What are the important steps that a company should take when the company is developing from manual system to WMS?

Companies wants to switch over because of the benefits they produce.

1. To have a successful switch over, an organization must pay attention to the operational and employees sides of the implementation. This aspect of the implementation begins at project initiation and ends well after go-live. All aspects of the equation, from cost to customer satisfaction, must be considered.
2. Since a switch over involves organizational change, it can evoke uncertainty and anxiety. Also, it is a people process. From top management to hourly floor personnel, an implementation must have high level of communication, expectations & support from all levels to succeed. 
3. Must have an expert team comprising IT, MBR & Material Management to initiate & manage the WMS process flow. There are still numerous facilities preparation tasks that must be addressed. These include reconfiguring racks, labeling locations, re-warehousing product, delineating staging areas and installing workstations.  
4. A comprehensive, well-developed training program is essential to the success of an implementation. Besides, Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) manuals needs to be developed as it describe the operational and systems steps involved in each job function. 
5. Making it work - The most essential element in a successful WMS switch over and implementation is hard work. Budgets are certainly not unlimited. But decisions must be based on a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed.

1. Easily traceable storage location names, material descriptions , machine descriptions, component descriptions using alphabetical/numerical characters.
2. File records should be maintained for all transactions in/out ie.. material requests , purchase orders , deliveries in/out.
3. All transactions should be updated in the system.

Initial awareness or traning to be given to the existing employes for the easy move from manual system to WMS.

All the bin locations must be properly labeled inorder to have the currect utility of the products

An inventory should be conducted before the move to WMS in order to have correct fiqures with the bin details for the system updation

All the inbound & outbound process must be set in the WMS for easy operations

Proper training to the staff

Standard Operating Procedures should be understood by all concerned

Important steps to take in developing from manual system to WMS:

1. Develop warehouse operational process flow
2. Get buy in from stakeholders
3. Do process mapping against the WMS and identify gaps
4. Decide on the gaps the must have, nice to have and not required process and functionalities
5. Finalise the agreed functionalities for further development

Warehouse management is the act of organising and controlling everything within your warehouse – and making sure it all runs in the most optimal way possible. This includes: • Arranging the warehouse and its inventory. • Having and maintaining the appropriate equipment. • Managing new stock coming into the facility. • Picking, packing and shipping orders. • Tracking and improving overall warehouse performance. • Most high growth retailers would use automation tools (like some form of Warehouse Management System) to control this part of their supply chain.

Before going manual to system , wall to wall audit for accuracy of physical and manual records and punch into excell and than shift to WMS with all key attributes.

- Defne the most Suitable ERP System as per Product Charactersitic and Process .

- Fix Products Code Number ( very Important ) . 

- Select Suitable racking System in wArehouse .

- Efficient system implementation and traing Team on System.

- customize require modules for each department and required Reports