White Glove Services Supporting Warehouse Modernization
Support Your Warehouse Modernization Initiatives
Modernizing your manufacturing and warehouse operations with up-to-date mobile computing and data capture technologies is essential for your company’s competitiveness and inventory management. But like many firms, you may lack the IT bandwidth or expertise in Android mobile devices and barcode scanners. CSSI can make your warehouse upgrades painless with a range of white glove services. Our team provides the expertise and know-how to adopt best practices and accelerate your project – and accelerate your operations!
CSSI Technical Services Include:
CSSI is more than just a source for rugged mobile computers for the modern warehouse and manufacturing floor. We can provide all the managed service and support you need to get your devices operational, and keep them running securely for years to come.
CSSI wraps these services up into a product we call Device Lifecycle Management. This is a one-stop solution through which we will manage configurations, deployment, updates, and troubleshooting for your fleet of mobile devices. We find that this is a great option for overburdened IT teams, and those who lack expertise in the Android OS and/or mobile device management.
Learn More About CSSI White-Glove Technical Support Services
To learn more about our white glove services supporting warehouse modernization and automation initiatives, please contact CSSI.
Warehouse Management Systems Improve Operational Efficiency
Warehouse management software (WMS) is a critical tool for companies which maintain inventory and conduct receiving and shipping processes. In a competitive business world, a well-implemented WMS solution enables your warehouse operation to keep up with rapidly changing supply chain needs, improve customer satisfaction, and ensure accuracy. There are many key WMS features, but which are most critical to support your warehouse operations and operational efficiency?
Here are 5 top benefits of warehouse management software
Reason 1. Improve inventory accuracy and visibility
The introduction of barcode scanning and real-time computer information provides a massive improvement in a company’s ability to understand its current inventory positions and locations on a sku-by-sku basis – even in a multiple warehouse operation. The WMS system supports inventory tracking — noting each inventory movement, the quantities available, and quantities picked. This is a light-year improvement over paper-based processes. Further, a warehouse management software enables the easy implementation of cycle counts and general inventory counts, which enable the company to make frequent adjustments and meet inventory level targets. In our fast-moving business environment, this enables the company to rapidly respond when reorders must be placed, or avoid orders when counts are too high.
Reason 2. Save warehouse workers time
A good WMS saves time and supports warehouse efficiency. By enabling the use of mobile computers, the WMS saves the worker time walking back and forth to PCs and accelerates order fulfillment. By putting information in the worker’s hand, it saves time looking for the next action, playing hide-and-seek with inventory, and aimless walking. The right WMS puts the next steps and the necessary info right in the user’s hand, making his or her life easier. More work gets done with fewer delays and frustration.
Reason 3. Reduce inventory tracking and picking errors
A flexible WMS enables the use of barcode scanners for automated data capture. This eliminates handwriting errors which frequently occur in paper-based inventory management processes. The worker can scan to confirm that the correct item is being picked, or that the putaway location is correct. The warehouse management system provides error messages alerting the worker to picking or putaway errors, saving the company from expensive shipping errors and the resulting customer frustration.
WMS inventory transfer screenCSSI WMS home screenWMS receiving screen
Reason 4. Reduce warehouse employee training time
It’s hard to find workers, and increasingly, the turnover of warehouse workers is more frequent than businesses would like. With that in mind, it’s important to be able to minimize the amount of time required for the warehouse manager to bring a new worker up to productive speed. Warehouse management systems help by providing clear processes and leading the worker through necessary steps. When screen interfaces are easy to understand and ‘next steps’ are clear, it becomes much easier for a new employee to successfully step into a role.
Reason 5. Standardized warehouse processes
WMS software commits your process to a set of code-based rules. It’s easy to overlook, but this requires you to have a well-defined warehouse process in the first place! In implementing a WMS, you will be forced to decide exactly how you want to handle specific jobs. And once implemented, the WMS effectively ensures compliance by your staff by requiring that they adhere to established rules. If a step is required by the WMS, it can no longer simply be overlooked as might happen in a paper-based system.
