W&H has worked with the full spectrum of WMS vendors, and countless home grown versions of Warehouse Management Systems. Our software is flexible and modular to allow us to interface with WMS through proven protocols such as TCP/IP and FTP as well as serial communication and terminal emulations. W&H prides itself on getting it right the first time.

Software Design Process

Our process includes a discovery and definition phase, which identifies the project and protocols requirements, ensuring that our customers’ business needs are identified, and a solid solution is designed.

Next, we document everything in our Functional Requirement Specification (FRS). The FRS is reviewed and approved by the customer, and becomes our design document. We then use standard building blocks to design our system: Windows Operating System, Microsoft SQL Server database, a Visual Basic development environment, and many proved modules of our custom code. We then customize it for each customer’s needs and requirements.

Simulation & Testing

After coding is complete, we set up a complete test environment, script simulations of the real world processes, and write simulations of our interfaces to the customer’s host or WMS system.

We also test with our customers to confirm the protocol – either over the Internet, or live, prior to commissioning.

We invite our customers to review our software before it gets to the field in our test environment.

By the time we get to the field, the confidence is HIGH that the project will go in smoothly – and it does.

We write and perform a full Acceptance Test for each customer which demonstrates all system functionality, and then perform extensive training. Support for questions is provided by our project team members.

Zone Directed Pick and Pass is W&H’s software package that directs customer orders throughout the distribution center for picking product where it is stored. This package allows the work to be brought to the pickers/ packers at the storage and picking locations. Benefits include quicker order turning times, and more efficient picking.

Wave Creation

W&H’s software package optimizes picking and sorting by creating waves using custom algorithms, tailored for the customer’s business needs, and product movement profiles. W&H creates the best method to pick the day’s work, and optimizes sorting of the product.

Returns

W&H’s Returns processing software allows the customer to process Returned product quickly and efficiently, whether the returns are to be re-stocked in the DC, or returned to the vendor. Returns are a growing part of every business – quick processing of the returns results in found revenue and cash flow.

Wireless Manifesting

W&H’s Wireless Manifesting uses the newest technology in wireless narrow band RF scanners, with displays, to allow the distribution center personnel to keep track of the location and contents of individual cartons, or shipping trailers. Periodic Audits of outbound or inbound deliveries can be performed routinely to ensure shipment integrity. Audits of carton contents can also be performed. Quick and efficient carton contents or trailer contents allow the DC to have a higher degree of accuracy.

Energy Management

W&H’s Energy Management program provides power (and cost) savings to the DC by turning off areas of the conveyor system when areas become inactive. Power companies often provide financial assistance to the DC when this program is implemented.

Preventive Maintenance Package

W&H’s Preventive Maintenance software package allows the maintenance department complete flexibility in scheduling PM, tracking component maintenance history and ordering spare parts. This package is capable of scheduling and tracking PM activity on everything in the facility, from boilers to conveyors to HVAC. There are no surprises to the maintenance staff when using the features of the PM Package.