IDII Software Newsletter

Truck Simulation Software

There is a new kid on the block - truck simulation.   There is a real need for this - as the cycle of demand produces a shortage of qualified truck drivers.   The goal is to enhance driving skills under a multitude of conditions, while eliminating the serious risk of damages and injuries of real-life accident & hazardous road training.   Virage Simulations delivers a full truck simulation system consisting of the drivers seat, instrument panel, (3) 52" LCD panels, full-motion hardware, surround sound hardware, and software.   

The training scenarios go from basic to advance under various road, traffic, and weather conditions.   Truck configurations can be changed (transmission, engine type, and payload) as well as the environment (rain, fog, snow, or clear weather).  By selecting the type, time, and complexity of the training session, the student begins their learning  experience.  In addition, this simulator software teaches novice drivers how to properly manage the clutch system.   

Lessons can be performed with or without an instructor.    One can record the students performance and review it.    Training sessions may be adapted and reconfigured based on desired outcomes, company goals, & to meet government regulations.  

The student sees a 180 degree forward view plus rear view mirrors.  Scenes reproduce city, highway, industrial, farm, and mountains with various road surfaces.  As mentioned earlier, weather conditions can vary as well.

We appreciate both the well trained seasoned pilots (the US Airways pilots who landed the plane in the Hudson River) and the well trained seasoned truck drivers.   Both of these drivers stay out of the spot light - but how critical their performance is - day in and  day out.    BTW, components of the "perfect order" metric depends on timely delivery, which correlates directly to the training of these truck drivers!  Which components?  (1) Timely delivery and (2) damage free shipment delivery.

Contact Virage Simulations at (514) 856-1556 or e-mail them at info@viragesimulation.com.   Other types of vehicle simulation are available.  Author: Phil Obal. 

IDII News

Attention WMS Software Providers - IDII needs your completed surveys so that you can be part of the 2009 WMS Resarch Reports.  If you have not received a survey, please contact Phil Obal with a phone call at 918-292-8785 or an e-mail to PhilObal@idii.com ASAP.  

Useful & Interesting Sites

Technology & Software Product News

Accellos released V6.0 of Accellos One Warehouse, new features::

• Windows Mobile based handheld interface
• Comprehensive directed putaway module
• Integration with BarTender for user-defined labels and bar coded output
• Extensions to interface with external print engines
• Introduction of Accellos One Common Components which provide a common set of services for all Accellos One products

Accellos Becomes Sage Software Endorsed Development Partner. Accellos One Warehouse now endorsed for Sage BMD Applications.

*** Aldata Solution announced it has successfully completed validation of the Aldata G.O.L.D. retail suite for the IBM Retail Integration Framework.  The IBM Retail Integration Framework leverages open standards including Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), Open Application Group Integration (OAGIS) and Global Standards (GS1) to unlock communications between services, information sources, and business processes, making the store and the retail enterprise one seamless landscape rather than disconnected islands. 

The IBM Retail Integration Framework initiative brings together platform-independent software vendors that deliver proven solutions designed and built for the retail industry. See Aldata press release.

*** Belgravium launch VRS, a new ‘Voice Recognition System".  The system has an operating platform based upon Voxware VoiceXML, VoxBrowser™ software which enables real-time voice solutions for standard warehouse operations. The software is compatible with several of the mobile data capture terminals within the Belgravium range.  Hands-free operation can result in productivity improvements of up to 20% and accuracy levels of 99%. See the full release.

*** Golden Dragon Holdings (PINKSHEETS: GDHI) launches RF WMS module.  Golden Dragon has finished installing its new RF (Radio Frequency) module on itsWMS (Warehouse Management System) platform. The Company has been designing this module for the past 6 months with software developers in China. The RF module will be used with RF handheld infrared scanners to effectively control the inventory in the Beijing warehouse and in supermarkets where the company has products on consignment. See Golden Dragon

*** Log-Net introduces LOG-NET Order Version Management that allows users to track updates and maintain a history of changes for any order.

Features include:
• Snapshot each version of an order received from SAP (or any other ERP system)
• Automatically analyze the changes between the order versions
• Automated notification of summaries or details of order changes to suppliers, production or logistics
• Automated version management of all orders from SAP (or any order system)
• Side by side colored comparisons of order versions or even different orders
• Integrated confirmation of orders and order versions See LogNet Order Version Management details.

*** Manhattan Associates (NASDAQ: MANH) enhanced the Extended Enterprise Management (EEM), featuring instant visibility for Third-Party Logistics providers (3PLs) to manage orders, shipments and inventory. EEM enables 3PLs to consolidate transport of inventory by managing partner-to-partner shipping and providing their hubs with the ability to complete direct fulfillment. Features of Manhattan EEM include:

• A centralized, browser-based solution allowing 3PLs to manage order fulfillment and automate communications with customers;
• End-to-end visibility of orders, shipments and inventory from sourcing to cargo delivery;
• A single, consistent, real-time view of your entire global supply chain for greater inventory control and optimal fulfillment channels;
• Ability to track and monitor supply chain events in real time and respond immediately based on alerts to critical exception events, which may threaten your ability to meet customer commitments;
• Ability to reduce transportation costs by leveraging optimal equipment utilization.

  See Press Release from Manhattan Associates.

*** Manhattan Associates (Nasdaq:MANH) Distributed Order Management Solution fully integrated with WebSphere Commerce from IBM.  DOM, part of Manhattans Order Lifecycle Management suite within the Manhattan SCOPE™ portfolio, enables customers to fill orders from multiple inventory channels and provide packaged capabilities for buying products online with pickup in stores, shipping online orders from stores and orchestrating vendor-drop shipments.

This certified integration between WebSphere Commerce and DOM provides retailers with a complete stack of cross-channel solutions: Commerce for cross-channel marketing and selling and DOM for order fulfillment from an extended supply network, including distribution centers, stores and drop-ship vendors.   Manhattans DOM solution is also certified for the IBM Retail Integration Framework, which leverages open standards to unlock communications between services, information sources, and business processes. See Press Release from Manhattan Associates.

*** MIE Solutions has created revolutionary shop floor data collection software running on windows which makes use of production scheduling to enable a manufacturing shop to go paperless.  MIE Trak Kiosk has an easy to use interface with large buttons which enable employee's to clock in/out for the day, in/out of jobs and issue bill of material to jobs for job costing.