Key challenges
The client's current site in Ireland was ageing against a backdrop of increased customer demand and legacy software use. They needed extra support with:
Initiative validation: They needed to validate a design change throughout an automated facility with no definitive way to calculate key performance indicators post any proposed mechanical changes.
Global best practice of systemic delineation: The client had an urgent need to define the delineation between the Warehouse Management System (WMS) and the Warehouse Control System (WCS) in logistics tasks. Understanding this strategic shift was essential to ensure they were not limited to a single automation vendor.
Defining the change agenda: Assistance was needed to articulate the current state to enable definition of the future state across physical mechanical changes and enable software initiatives. Key questions answered were how to stagger different initiatives to account for interdependencies to reduce risk as it is a fully functioning operational facility.
Our approach
TMX DC Design and Simulation teams joined forces to substantiate mechanical initiatives whilst defining global best practice on WMS and WCS delineation for automated systems.
The change agenda involved defining the interdependencies of mechanical initiatives and software roadmaps to unlock capacity, build resilience, and mitigate obsolesce. TMX did this through:
Mechanical Stream:
- Reviewed mechanical initiatives for current and future constraints.
- Delivered a sequential roadmap with best-in-class automation initiatives to future-proof the facility.
- Defined what were the critical modernization risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies.
Software Stream:
- Reviewed current software architecture to determine optimal split of responsibilities between WMS and WCS.
- Defined how the facility would transition to the realistic WMS / WCS boundary and what incremental steps were needed to achieve this goal.
- Developed a blueprint of mechanical and software (WMS/ WCS) best practice for global application.
The results
TMX were able to deliver a number of significant outcomes for the client, including:
- Validation of initiatives, through robust simulation KPI analysis to derive which to proceed with implementation sequence and investment prioritization.
- Global best practice and systemic modules required to delineate WCS/WMS roles and responsibilities.
- Global blueprint framework to fast-track project roll out at other sites within the clients' network.