This article is a continuation of two publications: “Warehouse information systems – system functionality” and “Warehouse information systems – selection methodology”, published in previous issues of “Logistyka”.
Issue 3/2004 discussed:
– the role of information systems in warehousing,
– the matrix of features and functions,
– parametric characteristics of systems,
– indicators used in the methodology.
The article published in issue 4/2004 of “Logistyka” presented the essential elements of the first of two versions of the methodology for selecting warehouse information systems. This version (A) is used for selecting software for a warehouse that is being designed or is already existing but does not have an information system.
The current article presents the basic elements of the second version (B) of the methodology, which allows for verifying the software used in a warehouse in terms of its improvement or replacement.
Methodology for evaluating an information system used in a warehouse in terms of its improvement or replacement
The methodology for selecting a standard information system to support material flow in a warehouse can be used to evaluate an information system currently in use in a warehouse in terms of its improvement or replacement. Nine sequentially implemented tasks are presented below. The referenced tasks marked with A are elements of the selection methodology presented in the previous article.
Task B.1. involves identifying the version of the information system used in the warehouse. If the system does not have a parametric characteristic in the database, it is identified in terms of available functions. The source of information is the user, while the obtained data is verified jointly with the manufacturer or distributor.
Task B.2. is an extension of task B.1. in terms of defining the functions used by the user.
A distinction is made between functions used:
A distinction is made between functions used:
– fully,
– partially,
– unused.
Individual functions of the used system are assigned potential comments. Warehouse user feedback is also collected, which takes into account the cooperation with the software provider to date.
The results of the above identification are used during the implementation of tasks B.6, B.7, and B.9.
Tasks B.3. and B.4. Similar to the case of identifying other warehouse information systems, a parametric characteristic of the used version of the information system is developed. It is added to the existing collection of characteristics.
The article comes from the “Logistyka” magazine 5/2004.