Bonus Reason: Be Ready For Warehouse Robotics
If our top 5 reasons to use a WMS aren’t enough, here’s a bonus: Warehouse automation is trending, as companies seek ways to improve operational efficiency. Warehouse robotics is an obvious way to improve productivity… but typically, warehouse automation systems and autonomous mobile robots rely on the WMS. Thus, implementing a warehouse management solution now prepares you for future automation innovation.
CSSI Offers a WMS for Dynamics GP
Did you know that CSSI offers warehouse management software developed for companies running the ERP system Microsoft Dynamics GP? WMS by CSSI offers all critical warehouse management features, with the added benefit of customization to meet your company’s unique needs. The WMS platform is highly scalable, and suitable for companies with just a few users all the way up to hundreds of users. Contact CSSI to learn more.
Seeking a Fast Efficiency Lift? Find the Clipboards
Every business seems to have a variety of paper forms in use, often attached to a clipboard. This has always been the traditional way of capturing data or documenting things. Forms are used for a wide range of purposes – QC, shipping paperwork, signature capture, just to name a few. While paper forms are easy to implement, and quickly become embedded in your business, we suggest that this is often not an ideal approach in our fast-moving modern business environment. Going paperless can bring major benefits.
Paper forms have shortcomings
Simple to implement, but problematic in practice. Here are several of the typical issues companies encounter with paper forms, often unwittingly:
Slow – Manual form data entry can be slow, particularly if much handwriting is required. Workers must take care to correctly enter information.
Error-prone – In any case where manual entry is allowed, errors will result. This can occur both when data is entered as well as when paper records are re-entered into a spreadsheet by a different person. Further, correct information may not be entered, or may not follow the desired format.
Poor data visibility – Paper form data is invisible to the rest of your organization until the paper document is ultimately transcribed to a spreadsheet. This may mean that hours, days, or even weeks pass in which information is unavailable to those who might need it.
Benefits of Electronic Forms
By contrast, digital forms address the shortcomings of paper, providing better info on a more timely basis to more people.
Fast – No need to transcribe part numbers or locations – capture data via barcode. Also, drop-downs can eliminate the need to manually enter common data.
Accurate – Minimize manual entry errors, and eliminate the need to re-key data from paper (removing an activity waste as well as a source of error). Further, it is possible to apply logic tests to input form data to ensure it meets expected formats.
Data immediately accessible to the organization – In a fast-moving business environment it’s perhaps most important to note the speed of electronic forms. Data can immediately be made available to key stakeholders, and can be searched for later access. An electronic signature can quickly be captured, or a photo documented. This can accelerate your business operations and customer service, and save you time and money.
Electronic Forms Are An Attainable Digital Transformation
The good news is that CSSI is fluent with a number of electronic form development tools which can streamline and accelerate the form development process to eliminate paper processes. This means that we can provide a solution for you faster and at lower cost. Solutions may be provided as an online form or as locally hosted electronic documents depending on your needs.
Much depends upon the complexity of your electronic form and the digital workflow needs for the data captured. But our team’s experience with this process translates into quality responsive electronic forms which will immediately begin to benefit your team.
Digital forms projects tend to provide quick-hitting benefits. Fast to scope, design, and implement, you can start to get ROI much quicker by eliminating paper forms than through most other technology projects. This is low-hanging fruit for productivity enhancement and cost reduction.
Paper forms are slow and error-proneElectronic forms instantly convey key information
How To Get Started Converting Your Paper Forms To Electronic
Eliminate your paper forms by engaging with CSSI. Our team will work with you to assess your current paperless form needs, and will propose a solution which takes into account the ways in which your digital form data is used. Contact CSSI to get started with digital transformation of your critical paper forms.
Creating ROI using Mobile Robotics for Material Transport
New technologies for warehouse automation and the rise of mobile robotics for material handling have created fertile new ground for improving productivity in the warehouse operation. Most of us have seen photos or video of products from companies such as Fetch Robotics or Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) buzzing around a manufacturing operation, and even more have seen impressive footage of the robotic ‘dog’ from Boston Dynamics performing impressive physical feats.
