• MANY NEW & EXCELLENT White Papers - View List of All Recent White Papers
• New - Software for Supply Chain Management - Excellent
• New - The Modern Logistics Service Provider - Excellent
• New - Managing Real-Time Supply and Demand Chains - Excellent
• New - Top 10 Considerations For Buying A Bar Code Printer - Very Good
• White Papers Announced In Last Newsletters
• Thoughts on Dead Stock Management - Excellent
• Solving the Supply Chain Connectivity Nightmare - Excellent
• Warehouse Management Systems Perspective - Excellent
• Justifying Warehouse Management Systems - Excellent
• ELPIF: An E-Logistics Processes Integration Framework Based on Web Services - Excellent
• Logistics Execution Systems Perspective - Excellent
• WMS Planning, Design, and Procurement - Excellent
• Supply Chain Metrics - Excellent
• Measuring and Selling the Value of Logistics - Excellent
• Ten Best Practices for Motor Freight Management - Excellent
• The “Network Effect” in a Collaborative Shipping Model - Excellent
• Voice Technology - Good
  

IDII News

Our website has expanded again! New information - Supply Chain & Logistics Websites - Sites with information & educational content. New webpages for books on these topics:

Books on Freight & Transportation - Freight Audit, Loss, Traffic, Transporation, Logistics.
Books on Manufacturing - Production Planning - Planning, Scheduling, MES.

Have Excess Inventory? - Consider donating them to Charity & Non-Profit Organizations

Technology & Software Product News

• Is Microsoft worried about Linux?? Yes it is! Some have tried the Windows upgrade path & Total Cost of Ownership - to realize that Linux is solid and lower in TCO. E.G., E.G., Retek just announced a Linux Port. Lower TCO -- The Linux operating system can run on less powerful hardware while still delivering outstanding performance, which dramatically reduces hardware costs.
  
  Seattle PI says: "Microsoft announced a new deal to license UNIX technology from SCO Group. The move is seen by Microsoft detractors as a bid by the software giant to undermine the Linux operating system, a Unix offshoot, as a competitor." Editors's Note: Perhaps Microsoft is purposely causing a problem among the Unix camp. Microsoft is just funding SCO to continue the disparity & arguing between Unix OS providers, that went on 10 to 20 years ago. SCO is now starting law suits against LInux & Unix providers.
  
  
  
• Delfour Corporation (WMS, 3PL, Oracle, Unix) introduced SmartEnterprise2 -- WarehouseLogic, SmartFreight, SmartYard, SmartDock, Active Desktop and eVista Supply Chain Visibility -- and which runs on the Oracle 9iAS database platform. It also extends the capabilities of Delfour’s 3PL solutions with a new 4PL Logistics Provider tool set. SmartEnterprise2 addresses the needs of asset and non-asset based 4th Party Logistics Providers (4PL) with Smart4Logic, the company’s new tool set for managing 3PL, carrier and customer business relationships. Together, the solutions comprise a complete execution suite consisting of warehousing, transportation planning, customer business relationship management and supply chain tools, along with a suite of invoicing, costing and auditing tools.
  
  Delfour announces Smart4Logic, which offers 4PL providers a complete execution suite of intelligent systems for managing warehousing, cross-dock, transportation planning, customer relationship management, supply chain visibility, business activity monitoring utilizing alerts and events management, and adaptive execution through secured web-enabled collaboration of orders, receipts, and POD’s. Smart4Logic also includes a suite of invoicing, costing, and auditing tools for managing 3PL, transportation, and customer business relationships.
  
  
• EXE Technologies (WMS, 3PL) Still Losing Money. According to EXE's Quarterly Income Statement filed with EDGAR Online Financials, EXE lost $3.2 million dollars in the quarter ending 3/31/2003. EXE is in a very tough "needs to turn the corner" situation, as it burns through it's cash reserves. Editor's note: View this financial data at http://biz.yahoo.com/fin/l/e/exee.html
  
  
• Intek’s delivers New "Warehouse Librarian Essentials". a streamlined & lower cost version of their full-featured Warehouse Management and Control System. Essentials uses Advanced Slot Management technology to track cube and velocity (picking frequency) attributes. Warehouse management features provide real-time control and visibility for warehouse operations such as receiving/induction, put-away, picking, and replenishment. Essentials uses data collection devices to direct operations on the shop floor as well as capture transaction data. “Warehouse Librarian Essentials offers a rich set of configurable features that provide the complete flexibility and functionality required for effective control of smaller warehouse operations,” said Stan McLean, Intek President/COO. “Essentials makes it affordable for budget conscious operations to control their warehouse environment.”
  
