The Direct ConneX System provides a suite of modules for warehouse and distribution centers that provides an efficient way for picking orders. Whether traditional WMS functionality such as allocation of orders, picking, packing and shipping, or more advanced WES functionality such as waving and workload balancing, the DCX System has modules to cover all these needs. In addition, with our integration with various picking technologies (PTL, carousels, carts, etc.) and pick methodologies such as batching and cluster picking, we focus on efficient picking to maximize your warehouse throughput.
Since warehouse and distribution centers layouts and available technology vary so much, the Direct ConneX system can be configured with only the modules required by your unique facility to integrate with your existing facility and your existing ERP/WMS systems.
The following functionality can be configured in any combination to increase your warehouse productivity and efficiency.
Allocation: As new orders are downloaded into the Direct ConneX System, the allocation service will analyze the order and allocate products from pick locations to each order line based upon a set of configurable rules. Based upon seasonal or monthly loads a manager can define different pick areas in the system and only allocate to specific areas when the demand and volume are not as high.
Batching: Orders are also analyzed to determine if certain groups of orders would work better to be picked in batch. Paired with the proper picking technologies picking orders concurrently can provide significant performance gains.
Cubing: After orders have been allocated or batched, the Cubing service will determine which shipping container or containers need to be used for each order. Our cubing algorithm is configurable and very powerful. We feel that cubing is much more than just volume calculations. We do full rotation collision detection on each item as well as taking into consideration nestable items and multiples for handling odd shaped items. We will also take into consideration much more advanced options such as DIM weights in order to improve shipping costs as well as pick zones to reduce the number of divert points a container needs to be routed too. All of this functionality is backed up by a full 3D graphics Add-On allowing the operators to see exactly what is going on.
Waving: Following orders being allocated and cubed, they can be grouped together in waves. Our waving system will group containers together by Master wave and Waves based upon a set of configurable rules. This extremely flexible approach allows our system to run in full automatic mode, reducing the need for operators to have to manually create waves, even though they still can if they need to.
Workload Balancing: Once waves have been created, the system will analyze the available waves and the current workload on the system, and will determine which waves to release waves in an organized manner as to not overwhelm any given picking location. Operations managers have quick full control on a per Master Wave and per Pick Area basis of determining what should be released at any given time. They also have the granular control of releasing just a specific wave to override the automated release if so desired.
Picking: The Direct ConneX system has integrated with a many various picking technologies such as pick modules with Pick-To-Light, A-Frames, Voice, and Carousels. In addition, we provide our own Mobile Apps for doing cart cluster picking and pallet picking which can be used in less automated warehouse and distribution centers or in a blended warehousing environment. If required and supported by the technology, our system supports more advance picking requirements such Trait captures (Lot, Expiration Date, etc.) while picking occurs.
Double Check: Working hand in hand with full integration picking technologies and/or our own picking technics, our Double Check process for validating picking accuracy provides quality control for your orders. Double Check rules can be configured to force a quality control check based upon a number of configurable business rules such as specific items, an item’s classification, specific pickers, new clients or weight tolerances. If integrated with an automated sortation system, containers with known picking issues, weight issues, or business rules can be automatically routed to the proper area for correction. For less automated systems our Packout process can launch Double Check directly.
Packout & Shipping: The Direct ConneX System provides configurable pack slip design via SQL Reporting as well as integration which shipper systems to allow rate shopping across multiple carriers. In addition, for more automated systems, our Sort Control logic allows for the advance routing of completed containers and orders to various shipping lanes.
This Add-On is one of the primary Add-Ons that an operations manager will use to check the progress of the orders through the system. The Summary tab shows a chart graph of the order, container, and wave statuses used in the system. Clicking on a status will open up the Details tab, where an indivdual order details can be launched. Lastly, the Hold tab allow a manager to see which orders are on hold and lift the hold once the issues have been resolved. Based upon user rights the ability to Hold, Reject or Reload orders is also available.
This Add-On controls how orders are allocated and allows operations managers to active or deactivate various pick areas for allocation. The results of the automatic allocation can be viewed on a per order basis or on a per location basis to show all orders that are currently assigned to a given location. If allowed an user can also manually allocate any order as required.
This Add-On allows the user to view and study the results of cubing of a particular order or container. This is especially useful when a discrepancy occurs between the proposed cube and the actual cube and can be an important tool to confirm that all cubing settings are correct and that the item and container data is valid.
This Add-On allows the user view the current and pending waves, configure rules for how waving occurs, and manually create a wave from any cubed orders in the order pool.
This Add-On allows the users to quickly verify whether the contents of a container have been picked correctly. Typically the contents of a container are emptied onto a workstation and the users will scan each item before placing it back into the container. As each item is confirmed, the item is moved from the Pending column to the Confirmed column. If an item doesn’t belong in the container, either as a wrong item or an overage, the item will go to the Excess Items column. If all items have been scanned but there still remains Pending items, then the operator knows that items are missing. In the event of short picks or extras, a report can be printed off to allow the operator to deal with the exceptions.