Intuitively, we understand that autonomous mobile robots benefits the company and its human workers, but we may not have a complete picture of precisely HOW robots provide benefits. Let’s discuss several ways:
5 Benefits of AMRs
1. AMRs improve labor productivity
For human workers to be productive, they must stay on-task, with all necessary material and supplies. Autonomous mobile robots can step in to keep the worker supplied and to eliminate non-productive travel time. No need for the worker to step away from the point of work in search of parts or supplies – an AMR can bring the materials to the worker. With more time on task, productivity rises.
2. Reduce picking errors with AMRs
Shipping errors can be expensive. Not only does the company bear additional transport costs and potential product loss, but there is also a customer satisfaction impact which can be devastating over time. These errors can be eliminated at the source: picking. An autonomous robot which provides picking support, for example with an integrated screen requiring the picker to confirm that the correct item has been selected, can make it near-impossible for the pick error to occur.
3. AMRs reduce downtime caused by wasted travel of personnel
It’s well known that forklift accidents are a constant source of concern for the warehouse and production facility. People make mistakes, and thus human-controlled forklifts will inevitably have accidents. Autonomous mobile robots have developed artificial intelligence with significant and redundant safety requirements to ensure safe operation. AMRs boast arrays of onboard sensors and cameras intended to come as close as possible to eliminating safety incidents. Further, AMRs perform exactly as specified through software, without danger of performance changing due to fatigue, distraction, or boredom caused by repetitive tasks, as may be the case with forklifts under manual operation by a human worker.
4. Reduce new employee training time with AMRs
Worker turnover is higher than ever, and employee tenures are short. It is imperative that companies minimize the time it takes to train new team members. An AMR solution can help with this. By creating standard processes, clear onscreen instructions, and through simplification of tasks enabled by the collaborative robot, it’s possible to train an employee faster. The AMR can also help to support the employee’s training and learning, for example, by providing immediate feedback in a picking operation whether the correct item has been selected.
5. Maximize facility efficiency with AMRs
The autonomous mobile robot is not just for picking operations. AMRs can also be used for the automation of bulk material movement. For example, transfers of cases or pallets can be automated with an autonomous robot. Another exciting feature is the AMRs ability to eliminate the need for long runs of conveyors. Products such as the Fetch RollerTop create a virtual conveyor– which is easily modifiable, extendable, and frees up large volumes of floor space which might otherwise have been blocked with fixed infrastructure conveyor runs.
How to get started with autonomous mobile robots
Start by making contact with CSSI Technologies, Pennsylvania-based experts in AMR solutions for your supply chain management operations. The warehouse and manufacturing operation experts at CSSI will work with you to find your killer AMR application and will propose AMR solutions from leading robotics providers to fit your business. Contact us today to start with AMRs.
Your IT Team’s Android Secret Support Weapon
As mobile computers proliferate in our organizations, businesses quickly come to depend on the availability and reliability of these devices. Handhelds which aren’t ready to go at the opening bell, or which are riddled with inconsistent and confusing configuration, can quickly become expensive, resulting in costly errors, missed deadlines, and worker frustrations.
The Android Device OS Requires a Ready-to-Update Mentality
Just as critical, the rise of the now-standard Android enterprise operating system results in a drumbeat of patches and upgrades which arrive much more frequently than past Windows updates. Your organization must be able to keep up, or you risk becoming susceptible to security risks. Corporate IT teams are often insufficiently staffed to handle these new responsibilities.
For these reasons, CSSI created Device Lifecycle Management, a service which removes the burden of mobile computer configuration and upgrade from your IT team:
How CSSI Lifecycle Management Support Helps
Lifecycle Management is a bundle of services which enable you to outsource mobile device management (MDM) to CSSI. The program can be adjusted to fit your needs, but typically includes:
Maintain managed device configuration standards
Simplify Android device deployment
Ease the process of post-repair handheld redeployment
Manage Android OS updates
Secure Android device data
Enable remote troubleshooting
Android Lifecycle management reduces the risk that you will miss key updates, and ensures that mobile computers are deployed matching approved standard configurations. This simplifies training and improves productivity, while also improving security.
