, easily |
| configurable flexibility, and reliability. WCS is more | | | | configurable, and platform independent, this highly |
| dependable because…it uses standardized modules | | | | scalable solution satisfies the needs of any size |
| that are field proven, versus customized software. | | | | warehouse. |