DFA offers DLOC+, a Windows 2000/Windows NT, modular Warehouse Management System, developed using Microsoft Visual tools. This powerful tool for your business does not come with the hefty price tag of typical Warehouse Management Systems. DLOC+ has become the WMS of choice for large and small companies alike.

Receiving

DLOC+ receiving includes expected receipts (purchase orders, internal transfers, return authorizations). Blind receipts are also accepted. Receipts can also be initiated by truck. Received product can be directed to quality control areas, staging areas (for later putaway) or (on the fixed terminal) handed off immediately to the DLOC+ putaway module. Batch receiving is supported and allows supervisors to review and correct PO's before they are sent back to the host system. Cross docking to outbound orders is also supported.

Putaway

DLOC+ provides directed putaway on RF terminals (or paper based putaway lists), which suggests the most appropriate storage locations, such as:

• Locations where the product is currently stored, optimizing cube utilization
• Empty locations reserved for that product
• Locations that would be filled to a user provided percentage by the amount of product to be stored or...
• Locations within a user provided travel distance of designated locations.

The operator will ultimately supply DLOC+ with the exact location where the product is stored.

Rewarehousing/Replenishment

DLOC+ establishes replenishment tasks based on forward pick area restocking quantities. These tasks can be initiated either 1) before orders/waves are picked (to allow forward pick areas to be stocked before picking begins) or 2) after orders/waves are picked (to fill the forward pick areas after the days picking is complete). User directed rewarehousings are also initiated from this module. Operators can rewarehouse "on the fly" using the RF device.

Counting

DLOC+ provides cycle counting by item and by location. Counts can be established one of three ways:

1. Through a nightly scheduled job that does not require user intervention.
2. Through the user manually initiating the DLOC+ counting process or...
3. If the result of a normal pick or replenishment drives the location balance to a user specified threshold, count tasks will be created.

Counts can be established using product velocity indicators (to force counts of fast moving or high valued items) or by taking the frequency of past counts into consideration.

Order Processing

DLOC+ provides a module which allows the user to perform logical groupings of orders, and to make adjustments to orders where necessary. Comments are allowed at the order line and order level. The user can establish waves, or groupings of orders, into a logical subset before beginning the picking process. Priority levels can be put on orders and waves also. Waves can be forecasted, allowing the user to see projected order fill rates. The user is given the option of initiating replenishments before the wave is released for picking, to ensure the forward pick areas are fully stocked. DLOC+'s wave management screen contains kitting and transportation management capabilities as well.

Picking

Users can pick off bar coded picking labels and reports, on both RF and fixed terminals. DLOC+ provides directed picking on RF terminals (or paper based lists), which suggests the most appropriate picking locations, such as:

• Locations that will be depleted or nearly depleted if the product is picked from that location.
• Locations that allow the entire order line amount to be picked in a single stop or...
• Locations that satisfy lotting, serialized or LIFO/FIFO requirements.

The operator will ultimately supply DLOC+ with the exact location where the product is picked from. Checks will be in place to ensure that locations under audit are not eligible for picking. The user is also given the option to pre-assign bar coded license plates to orders and/or waves, to facilitate piece picking or ‘pick and pass’ operations.

Shipping/Consolidation

DLOC+ provides a shipping/consolidation module that allows:

• Consolidation – Allows the user to repack or rework product that has been picked. This includes reboxing picked material to meet small parcel requirements and palletizing product for subsequent truck loading. DLOC+ makes extensive use of ‘drag and drop’ operations, to allow the user to quickly build better cases and pallets.
• Shipping Labels – DLOC+ prints common labels and interfaces with Loftware label producing software.
• Loading – Palletized shipments are loaded onto trucks, with tracking capability per pallet load.
• Shipping Documentation – Standard packing lists and manifests are printed, with options by order, wave, pallet load and entire truck shipments. Bills of Lading and Master Bills of Lading can also be produced.
• Truck Closing and Shipping Confirmation – The user can choose to transmit shipping information to the host system when the outbound truck is closed, or through optional use of the Shipping Confirmation screen. This functionality allows the user to process proof of delivery documents and receive returned product back into DLOC+.

System/Warehouse/File Maintenance

DLOC+ provides the capability to load warehouse setup and product information through setup wizards. The system also provides fixed terminal screens to perform necessary maintenance on these tables, such as product information, warehouse location and configuration information, system rules adjustments, etc…

Reporting

DLOC+ provides standard system reporting and an interface to popular reporting tools, if the user decides to generate ad-hoc reports. A built-in function extracts data dumps of user specified tables in spreadsheet format, that can be imported into Excel or Access.

Interface/Internet

DLOC+ supports flat file transfer or direct database access of the DLOC+ database from the client system. A module is also provided for the clients customers to access order information through the internet.