How To Learn More About CSSI Lifecycle Management for Android
Contact CSSI to discuss options for our management of your mobile device fleet. Our team will be happy to discuss our device management program and capabilities.
What are the Best ROI Workflows to Address with AMRs?
It seems like every forward-thinking company is looking for potential ways to utilize autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for manufacturing, internal logistics, and supply chain. Warehouse automation is an attainable way to dramatically improve your efficiency. But how do you decide on your first applications for autonomous mobile robots?
There are several material handling workflows which have been found to produce excellent payback when addressed with AMRs. Keep in mind that your benefits may come from several areas:
AMRs reduce human travel time, allowing you to reduce or repurpose your current employees to higher-value work
AMRs provide greater dependability – AMRs don’t call out sick and follow established processes
If you are searching for your first use of AMRs, we recommend finding an autonomous robot application which is both a) acceptable ROI, and b) easy to implement. Note that the highest-returning workflow may not be the best candidate for your first mobile robotics project if it is complex. You would benefit by having a successful learning implementation under your belt prior to tackling a more complicated, high-integration project. You’ll be able to confidently build on that success in more complex future projects.
The most-attractive use case for AMRs will differ between businesses. Ultimately the ROI will be determined by the benefit derived from each AMR action multiplied by the frequency with which that action occurs. The common application candidates for AMRs are listed below. Think about where these robotic applications may apply to your business, and connect with CSSI to review further.
Manufacturing Applications for AMRs
Removal of waste material / recycling – No need to tie up human workers shuttling bins of waste and recycling from the production line to the dumpster. AMRs can easily be programmed to automate these actions.
Line-side delivery – Are your production lines reliably supplied? Downtime is expensive. AMRs can perform material transport and drop-off raw materials and supplies as needed right at the workcell.
Bus routes – Do you rely on material handlers to continuously shuttle between work cells or departments on a dedicated route? This can be an ideal task for an AMR robot.
Pull-calls – Utilizing kanban type systems which require goods to be delivered from storage when triggered? Mobile industrial robots can step in to perform this task.
Work in process – Contemplating a conveyor belt to move work-in-process (WIP) goods between work cells, but unsure about the cost and highly fixed nature of that solution? AMRs can act as a ‘virtual’ conveyor of items between cells, without the space-consuming aspects of belts. And… with incredible flexibility for reprogramming as your needs change!
AMR as a virtual conveyor beltAMR delivering line-side supplies
Warehousing Applications for AMRs
Pallet moves (inbound or outbound) – If pallets are transported long distances from the dock or production areas to the warehouse, there is a potential to diminish the fork truck travel. AMRs can transport the pallets over the long distance, with fork trucks able to handle the task of put away in your storage racks.
Directed picking – As your human pickers pick-to-tote in the distribution center, they likely spend inordinate amounts of time in transit during this order fulfillment operations. This can be dramatically enhanced by warehouse automation, by allowing the workers to position totes on carts or racks, which are then moved further along by AMRs… freeing up the worker to continue picking.
Putaway – As make-to-stock items are produced in manufacturing, they may be moved to the warehouse by fork truck or pallet jack. This is yet another instance where AMRs can handle the distance travel, freeing up workers for other more valuable tasks.
Directed picking with AMRPallet moves and putaway with AMR support
Connect with CSSI to Further Explore AMRs
Interested in applications for autonomous mobile robots in your business? Is there a different workflow which you would like to address with autonomous mobile robot? Connect with CSSI to discuss industrial automation and warehouse automation! We can work with you to review your potential mobile robotics use cases and identify great ROI candidates.
Manufacturing Advisory Council Publishes Guide To Greater Pennsylvania Manufacturing Competitiveness
September, 2022 – The Pennsylvania Manufacturing Advisory Council has just published an insightful new guide, the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Competitiveness Playbook. This is a must-read for all participants in the PA manufacturing economy. This guide was created after detailed discussion and research by the Council with 500 state manufacturers. It aspires to provide insights and direction for continued economic development, innovation, and growth in the state’s sizable manufacturing base.
