Released on: September 18, 2008, 4:35 pm

Press Release Author: Thomas R. Cutler

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: QC Software Leading WCS Providing Publishes Industry Expert
Interview

Press Release Body: Recently QC Software, the leading WCS (warehouse control system)
provider published Tedford’s response to some of the key roles of a WCS. According
to Tedford, “If you have a small warehouse, it’s possible to keep manual records or
a spreadsheet, one’s own memory can usually suffice or you can ask a fellow employee
where the product is stored. But as the size of your operation and facility expands,
those methods are insufficient and fail miserably. WMS, (warehouse management
systems) in general, are deployed in facilities to address the inventory control
problem when a facility grows. The primary purpose of warehouse management software
is to control the movement and storage of materials and process the associated
transactions, including shipping, receiving, putaway, picking, cycle counting, etc.”

Kevin Tedford is a seasoned industry veteran with over thirty years experience in
distribution. His worldwide experience includes Red Prairie (formerly McHugh
Software International) where he was one of the original partners, and Forte
Industries where he served as Vice President of Technical Operations. In 2005, he
founded KT Consulting, LLC. During his career, he has helped companies achieve
distribution related operational efficiency and productivity goals through the
appropriate use of material handling automation equipment, information systems and
business process improvements.

Tedford explained the difference between a Warehouse Control System (WCS) and
Warehouse Management System (WMS) noting, “They may sound the same, but they perform
very different functions in the warehouse. Think of the WCS as bridging the gap
between corporate software applications such as ERP and WMS Host systems, and the
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and/or PC-based cell controllers that control
the material handling equipment.”

Tedford also pointed out some of the limitations of a WMS suggesting, “Many
warehouse management systems communicate with material handling equipment such as
Pick-to-Light (PTL), conveyors, A-Frame, Print and Apply, etc. In most cases, the
WMS is interfaced directly to those pieces of equipment. The limitation of the WMS
is that it doesn’t link all of those areas of automation together. The WMS can
download data to the PTL or A-Frames, telling them what picks are required from that
area, but it lacks the ability to orchestrate the flow of material through the
warehouse. It is safe to say that anyone that’s been in a high volume facility
understands that the ebb and flow of material doesn’t go smoothly. Therefore, if you
have one section of the warehouse controlled by a material handling subsystem
running at a certain rate, and another area running at a different rate, you’ve
created an imbalance.”

Tedford believes a WCS help address the imbalance because, “Warehouse Control
Systems were designed to control the warehouse floor and islands of automation. They
provide the capability to route products, and regulate the workflow between areas of
automation. They provide real-time information directly to management to enable them
to take the necessary action in an environment that’s never constant. The mix of
orders in a warehouse on any given day can vary consider ably. The warehouse manager
needs to move people from one area to another to handle the ‘hot spots’. The WCS
provides management with the visibility and the tools to manage the systems and the
people by deploying them in the most effective manner—to get the right product out
the door, at the right time in an uninterrupted, steady flow.”
QC Software is the leading provider of Tier 1 warehouse control systems to the
warehousing and distribution industries. Since 1996, QC Software, utilizing state
of the art technology combined with extensive research, development, and rigorous
testing, has developed the QC Enterprise suite of products. Designed to be modular
in nature, easily configurable, and platform independent, this highly scalable
solution satisfies the needs of any size warehouse.

QC Software, Inc.
www.qcsoftware.com
Jerry List
JerryList@qcsoftware.com
(513) 469-1424



Web Site: http://www.qcsoftware.com

Contact Details: QC Software
11800 Conrey Rd.
Suite 150
Cincinnati, OH 45249
513-469-1424