  
• J.D. Edwards & Company (ERP, Nasdaq: JDEC) successfully underwent the first phase of interoperability testing and evaluation for J.D. Edwards 5 supply chain management solution for conformance to EAN.UCC CPFR® (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment) standards. The test demonstrated that J.D. Edwards’ supply chain management solution has successfully achieved basic data interoperability for sales forecasts, sales forecast revisions and product activity, which are a prerequisite for certification of full-scale interoperability.

• Logility Voyager Solutions 7.0 Unveiled. Features Include: Performance-Driven View of the Supply Chain, Demand Chain Planning, Extended Supply Chain Planning Optimization, Global Sourcing Management,Global Orders and Global Inventory Visibility, New Transportation Planning Optimizer

   

• Manhattan Associates (Nasdaq: MANH) unveiled a major enhancements to its supply chain execution offering. Highlights of the enhanced version include a new executive dashboard and significant warehousing and transportation functionality. Key new functionality includes:
  • Labor management enhancements - allows companies to proactively plan, monitor and balance employees within the warehouse in real-time against outstanding work;
  • Execution dashboard - provides single sign-on for all components of the Manhattan Associates' application solution;
  • Dynamic inquiry builder - enables users to build customized inquiries on the fly through its Dynamic Inquiry Tool;
  • Slotting optimization enhancements - offers upgraded performance for improved warehousing efficiency; and
  • Global trade compliance related enhancements.
    

• Manhattan Associates to Acquire ReturnCentral. Manhattan Associates (WMS, TMS, SCE) announced agreement to purchase certain assets of ReturnCentral, Inc., a leading provider of reverse supply chain software and solutions. Manhattan Associates will expand its reverse logistics capabilities to provide its customers with an end-to-end returns management solution, which encompasses inbound returns management, returns processing management and outbound returns management. ReturnCentral's solutions will be integrated into Manhattan Associates'Trading Partner Management (TPM) Solutions, which provides customers with real-time visibility and connectivity across the entire supply chain. New functionality will include:

  - A return policy rules engine to add visibility to established return rules;
  - Decision support for return to stock, liquidate and scrap inventory routing to automate stock routing based on item quality and volumes;
  - Automated, semi-automated and manual Return Merchandise Authorizations (RMA) to meet the customer's RMA automation needs and to facilitate the generation of advanced shipping notifications (ASNs); and
  - A robust workflow engine, with a drag-and-drop configuration tool for overall solution ease-of-use.
  This new functionality will compliment the existing returns functionality in Manhattan "s 'Warehouse Management System (WMS), which manages all the physical processes that take place in the distribution center (DC).
  

• Retek Partners With UCCnet To Deliver Global Data Synchronization Platform to Retailers. Retek Inc. will work with UCCnet, a tax-exempt, neutral organization that provides item registry and data synchronization based on industry-developed standards, to improve master data synchronization for its customers worldwide. Retek and UCCnet's item registry and data synchronization services provide an open repository for item, location and trading partner capabilities and enable suppliers to communicate new or changed product data, ensuring that all trading partners are using identical, accurate and standardized item information.
  
  
• Robocom Systems International Inc.(WMS) announces Version 5.0 of RIMS. The new version further supports the goal of reducing the need for the most common customizations by providing tools that allow the user to re-format screens and change field labels and display lengths. The innovative RIMS Tool Kit, a screen and field configuration utility, permits the user to change field lengths, re-label fields, hide unused fields and take advantage of user defined fields. Not only can RIMS customers enjoy savings and flexibility, they remain on a standard version of the software with the ability to upgrade to new releases.

  A major new addition is 3PL Billing for companies operating multi-client warehouses. The new RIMS module differs from other offerings with rigid invoice templates by allowing RIMS users to address their most important need: satisfying customer requirements. RIMS users will be able to track multiple storage and transaction activities and easily bill their customers, flexibility that furthers RIMS' goal of placing control of the application in its customers' hands.

  Among the many other advances are enhanced Kitting with Bill of Material support and added sophistication to Cartonization algorithms used by customers in fulfillment operations. The browser interface now also offers a new look and feel that improves performance and allows users to personalize its appearance.