Manufacturing Is Significant to Pennsylvania Economic Development
Pennsylvania is a significant US domestic manufacturing power. The manufacturing sector is the state’s largest (13% of output), and manufacturing employment is significant, accounting for 9.5% of state workers. Also important: Pennsylvania manufacturers employ workers earning 33% more than average. Further, manufacturing jobs support 2.5 other workers on average, further amplifying the impact.
Smart Adoption of Technology Can Play a Role in Competitiveness
PA manufacturers face a number of challenges today. Among these are rising production volumes, customer expectations for ever-faster delivery, and hiring and employee retention challenges which complicate the days of operations managers everywhere. Smart adoption of the right manufacturing technology has the potential to solve all of these problems. PA Manufacturers agree: 90% are hiring, and 90% are also looking to technologies such as automation:
Automation is particularly attractive because it acts as a force-multiplier, allowing the firm to maximize the impact of each employee, even as it improves worker safety and job satisfaction. Consider the benefits of picking or line-side delivery via warehouse robot. The worker’s productive time is maximized, and wasted travel is reduced.
Fetch CartConnect AMR delivers racks to desired location without worker transport
Forward-thinking companies are exploring opportunities to achieve significant ROI through technology, even while reducing hiring, training, and retention headaches.
Download the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Competitiveness Playbook Here:
How CSSI Can Help Manufacturing Companies
CSSI Technologies, based in Lewisburg, PA, provides a range of hardware and software solutions which support Pennsylvania manufacturers in improving worker productivity, raising accuracy and visibility, and improving customer service – in manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain, shipping, and more.
With years of experience supporting manufacturing and warehousing customers, CSSI brings to your team an industry perspective and technology expertise which can rocket your business forward.
Contact CSSI To Boost Manufacturing Competitiveness
To discuss improvement of your manufacturing competitiveness, contact CSSI to start a conversation. We look forward to speaking you about your operation!
Need additional state assistance with your manufacturing operation? Contact PA’s network of industrial resource centers for connection with support and resources.
Interested in more reading? Check out Zebra’s insightful Manufacturing Vision Study , for a detailed perspective on where global and American manufacturing leaders plan to invest for competitive advancement:
The Rising Need for Data and Device Security
Today’s warehouses can’t compromise on data security. Cyber criminals are smarter, and the costs of hacks and data theft are higher. IT experts recommend deploying security patches as soon as they are available, and keeping your OS up-to-date with the latest version.
But this is hard to implement in practice as your fleets of mobile computers become larger and spread out over larger facilities, or multiple facilities in ever-broader geographical areas. Not to mention – your IT teams have limited time and many competing responsibilities. CSSI Technologies can help! CSSI’s Device Lifecycle Management program enables you to remove the burden of managing, updating, and deploying mobile computers. Or consider LifeGuard for Android, a Zebra service which protects Zebra devices with automatic updates and patches.
Zebra LifeGuard for Android
Zebra’s LifeGuard enables you to protect your Zebra devices with automatic updates and patches. This makes it easier for you manage updates, and provides a user-friendly program to simplify your overview of your fleet.
Maximize enterprise mobile user productivity and minimize IT complexities over the lifespan of Zebra mobile device.
LifeGuard delivers regular OS updates required to stay on top of emerging security threats, while always allowing you to migrate to new versions at your own pace.
Beginning with Android 11, you get more control over the management of security updates through new options — including a new Auto Update feature, Dynamic Packaging to update with a single smaller file, plus support for Google A/B streaming to update silently in the background.
Contact CSSI
To learn more about LifeGuard for Android or Device Lifecycle Management, please contact CSSI.
Autonomous Mobile Robots Drive Operations Productivity
In these days of labor shortages and rising expenses, warehouses and fulfillment centers are seeking technologies which can address these problems as well as the challenge of rising operating volumes. The Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR), or warehouse robot, is the perfect technology to address supply chain pain points. Warehouse automation augments your human staff, enabling them to focus on higher-value activities, and reducing the amount of manned travel in your facility.
