• NEW & EXCELLENT White Papers
• New - RFID - The UPC of the 21st Century - Excellent
• MANY more new white papers to be listed in next newsletter!

• White Papers Announced In Last Newsletters
• New - Process Optimization of a Sorter-Based Operation - Informative
• New - Why Batch Pick? - Excellent
• New - Static, Dynamic and Virtual Batching - Excellent
• New - E-Commerce & Online Ordering = Ebuy Center - Informative

IDII News

New WMS RFP with 1,100 detailed questions. Version 8 covers all areas of WMS functionality and includes full question text with a time saving scorecard. New questions in version 8 cover configurability of Task Workflows for inbound receipts and outbound shipments. The ability to "configure" a set of tasks by part number, part condition, and order type is important. In addition, freight rate shopping questions have been extended for many scenario's (parcel, LTL, TL, TL with requirements). Application security questions have been added. See full press release. - Cost is $995 US. Advanced WMS RFI Bundle is $1295 US.

Our website's privacy statement page is updated.

Build a Stronger Relationship With Your Mate - Check out this helpful new webpage!

Technology & Software Product News

• Cadre Technologies (WMS, OMS, TMS) announced it will participate in Microsoft’s Speech Partner Program and that it has accelerated its initiative to deliver speech-enabled functions to warehouse and logistics workers. Editor's Note: Cadre is serious about native speech technology in their products - they hired 5 key people from SyVox.

  Cadre’s Cadence Fulfillment Software will deliver speech directed warehouse management technology in a multimodal configuration, combining speech, bar-code scanning, graphics, text and other data capture/input functions in a single, wireless Windows CE device. Cadre shares Microsoft’s vision that speech will become a mainstream, pervasive technology that is accessible by any device, at any time and from any place.

  Cadence Fulfillment Software is a unified solution that consolidates critical logistics activities such as warehouse management, order entry, transportation management and activity billing in a single data resource. Multiple types of users access the Cadence system, including warehouse workers, managers, clients/customers, suppliers and shippers. Speech technology is planned for multiple functions including warehouse operations and interactive order entry.
  

• Descartes Systems Group Inc., (TMS, Nasdaq:DSGX, TSX:DSG) announced that the Company's leading Descartes Routing and Scheduling solution, Descartes Roadshow is now available in localized double-byte language versions for the Asian market. Targeted to both new and existing customers, Descartes Roadshow now supports two key double-byte languages, simplified Chinese and Korean, with additional Asian languages, such as traditional Chinese and Japanese, planned for the future.
  
  
• Industri-Matematik International Corp. (IMI) Adds Analytics Capabilities to Supply Chain Software. IMI will integrate components of SymphonyRPM to access, analyze and monitor information quickly. The integrated analytic technology, combined with IMI's products, will bind consumer goods and retail industry-specific expertise with analytics to redefine IMI Order and IMI Warehouse applications. The OEM agreement with SymphonyRPM advances the IMI vision for next-generation software to drive performance-driven customer fulfillment.
  
  
• EXE Technologies(WMS, NASDAQ:EXEE) announced enhanced Version 4.4 of EXceed Adaptive Inventory Management (AIM) software. EXceed AIM Version 4.4 began shipping on June 30.
  
  The latest version of EXceed AIM includes several new features such as an enhanced graphical user interface; the ability to factor manufacturing constraints into distribution replenishment; the ability to factor direct-ship merchandise into vendor minimums; the ability to allocate insufficient inventory based on business rules and supply chain needs; the enhanced ability to account for unexpected changes in demand; a new forecast repository; and new maintenance features.

• RedPrairie™ announced RFID Accelerator™, a new application that will enable companies running virtually any distribution technology, including all versions of RedPrairie’s DLx® Warehouse and other packaged or legacy systems, to become compliant with the RFID information-sharing requirements of major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target.
  Compliance - The RFID Accelerator is designed to enable companies to meet the demands of the large retailers without replacing their existing infrastructure. The application provides agents to collect and verify RFID tag information, retrieve related inventory data and pass this combined information to the retailers in advanced shipping notices (ASNs). This will provide the pallet and case RFID-based information that Wal-Mart and Target will require.
  Transition - Companies will need to transition to this stage over a period of time while continuing to leverage their existing investments in RF and barcode infrastructure. To facilitate this dual mode of operation, RedPrairie has integrated RFID functionality with tradition processing so that distribution operations are independent of the data capture source. This will enable customers to take early advantage of RFID benefits, such as increased inventory visibility and accuracy, reduced labor costs and faster cycle times, without disrupting existing operations.
  Scan-Free - RFID technology enables companies to fundamentally redefine distribution operations. Operations currently requiring manual scanning will be replaced by scan-free operations that query, collect, store and transmit inventory information without human intervention.
  
  
• Robocom (WMS) Announces Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) Compliance and Support for Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI). GTIN compliance: The GTIN is used for unique identification of trade items (pre-defined products or services) worldwide within the EAN.UCC System. The Uniform Code Council’s 2005 Sunrise initiative stipulates that by January 1, 2005, all US and Canadian point-of-sale systems must be capable of scanning GTIN’s. The RIMS warehouse management system cross reference option allows RIMS customers to use non-GTIN’s as item identifiers and also track GTIN values by tying the GTIN to an item number. The Tool Kit enables RIMS customers to personalize RIMS to include the GTIN as an item reference by modifying the database and screens to display the new 14-digit value zero-filled, when necessary.

  MI support: RIMS has been enhanced to allow its users to track ownership of product within the warehouse and transfer of ownership from vendor to consignee. Vendors can be offered visibility to their inventory in the RIMS warehouse via an internet connection and limited access to RIMS screens specifically designed for them. They can be electronically alerted when their inventory falls below a specified minimum so they can “push” inventory at the RIMS warehouse - all dependent upon the access privileges granted by the RIMS system administrator.
  

• webMethods Expands Support for Key Retail and CPG Industry Solutions From Manhattan Associates. As companies in the retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry implement business solutions from Manhattan Associates, they will now gain webMethods flexible and scalable integration platform for connecting all of their disparate, yet business-critical applications and systems.
  

  
  

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

• “We must never forget..."

  http://64.177.83.63/liberty/email.htm - A moving slide show for keeping liberty!
  

• "Everything was numbered and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at that time.."
  - Ezra 8:34

• Compare Cell Phone Plans - LetsTalk.com - Great website to save hours of time! Use the "Find & Compare" option to shrink the list to a fast short list, that is semi-comprehensive. Excellent time saver!
• Traveling? - TripAdvisor.com - Great website for checking out hotel reputations and sight reviews that you are planning to see. Great way to help assure a good trip and a good time!
  
  

Online Book Catalog

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

On A Personal Note: Marriage & Relationships

Valuable Future Events - Event Calendar is now online!

   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.

MANY MORE EVENTS - See the Event Calendar!!