Should you integrate the material handling system on your own?
From Operations & Fulfillment Magazine
The June 2007 edition of Multichannel Merchant asks the question: "Can I integrate it myself?"
"Let’s say, you're starting to plan a material-handling project, which looks as if it will have some conveyor, scanners, a pick-to-light area, a couple of label printers and other miscellaneous equipment. The system also must interface with your existing warehouse management system, enterprise resource planning, or host system.The integration can be done in one of three ways: you can do it yourself, you can tell the hardware supplier that has the most content that they are the systems integrator, or you can hire a company that specializes in systems integration. Which way should you go?" |
The level of complexity will often determine the answer to your question. You also have to consider:
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Will the system you've specified do what you need it to? Have you done your homework to be sure it will?
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Do you have the right information, in terms of SKU's pick rates, cycle times, and other things you'll need to know. Do you know the dimensions of every SKU? How to deal with exceptions? What the requirements for each item tend to be? Integrators and consultants tend to have this information and experience dealing with it.
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Detailed business rules. Do you have them and are they part of the design?
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Do you want to deal with multiple vendors and subcontractors as a project becomes increasingly complex?
