Accellos, a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, has issued a case study of AccellosOne Warehouse Management System (WMS) customer NorthGate. Northgate faced the reality that the software they were running was several versions old and they were not taking advantage of features available in newer versions. Following a pain-free upgrade, NorthGate was able to take advantage of new software features and an improved user interface which resulted in streamlining the overall warehouse experience both for handheld and desktop users.

Company

NorthGate is a reverse logistics partner for major automakers and thousands of dealers since 2002. Based in Flint, Michigan, NorthGate works with manufacturers, transportation providers, third party logistics companies and distributors ' enabling them to focus on their core businesses while NorthGate handles the rest. NorthGate manages product returns, recovers usable product and recycles the remains. NorthGate also handles custom packaging for hard-to-ship parts, product kitting and assembly.

Situation

The reverse logistics operation supports a new parts recovery service that allows dealers and parts retailers to return certain items under certain defined conditions. The complex process is supported by AccellosOne WMS. In early 2012, NorthGate underwent an upgrade of the software, installing the newest version of AccellosOne Warehouse Management System (WMS).

Solution

AccellosOne Warehouse Management System (WMS) acts as the hub of the supply chain solution, integrating accounting/order and shipping software systems, electronic data interchange (EDI) systems, radio frequency and barcode hardware and warehouse automation equipment. Combining radio frequency and barcode technology with a robust, three-tiered, Internet-based architecture, AccellosOne WMS delivers a powerful, scalable and flexible real-time warehouse management system that helps boost productivity, reduce costs, shorten order fulfillment times, increase customer satisfaction and deliver a rapid return on investment (ROI).

Results

The software system serves two distinct, parallel activities within NorthGate's parts return process. One involves the standard inventory functions of receiving, putaway, sorting, repacking, and picking. It is maintained as a primarily manual operation in order to achieve the greatest degree of flexibility in the warehouse. The other is essentially a cross-docking process. Parts are received and inspected, their conditions verified and confirmed into inventory records and matched against inbound orders. If an order is found for an incoming part, it is immediately diverted to the outbound dock for shipping.