Eland Electrcial

The move seemed to have everything in its favour – one location instead of four, better access to all points of the UK from a centrally located distribution centre, no more hassle around crowded London roads and last, but by no means least, the ability to design and then work from a purpose built 33,000 sq ft warehouse, with a 10 metre working height (absolute bliss in an industry where ‘sheds’ are the norm). 

Eland was successfully using a business management software package from BML called ‘Charisma’, which was both fast and user friendly.  However, Eland recognised that their new facility, with over 13,000 locations, would benefit from a dedicated warehouse management system and began to look for a package that would work in conjunction with Charisma.

Part of its research included attending trade shows where software providers were exhibiting.  It was at one of these that Eland met Birmingham based supply chain systems specialist, ATMS.  Eland was introduced to what seemed to be the ideal solution – ATMS’s StockTrack PLUS, a warehouse management system designed to improve customer service, efficiency of operatives, stock accuracy and stock control. 

Interface

ATMS demonstrated how StockTrack PLUS would interface with BML’s Charisma and took Eland management to sites where the system was being used.  They liked what they saw and Stock Track Plus was installed at the new warehouse. 

However, moving 3 warehouses to Doncaster virtually overnight with a brand new team, unfortunately meant that only a limited amount of time was able to be dedicated to implementation.  Says ATMS’s Managing Director, Stephen Cross,  “The situation was unusual but not unique and it is crucial for us to recognise when occasions like this occur and work in partnership with the customer to ensure total project success.” 

Combined Effort

In this instance, it was indeed a combined effort that improved the situation.  Eland Sales Manager Jim Meechan was sent up to Doncaster to find out what exactly was happening.  Said Jim,  “I made it my business to speak to ATMS immediately and they were only too eager to help and to move the solution forward.” 

Keith Hey was the ATMS man entrusted to work alongside Jim, who had by now become Eland’s new Warehouse Manager, and demonstrate how StockTrack PLUS could work to its full potential.  “From the moment we met, we clicked,” says Jim Meechan, “we seemed to be on the same wavelength and it was immediately apparent that although the system needed some ‘tweaking’, together we could make it an extremely useful tool for our business.”

RDT’S

It transpired that the hand held RDT’s (Radio Data Terminals) used to receive electronically transmitted orders from the London sales office, were not being used properly.  These were key to the operation and once Jim was able to convince staff of their value and their ease of use, the job became a lot easier. 

“The RDT’s run the show,” Jim says, “nothing gets done in the warehouse in terms of stock movement without using them.  We have 13 RDT’s and all the team here are now fully familiar with all their functions.  We use them to move stock, receive stock, despatch stock, enquire about and locate stock.  We can even find out where it’s been.  They’re very reliable and although they cost over £2000 each, they’re worth their weight in gold.” 

A key part to the bespoke development that ATMS provided and that Jim and Keith developed, was a method of actually programming the cable cutting processes within the warehouse management system.  Now, when a drum of cable has been withdrawn from its location for a length to be removed, two labels are automatically created, one to go with the order and one to identify how much cable is left on the drum.  StockTrack PLUS then works to tell the operative which location to return the drum to.  It does all this by examining the bar code and storing product in the appropriate place, not necessarily where the drum originally came from.  The cut cable is then sent to the marshalling area, loaded onto transport and dispatched.  It’s quick, efficient and provides excellent utilisation of space. 

Eland’s industrial wholesaling business, which supplies distributors with a range of  welding, hose and industrial products, operates in a different way.

Says Jim Meechan,  “Here we sell in boxes and our customers sell individual items to the end user.  ATMS’s standard WMS is based on a pallet in – pallet out system, so, together, we had to amend it to work for a sell-by-box operation.  We can store items in bulk on pallets, but we utilise the system to locate the appropriate bin and then replenish for quicker and easier picking. 

Transformation

The transformation for Eland has been amazing.  Says Jim,  “Prior to what we do today, a 40 line order could take up to two hours to pick.  Now we can do it in 25 minutes and when we introduce zone picking later this year, that figure will come down by a further 10 minutes.  We’re also intending to increase our warehousing capacity by another 33,000 sq ft this year as a result of an expanding order book from customers happy with the service they are receiving. 

“When I came here we shut at 7pm and used to fax down a list of orders to our London Head Office that we hadn’t managed to get out .  Now we shut at 6pm, by which time all orders are done and dusted.  StockTrack PLUS has changed our lives, there’s less stress – I can honestly say it’s a better place to work, with much better morale.  But we had to work at it with our software provider and that’s the message I’d deliver to anyone installing a WMS.  Work with your supplier and make sure everyone, at every level, is on-board.” 

ATMS’s Keith Hey agrees,  “What we have achieved at Eland is a result of working closely together.  It’s absolutely essential that everyone understands what’s being done and why.  Once you’re all pulling in the same direction, the only way you can go is forward, and that’s where we’re going with Eland.”