So what is an Autonomous Mobile Robot? Autonomous Mobile Robots are freely operating material handling devices which can be quickly trained to perform a broad variety of material movement tasks. The AMR uses a sophisticated mix of sensors and cameras to ‘see’, and powerful obstacle detection artificial intelligence enables it to safely operate independent of human guidance. The AMR’s action can be triggered by user input (a barcode, button press, or RFID signal), and will proceed to perform the task as directed. Examples of tasks for warehouse robotics might include pallet movement, warehouse case or rack movement, support for human workers in picking and order fulfillment, material handling, ‘virtual conveyor belt’ functionality, or removal of trash/recycling.
An Autonomous Robot navigates its way through your facility using a mix of sensors and cameras. This is different than the older Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), which travels along pre-defined routes typically demarked by wires, magnetic strips, or sensors. Autonomous Guided Vehicles can be effective, but they are less ‘smart’. AGVs take more effort to setup because of the infrastructure requirements, which also means that they are less flexible and versatile – changing functions or routes can mean remarking the facility to accommodate.
Autonomous Mobile Robots, on the other hand, do not require wires or magnetic strips to be installed in the facility. Truly autonomous, the AMR provides flexible industrial automation of critical supply chain workflows. If its preferred path is blocked by obstacles, the AMR can find a new path. Also, AMRs can quickly be assigned new tasks and routes without modifications to the physical infrastructure of the plant. AMRs will also meet safety requirements – they are able to safely work alongside people, maintaining a situational awareness which enables the robots to avoid hazards.
When To Consider Autonomous Mobile Robots
The Autonomous Mobile Robot market is growing very fast as companies seek gains through warehouse automation. AMR deployments aren’t the solution in every case, but they can be extremely impactful in situations where:
Labor shortages and rising costs for material handling are concerning to you
You have frequently repeated movements of items or materials
The beginning and ending locations for the material movement is well defined
Your people lose meaningful amounts of time by transporting items around your facility
You are burdened with a stationery and inflexible conveyor system, and would prefer flexibility
Are Your Mobile Scanner Batteries Ready For the Workday?
Proactive maintenance, rather than reactive crisis management, is the key to a successful operating environment. Batteries, in particular, are a frequent point of failure. When it comes to managing growing fleets of mobile computers and rugged tablets, it gets harder and harder to stay ahead of battery power problems. Luckily, CSSI has smart battery management system solutions which allow you to quickly identify rechargeable battery issues before they become a crisis and interrupt a work shift.
The Shocking High Cost of Warehouse Downtime
Studies show that 1 hour of unplanned downtime can cost up to $10,000 per hour… and about 45% of downtime is a direct result of hardware failure.
Several Root Causes of Mobile Device Battery Failures
Process Failures
Most commonly, devices are not able to function as required during the work day simplyl because procedures were not followed:
Mobile units were not properly connected to chargers
Mobile units have gone missing and have not been returned to the correct location
Equipment Failures
Less frequently, devices are not able to function due to problems or deterioration with the equipment itself:
Battery life is nearing its end, and remaining battery capacity is insufficient – charge can no longer be accepted due to poor battery health
Battery charging units have gone bad and are no longer capable of charging
Mobile devices themselves have some issue which impacts rate of battery drain or charge
Smart Mobile Device Battery Management
Whether battery pack problems are due to process or equipment failure, smart mobile device battery management software can help.
Smart battery software provides notice of charging status across the entire device fleet – quickly identifying devices with low battery level
Proactively notify teams of units with poor rechargeable battery health and low charge capacity, indicating that batteries need to be replaced or retired
Provide notice of devices which have gone missing and are not properly accounted for
Produce metrics which allow you to predict battery power life cycles and proactively mitigate downtime so you can reallocate time spent searching for uncharged batteries to more important tasks.
Contact CSSI For Mobile Device Battery Management
To discuss mobile battery monitor options with CSSI, please contact us . We would be glad to work with you to discussy battery performance tools to improve your mobile device uptime.