• QSSI (WMS, 3PL) Releases New Web-based WMS called ePowerHouse. Like the original version of ePowerHouse, the new version allows both PowerHouse operators and 3PL clients to view data related to their inventory, orders and receipts, in addition, it allows 3PL clients the ability to enter orders via the Internet, to be processed by the 3PL warehouse. Although the business focus of ePowerHouse is for use by customers of a 3PL operation. ePowerHouse can be used by members of any type of warehousing operation to provide visibility of data over the web.

  ePowerHouse has been designed and tested to work with Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape 6.x and Opera 7.10 and up on the client/browser side. ePowerHouse can be served by any standard Java-enabled web server.
  

Quotes to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.

• “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."
  - David Viscott
  

• "And I say to you, 'Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and you shall find, knock, and it shall be opened to you.'"
  - Luke 11:9

• MoreFreight.com - For LTL and TL loads. This is one of a few websites that connect shipper with carriers!
  
  

Online Book Catalog - Intuitive Categories

Books on Freight & Transportation, E-Commerce, Shipping, Warehousing, Distribution, Operations, WMS, ERP, MRP, Production Planning & Scheduling, CRM, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Logistics, Facility Layout & Design, Metrics & Measurements. Software Providers SAP, Peoplesoft.

IT & Project Management Books: Software Project Management - IT Management - Software Testing - RFP Development - Proposal Writing.

Essential Guide to Peoplesoft Development and Customization Order From Amazon

"Warehouse & Logistics Software Directory" Order From Amazon or IDII

MRP II Standard System : A Handbook for Manufacturing Software Survival Order From Amazon

"Supply Chain Management Based on SAP Systems" Order From Amazon

Valuable Future Events - Event Calendar is now online!

  May 20, 2003 <------- STARTING NOW <------------------- STARTING NOW
Distribution/Computer EXPO 2003
May 20 - 22, 2003 - Navy Pier - Chicago, IL. The largest Exposition for logistics and supply chain technology including; distribution, transportation, and warehousing. Held in conjunction is the D/C EXPO seminars focusing on the latest trends and advances in logistics and supply chain technologies. Visit our website at www.logistar.com or call our toll free number - 800-338-4112

  June 10, 2003
2003 Provia Software User Conference
"Do More...Get More" - June 10 - 12, 2003 - Grandover Resort, Greensboro, NC. For more information, visit http://www.provia.com/user_conf/Conf_overview.htm

  July 15, 2003
INTERNATIONAL CARGO SECURITY SUMMIT - Workshops
The Sutton Place Hotel, Chicago, IL, USA. Those involved in Cargo Security are encouraged to reserve their places early. Visit our website www.wcbf.com/security/6002 or US delegates call TOLLFREE 800-959-6549 or 312-466-5774, European and ROW delegates call: Freephone 0800-1958 601 or +44-207-872-5891 Ask to speak to Customer Services or the Summit Director.

  July 16, 2003
INTERNATIONAL CARGO SECURITY SUMMIT - Conference
July 16-17. The Sutton Place Hotel, Chicago, IL, USA. Those involved in Cargo Security are encouraged to reserve their places early. Visit our website www.wcbf.com/security/6002 or US delegates call TOLLFREE 800-959-6549 or 312-466-5774, European and ROW delegates call: Freephone 0800-1958 601 or +44-207-872-5891 Ask to speak to Customer Services or the Summit Director.

   July 21, 2003
Maximizing Warehouse Space: The Key to Productivity (WERC Seminar)
July 21-22, 2003
Princeton, NJ
Radisson Hotel

Warehouse space is—or at least should be—a hot topic in every facility. After all, you make daily decisions about product location, picking, putaway, shipping and receiving that all revolve around the layout and design of your facility. So how is your facility doing? Although dock doors and columns can’t be changed, there are some fundamental rules of thumb that will help you maximize the space in your warehouse. You’ll examine all of the elements for planning space on day one, and then on day two you’ll work in a group to redesign a fictional DC using the information you learned.

For all the details, visit http://www.werc.org/seminars/seminars.asp?SEMINAR_ID=30

September 21, 2003
CLM Conference - Council of Logistics Management
Sept 21 to 24, 2003 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. CLM is an educational organization for the logistics professional. Well worth it - High Educational Content. See http://www.clm1.org/ to register.