The Satellite Review Magazine The Satellite Review Magazine Vol 2 | Page 15

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n the past, manufacturers and distributors with automated warehouses
have relied on two software systems: a
warehouse management system (WMS) to
manage workflows and product movement
throughout the facility, and a warehouse
control system (WCS) to direct that
movement in real time. Simply put, the
WMS sends the commands to the WCS,
which then tells the equipment, such as
an automated storage and retrieval system
(AS/RS), what to do.
However, as organizations continue to
place a significant emphasis on operational
efficiency, they are finding that utilizing
a WMS and a WCS as separate systems
is presenting challenges in maintaining
proper inventory levels, moving product
and fulfilling orders. In order to ensure that
these two systems are effectively communicating with one another, valuable time,
resources and complex integrations are
required.
The solution to this complexity is a warehouse execution system (WES). A quickly
rising trend in warehouse management, a
WES is a single software application with
integrated WMS and WCS functionality.
Removing the need for different function-specific systems, a WES simplifies all
warehouse communication and material
flow within a facility. Especially befitting
for organizations with high throughput
needs and increased order volumes, a WES
is designed to both receive and track product, while simultaneously matching inventory to customer orders through its order
fulfillment processing capabilities.
Think of a WES as an orchestra conductor, coordinating both WCS and WMS
functions. As orders come in, the system
breaks them into logical units of work.
Using its WCS functionality, the WES then
directs material handling equipment (or
even people, if the operation is not entirely
automated) to execute the action. At the

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same time, the WES’ WMS piece manages
higher-level functions like lot management
and inventory tracking. Everything comes
together in the WES’ software interface,
which provides real-time insight of product
moving in and out of the warehouse. From
there, operators can manage inventory,
orders, workflow, automation equipment
and more.
What if a warehouse wants to introduce a WES but does not yet have
automation technology in place?
Although there is no need for the WCS
functionality, it is still possible to deploy
the WES and utilize solely its WMS capabilities. Then, when needed, enabling the
WCS functionality is as simple as a flip of a
switch.
Once properly in place, a WES offers many
advantages over separate WMS and WCS
applications. Companies no longer require
the superfluous time and resources needed
to ensure that both systems are communicating with each other, allowing them
to focus efforts elsewhere. Also, a WES is
flexible enough to seamlessly interface with
other applications and host systems, like
ERP systems and PLCs, so there are more
opportunities to streamline and connect
other business functions. Plus, because a
WES is specifically designed to work with
automation technology, companies looking
to introduce or expand their automation
capabilities are poised to reap the &V