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| Real-Time, On-Line Information |
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PowerHouse updates all information in its files as changes occur. Inquiries from both PCs and RF terminals access up-to-the-second, real-time inventory data, order status information, receipt status information, user status information and more. Status information is also available to the host through standard interfaces.
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| System Directed Activities |
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PowerHouse uses portable Radio Frequency (RF) terminals to direct Receiving, Putaway, Order Picking, Restocking, Staging, Cycle Counting and Shipping functions in real-time, optimizing both facility and human resources. Because PowerHouse incorporates and uses changes in inventory levels, orders, receipts and worker assignments as they occur, all real-time system directed activities respond immediately to changing conditions and priorities within the warehouse.
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| Paper Directed Activities |
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PowerHouse can direct any or all activities in a paper based mode using printed reports, pick lists, picking labels, shipping labels, etc. PowerHouse can also direct some operations using paper only and some using RF terminals only, as needed.
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| Bar Code Readers |
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PowerHouse uses bar codes and bar code scanners to identify, enter and track receipts, orders, restocks and inventory. Bar coding maximizes operator efficiency and virtually eliminates data entry errors. Information that is bar coded includes, but is not limited to, product codes, receipt numbers, order numbers, lot codes, pallet IDs, carton IDs and location codes.
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| Multiple Warehouse |
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PowerHouse is designed to manage multiple warehouses with each facility fully defined to the bin level. All inventory, receipts, transfers and orders in each warehouse are managed in the same consistently efficient manner. Information on each product as well as on each location and transaction, in each warehouse, is available on-line in real-time.
Because of its flexibility, PowerHouse can be implemented in a variety of multi-warehouse configurations:
- Independent Systems
: Individual systems, server platforms and local area networks can be installed in each warehouse with each warehouse operating independently. Separate host interfaces would be required for each server.
- Single Server Systems
: A single server system can be installed in a central location to manage all warehouses with communications between the warehouses and the server via a wide area network. In this configuration, only a single set of host interfaces would be required.
- Combination Systems
: Any combination of shared and stand-alone servers can also be used. With data replication available on the server, only a single set of host interfaces would be required.
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| Multiple Client (Owner) |
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Ideal for public warehouses, PowerHouse tracks and manages inventory, orders, receipts, shipments and lots by Client (Owner). PowerHouse allows workers to view warehouse data by individual client or by multiple clients. In addition, PowerHouse can print every inventory, receiving and shipping report, and all picking and shipping documents, by client as needed.
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| Dynamic Work Assignments |
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In PowerHouse, work assignments are driven by the real-time events occurring in the warehouse. PowerHouse maintains a list of prioritized work types (Full Pallet Order Picking, Cycle Counting, etc.) for each operator. As an operator completes a task, PowerHouse determines the next work assignment based on overall warehouse priority, the priority of the operator's work types and the worker's proximity (work zone). PowerHouse also temporarily bypasses tasks that would cause movement conflicts in restricted spaces or aisles.
To speed task assignment and improve warehouse efficiency, PowerHouse automatically assigns workers to their work zones, ensuring maximum labor productivity, minimal deadheading, and greater flexibility. Furthermore, PowerHouse instantly adapts to any number of operators, distributing work evenly among active workers with little or no intervention from supervisors.
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| Multi-Step Task Interleaving |
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In contrast to other warehousing systems, PowerHouse can sequence and interleave all warehouse tasks. PowerHouse maintains a single, comprehensive "work pool" which contains all types of tasks (including user defined tasks such as sweeping, cleanup, etc.) and sequences and interleaves those tasks based on system and management set rules. PowerHouse can, for example, determine that it is more efficient for a selected worker to do two picks, a staging operation, and a putaway, rather than some other sequence of tasks, and then assign those tasks to the selected worker in the pre-determined, efficient sequence.
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| Product Movement Rule Management |
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PowerHouse system tables can be set up to manage complex movement rules, such as assigning only narrow aisle trucks to aisle picking and conventional fork trucks to tasks outside aisles. Any number of movement rules and steps can be set up to automatically manage the flow of product through various types of locations in the warehouse.
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| Activity Tracking and Audit Trail Creation |
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PowerHouse tracks and records all product related activities occurring in the warehouse. In addition, non-inventory transactions can also be tracked. Each transaction is date and time-stamped and can be accessed and displayed by transaction type, user ID, product code or 22 other parameters. Information displayed includes Date, Time, Owner, User, Location, Item, Quantity, Pallet ID, Carton ID and Lot. Any portion of this transaction information can be uploaded to the host system.
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| User Configurability |
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Almost every PowerHouse operating parameter and rule can be accessed through an easily accessible table. These rules and parameters, used to regulate PowerHouse functions (such as putaway and picking) or store frequently used, standard units of measure (standard pallet dimensions, for example), can be modified by the system administrator to meet changing business requirements.
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| Security |
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External access to PowerHouse is password and security level controlled. Within the system, a multi-tier security system controls access to all windows as well as to individual data elements within the windows. Security levels are assigned by User Group and each User can belong to one or more Groups, providing maximum flexibility. All PowerHouse security options can be maintained by the system administrator through simple, context-sensitive prompts.
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| System and Ad Hoc Reports |
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PowerHouse can print or display dozens of management reports useful for operations management and systems maintenance. Reports provided include: Inventory Summary, Overstock and Understock Reports, Location File Listings, Cube Utilization Reports, Open Order and Open Receipt Reports.
All display screens in PowerHouse can be printed on demand. Additionally, PowerHouse lets users change the way data is sorted, filtered, displayed and printed. PowerHouse also provides a print preview capability so users can review and further manipulate reports prior to submitting them to a printer or the print spooler.
In addition, PowerHouse has extremely powerful ad hoc report writing capabilities, inherent in the underlying PowerBuilder application, which allows users to develop ad hoc reports quickly and easily.
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| Industry Specific Modules |
| Apparel |
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PowerHouse tracks merchandise by style/color and size and displays style/color category status - quantities on-hand, available, committed, etc. - by locations, Location Types (categories of locations), lots, orders, receipts and so on. PowerHouse allows users to apply putaway rules, pick rules and restock rules to style/color categories and assign style/color categories to Season Classes, Putaway Groups, Pick Groups and etc. PowerHouse also allows users to apply cycle count rules, such as Count Frequency and Count Tolerance, to style/color categories and select merchandise to cycle count by style/color as well. In addition, PowerHouse allows users to record sizes in one dimension - size 4, size 6 and so on - or two dimensions - 32 waist and 30 inseam, for example.
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| Food |
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PowerHouse reads UCC/EAN 128 catch weight case code carton labels and receives and tracks catch weight cartons. From the date code on the carton label, PowerHouse can calculate such industry standard dates as the Warehouse Sell By Date and the Retail Expiration Date. PowerHouse can also calculate and assign Date Style Lot Codes to cartons at receiving.
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| Publishing |
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PowerHouse receives and tracks Items by Item Number and by a sub-category called Inventory Type which allows users to categorize Items which are identical, save for a superficial difference, under the same Item Number. For example, a book which is priced differently for different countries (i.e., the U.S. and Canada), can be assigned a single Item Number, but a different Inventory Type code for each price. PowerHouse also allows users to define the Publication Status of an Item and identify it as Good, As Is or Stickered.
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