For instance, through the Suggested Purchasing module, if a new type of bakery bread is taking off, a company will see this and know it probably makes sense to boost orders of it, Zimmerman says. Along with offering recommendations, the Suggested Purchasing module lets Morton see sales and average movement, among other data, on each product. It’s possible to make adjustments if, for instance, it’s clear a bump in sales was due to an event or to a holiday. The system also can recalculate suggestions, enabling users to make more informed decisions about how and what they’re buying. As important, the module offers visibility into the calculation behind its suggestions. “There’s no guessing or wondering, ‘Where did that number come from?’” Lenover says. PAPER PICKLISTS S2K also streamlined multiple operational processes. Previously, for instance, Morton employees would print stacks of picklists on paper, by order and storage area, such as freezer, dry, or cooler. Then they’d distribute the picklists, one or two at a time, to selectors. Using a pushcart, selectors would walk through the warehouse picking the items listed and labeling each product by writing the appropriate stop number on the box with a magic marker. Selectors left the completed carts and orders at a staging area, where a supervisor checked them for accuracy. Another worker palletized and loaded the products onto trucks. Completed picklists were left with a clerk who manually entered the shipped quantities and catch-weights into the system before generating an invoice. “This process was slow and required workers to rehandle a lot of boxes and paperwork,” Lenover says. It also provided opportunities for error. The current process is decidedly more automated. To start, orders are imported into voice picking software—another addition to Morton’s mix of technology tools. Selectors wear headsets, barcode scanners, and mobile label printers, and drive a double pallet jack, where a driver is in front with two trailing pallets. When the selectors log in to the voice picking software, it assigns them a unit
The features unique to the food industry within VAI’s S2K solution, as well as the software’s ability to help food distributors comply with safety requirements, were necessary for Morton to successfully operate its business.
of work for each pallet based on the route, stop number, storage area, and other information. Through the headset, selectors are instructed to proceed to a bin location, where they scan the barcode. Once the correct product is scanned, the system identi es the quantity to pick. Labels automatically print from the mobile label printer, and the system instructs the selector to place the product on the appropriate pallet, where the labels are applied, and the process continues. “The selector is able to completely pick two pallets of product by moving through the warehouse once,” Lenover says. Quantities shipped and other information is captured at the time of selection, as voiced by the selector. Cases are clearly labeled and picking data is automatically sent back to the S2K solution. The supervisor generates the invoices when the route is complete. “This process is much more ef cient and accurate,” Lenover says. STREAMLINING ECOMMERCE By using the Roadnet Transportation Suite, a third-party application that interfaces with S2K, Morton is getting a better handle on its routing needs. The tools within Roadnet allow
Morton to map orders and identify the most ef cient way to direct its trucks. Importing this information back into S2K streamlines and provides visibility to multiple operations, like dock scheduling and product receiving. “We have visibility to everything now,” Lenover says. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Morton is currently implementing VAI’s ecommerce solution, which provides each customer with their own portal to place orders, review pricing schedules, and check accounts receivable, among other functions. Eventually, Morton plans to also implement VAI’s Smart Center solution. This includes customer relationship management, and customized dashboards and KPIs, among other features. Through S2K analytics, Morton has created dozens of reports that offer users the information they need to make informed, insightful decisions. Among other metrics, the solution can provide inventory turns and customer ll rates, forecasted demand versus actual, and picking and shipping performance. Adding these tools has impacted Morton’s revenue, as well as operations. The company says sales have grown more quickly after implementing S2K than they had previously. n
July 2023 • Inbound Logistics 189
Powered by FlippingBook