Johannesburg, 27 Jun 2006
DaimlerChrysler South Africa (DCSA) has improved stock accuracy, achieved better stock tracking on the Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi Motors lines, and gained more efficient administration of its scanners since upgrading its warehouse management system from RangeGate`s Inter-Gate integration suite to its enhanced Mobile-Edge system.
DCSA has also upgraded from the older Intermec scanning hardware to newer Symbol MC9060 scanners, replacing 40 on the Mitsubishi Motors line and 100 on the Mercedes-Benz side, as the Intermec ones had reached the end of their lifespan. Jonathan Holmes, systems analyst, IT Division at DCSA, says the company usually keeps equipment for three years, but had used the Intermec devices for five years. "We opted for Symbol, as it was the most robust technology on the market, featuring IP64 ruggedness that incorporates a rubber casing and can withstand multiple drops to concrete."
DCSA also upgraded its previous Intermec printers to the newer range. "We stayed with Intermec, as it meant we would not have to change the printer language used to download data to the printers, until a later stage," says Holmes.
Mobile-Edge connects the handheld scanners with SAP`s R/3 ERP software. Holmes says one of the major benefits of updating the software is that previously the scanners had to be reloaded manually with any upgrades. This is now done automatically via a radio network updating the scanner with the new version in real-time.
He says the RangeGate Mobile-Edge solution is used right from receiving to line supply.
"When a container comes into the docking station, it is received via the scanners. The parts are then either decanted into pallets of smaller quantities and sent to the warehouse, or sent as bulk parts to the warehouse. From the production line, the line operator will place an order for a certain part via the scanner. In the warehouse those parts will be picked and sent to the marshalling yard, from where they will be delivered to the line.
Holmes says on the server side the system is scalable. "More scanners can be added, as can RangeGate`s Warehouse-Edge, a database that can offer us a great deal of functionality in our warehouse."
RangeGate MD Mark Lilje says the business benefits include ease of implementation, as any changes can be done over the air. "When an update is done on a handheld it can be tested and, if the company is happy with the results, it can be easily rolled out to the other 140 scanners, which saves considerable time.
"The system is more stable, reliable and robust. Only one server is required to manage both production lines. It is also scalable - other solutions can be added, such as Service-Edge - to the same platform."
Holmes says DCSA has been a RangeGate client for eight years. The relationship began when it was still on the OS/2 platform, and then moved to Windows NT with the Intersys solution. This was followed by the updated version, called Inter-Gate, and most recently, Mobile-Edge.
"From the mainframe days through the different Windows platforms, this version is the most stable," he says.
Lilje says: "Inter-Gate is a legacy messenger which connects the barcode scanning side to the back-end SAP R/3 system. It was operating off two separate servers running the Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi Motors lines respectively. Mobile-Edge has taken DCSA from a DOS-based environment and legacy tool to a new Windows-based system combined into one server, serving both production and warehousing lines.
"From a business perspective, the benefits are not in a legacy product, but rather on the open standard Windows architecture across the board," notes Lilje.
The deal was signed in March and implementation was completed at the end of April for the Mitsubishi Motors line and at the end of June for Mercedes-Benz.
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