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By Jud Puterbaugh

You have just spent the last 6 months living, breathing, eating (but not sleeping much) with one and only one focus - "getting live" with your new system. Congratulations you are now "live"! So what do you do now? No, it is not time for Disney World! Actually, chances are you should be finishing the implementation. more...

By Stephen Mulaik

Most warehousing firms misunderstand why they lose on this issue. ...but using radio frequency terminals (RF) to scan product into and out of locations for the purpose of real-time inventory visibility or better inventory accuracy is only part of the story. more...

By Art Van Bodegraven

Why do so many implementations end in disappointment . . . even in catastrophe? What are the key factors driving failure . . . or success? more...

By Stephen Mulaik

Why do some companies get a return out of RF picking methods and others get disillusioned? The answer lies in how a firm views the technology. The successful ones look at RF as a means to an end. The less successful seem to feel that RF alone will inherently improve their operations. Stated simply -you get out of RF what you put into it. For some, no matter how much you put into it, it still is not the answer. more...

By Jud Puterbaugh

In this and many other industries, all too often software consumers and their vendors find themselves in less than healthy relationships; contrary to popular opinion it doesn't have to be this way.  Find out why this is harmful to you and your organization and what can be done to correct these relationships or better yet prevent them from developing this way from the start. more...

By James M. Apple, Jr. and published in Modern Materials Handling Magazine.

Are you getting ready to start a project that will bring significant improvements to your current operation? If so, lots of luck! But, remember to keep your eye on the ball: that is, firmly focused on the ultimate goal: to support the company business, without interruption. more...

By James M. Apple, Jr. and published in Modern Materials Handling Magazine.

For nearly 20 years, the technology of communicating with employes via an interactive computerized voice has been more of a promise than a reality. That is, until a couple of years ago. A combination of improvement in speech recognition capability, more creative scripting and continuous reduction in the relative cost of the technology has propelled voice into the forefront of orderpicking technology. But, maybe more than anything, the popularity of personal music players and hands-free cell phones has made wearing headsets acceptable – even cool. more...

By James M. Apple, Jr. and published in Modern Materials Handling Magazine.

My mother grew up on a small farm. We always spent a few weeks there in the summer. As a child, I stood in wonder as the great thrashing machine was towed up the road and rolled into the barn. Sheaves of wheat, thrown from the loft into a hopper on top, were magically converted into a continuous stream of grain and a growing pile of straw. My job was to count the bags of grain. This rattling contraption, powered by a slapping leather belt connected to a pulley on the tractor, is my first memory of a completely portable factory, or process. more...

By James M. Apple, Jr. and published in Modern Materials Handling Magazine.

“First-time” project teams are a little bit like the youngest athletes at the Olympics. It’s refreshing to see them show-up the old pros from time to time.
When a major project has a shaky start-up, it’s industry news. We expect people with experience to get it right. But, many smaller projects are done by teams with little or no experience with the technology. Contrast these two projects to discover some important things to do, and some to be sure to avoid. more...

By James M. Apple, Jr. and published in Modern Materials Handling Magazine.

40 years ago, Sid Gilbreath, my favorite professor at Georgia Tech, drilled us on the time value of money in our course in Engineering Economy. As a result, I have always felt myself to be pretty proficient at calculating the return-on-investment (ROI) for materials handling projects. But, there are definitely some traps that I have fallen into myself. more...