Solution Profile: Food distributor implements robust WMS 16,000 SKUs, 350,000-square-foot facility WMS functionality allows Maines to implement voice technology Combined solutions triple picking accuracy SCE Provider: Manhattan Associates

In 1997, Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc., the nation's fifth largest food distributor in the country, had officially outgrown its distribution centers and was in the market for building a new, state-of-the-art facility. With items ranging from fresh, dry and frozen foods, to non-food items such as cleaning and paper products, the company knew that keeping close track of inventory was a critical component for successful operation of the more than $1 billion company.

The Need for Visibility
"Before building our new DC and implementing a supply chain execution system (SCE), we were very limited in terms of inventory visibility," said Bill Kimler, Director of Systems and Inventory Control, Maines Paper & Foods. "With no insight into where or when product was needed, and nothing in place to track the movement of goods through the warehouse, our problems just kept growing."

The SCE solution gives Maines more flexibility in reconfiguring picking paths and offers improved pallet building so orders can be built on a customer-by-customer basis. It also allows Maines to review "go-backs," which give the organization the ability to streamline picking by determining if items that were out of stock when they were originally scheduled to be picked have since been replenished.

Increased Visibility, and Picking Accuracy
Originally implemented in 1997, the SCE solution has helped Maines gain broader and more detailed visibility across the entire DC, giving it the ability to more efficiently and accurately manage inventory. With this visibility, Maines has the information necessary to expedite returns and customer recalls; meet the increasing demands of its growing employee and customer bases; and manage its diverse inventory with better control and accuracy.

In 2002, Maines upgraded to the most recent version and implemented a voice system. This system enables DC personnel to verbally communicate using a wireless, wearable terminal. The combined solution has enabled Maines to triple its picking accuracy, and the company expects to have further gains.

"Without the SCE solution, we simply could not run our facility," said Kimler. "The flexibility allows us to meet the growing demands of our business, while its open architecture enables us to add other valuable technologies to our operation."

is a Proud Member of the SCE Product Section of Material Handling Industry of America