MAYbe It's Time for a New Solution

Spring is the time for "out with the old and in with the new." More specifically, at least in the barcoding and warehousing industry that I work in, spring is the time of year where the old solutions get tossed out and new solutions are given a chance to succeed or fail. These solutions can range from label printing and barcode scanning applications to whole ERP upgrades and sitewide wireless improvements. In either case, now is a great time to figure out what needs to go and what needs to stay. But where does this process begin, and what does it look like?

Problem Definition

First things first: what is the problem that needs to be solved? Most solutions that are currently in place have been in place for years, back when the problems were likely different and potentially much simpler. Now that things move faster than ever it's possible that a solution is now moving slower than desired, or at the very least, isn't working as it once did. This means a great first step in deciding what to toss out is to re-evaluate the problem. Is the shipping department falling behind? Maybe production is losing product on the shelves? How about the wireless network, is it acting really wonky lately? All of these are common problems with common solutions, but they need to be diagnosed first.

Planning

Next comes the planning phase. This could take anywhere from a few days to a few take years, depending on the problem. Is shipping moving slowly? Let's try adding another shipping station, that seems simple enough and might only take a week or two to implement and analyze. Your entire warehouse is falling behind and you've had to cut staff by 40% to stay above water? This might take longer but it's still solvable as long as you have a good plan in place. In either case, it's best to figure out where the stress is and attack that from the top down. If there are small changes you can make to the overall process or workflows that can save both time and money then those are definitely worthy of attention first. Also, during this phase, it's best to think of some measurable data you can gather to confirm or deny if the solution actually works better or not than before.

Implementation and Testing

After you realize what the problem is and have a general plan for what to do about it, next comes implementation. This usually involves testing things out and getting some demo equipment to see if the plan that was created will actually solve the problem that exists. This phase can take a while too, depending on how intricate you want the solution to be, but overall it's not something to be too scared by. Testing can also be the most fun! It's like window shopping through a lot of different possibilities before deciding which solution fits you best. Also, putting the new solution in the hands of the workers is a great way to see how it would work when the time comes for a full implementation since they're the ones using the solution in the first place.

Analysis

Last comes analysis, and by that, I mean the process of actually stepping back and looking at the data that was gathered. Did the workflow change really make enough of a difference to the overall process? Did the tablet you tried out really improve efficiency or was it just another toy to get left behind on the warehouse floor? The analysis itself doesn't need to be too detailed but obviously more details help. Sometimes it can be very clear that adding a second scanner at shipping really helped a lot in helping them move faster. And if the solution didn't work well enough you try another one. No big deal. This phase is meant as a reflection and at the very least should make the next planning phase better.

So the process of implementing new solutions is:

1. Problem Definition
2. Solution Planning
3. Implementation and Testing
4. Analysis

And guess who can help with all of these stages? That's right, ME! I've got years of experience working on all sorts of problems. Odds are good that I've seen a problem similar to the one you're having, and if not I definitely have the background to get you started down your own path to success. So give me a call, shoot me an email, or comment on this post for more info! How MAY I help you?

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Andrew Hall is a barcode expert with over five years of experience in the AIDC industry. He has worked with clients of all sizes and on projects large and small and would be happy to discuss what he can do to make your life at work easier. His number is 847-995-1010 x141, his email is ahall@smg3.com, and his Twitter handle is @AndrewSMG3 for more information.