Project Overview

A leading manufacturer of structural components came to Miles Data looking to eliminate the possibility of human error, and to improve efficiency in their inventory process.   Miles Data proposed a solution that involved a custom piece of software specific to the customer’s needs, and a range of hardware options which would meet the requirements of the software and withstand the harsh environments in which the solution would be implemented.

Challenge

The software would need to communicate with an existing database and would need to operate on a rugged mobile computer. Because the areas where data would be collected did not have wireless coverage, the software and the device would need to be capable of batching data and synchronizing when connected to a PC.

Solution

Miles Data Technologies and business partner StrategyBytes collaborated on developing an automated physical inventory system solution utilizing bar codes and mobile computers. StrategyBytes analyzed the software requirements while Miles Data helped determine the appropriate hardware solution. After a thorough business analysis, StrategyBytes recommended their Advanced Warehouse Inventory System (WIS) with a few minor modifications. Miles Data recommended the Intermec CN3 mobile computer based on form factor of the device, ruggedness and operating system. Employees played a key role in the selection of the mobile device knowing they would be the ones who needed to make the migration from manual data collection to automated.

Results

The structural component manufacturer has reduced the time it takes to perform physical inventory by more than 60%. What used to take 90 ‐ 120 minutes, now takes 30 minutes. In addition to the time savings, the manufacturer has better visibility to their inventory and a more accurate inventory. A bonus benefit has been the CN3 mobile computer is used for placing weekly orders. Instead of uploading to a physical inventory, they upload to a PO, and can adjust the order to fulfill an order for a specific truck.

Challenge

Streamline an existing process of inventory management which requires an employee to obtain inventory levels by hand (pencil and paper) and then manually type them into an excel spreadsheet – one at a time.  Because inventory was taken throughout the facility, the hardware would have to be mobile, rugged, and most importantly – ergonomic for the user.  The software would have to be a batch application because the existing wireless infrastructure did not provide coverage in all areas in which inventory would be taken.

Solution

The first step was to determine which piece of hardware would accomplish all tasks at hand, in an efficient manor.  In order for the hardware to work, it would have to meet the following guidelines:

1. Efficiently run the inventory management application
2. Be comfortable for the user
3. Withstand day-to-day abuse
4. Meet budget requirements

The chosen piece of hardware was the MC9090.  Known for its fast operating system, comfortable pistol grip, and rugged casing this device was preferred by the end user after a hands on demo was undergone.

Once the hardware was determined it was time to develop the custom software.  The software would be required to meet the following guide lines:

1. Integrate bar code scanning to eliminate the possibility of user error
2. Walk the user through the inventory entry process step by step
3. Easily export the data from the device to the host application

After working with the end users and inventory managers, the custom application was able to capture all the necessary data from the user, and easily export that data to the host PC.  The programming language of choice was Microsoft C# because of its ease of integration with the Windows Mobile operating system.

Results

A method of capturing inventory levels by eliminating the possibility of human error while recording SKUs, and entering data into the host.  In addition to the elimination of human error was the increase in employee productivity.  By scanning a single (pipe delimited) bar code they were able to replace the manual entry of four individual fields of data – all of which took time and money.

A few screen shots of custom application:

The screen that greets the user when the device is started allows them to specify what action they are performing. In this case they can choose either a ‘Charge Out’ or a ‘Warehouse Return’, as those were the two possible procedures for this specific application.

Upon clicking either ‘Next’ or the tab title ‘Account’, the user is prompted with the following screen – asking them for an account number and work order number.  There is more to this screen than meets the eye because certain GL Acct # inputs would prompt the user for specific values – WO#, Item#, etc.  All of which would be recorded in the back end and exported later.

This brings us to the area of the application that helped eliminate the possibility of human error, and drastically improve efficiency.  Because much of their inventory was bar coded in ‘pipe delimited’ format, we were able to allow the user to scan a bar code to capture all the data that was needed: Warehouse Number, Bin Location, and Item Number.

Once the user hits enter they were able to submit the data, which would write it to an XML file on the device and allow for ease of export once the device was connected to the host application.