Today we would like to show you the Logistics solution of our customer PSP Pack GmbHa logistics service provider for the automotive and lighting industries, among others, from the Upper Bavarian district of Eichstätt in the heart of Bavaria.
PSP Pack GmbH offers a complete logistics service, i.e. the entire warehouse management (storage, relocation, retrieval, transportation, etc.) can be mapped.
In order to be able to supply its major customers JIT ("just in time"), PSP Pack GmbH has invested in a large, state-of-the-art warehouse with a current storage capacity of 7000 Euro pallet spaces. Each shift, 500 storage operations (loading or unloading of material) can be carried out here. Throughout the day, several truck trains travel from the warehouse to the respective customer and back to distribute material to the respective plants just in time. The trucks supply the plants and are also loaded with partial quantities that need to be returned to the warehouse at the respective plant for the return journey.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is used as the ERP system.
Which technology is used?
PSP Pack GmbH relies on modern technologies for the clear identification of storage locations and materials, e.g. RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) - Technology, i.e. localization and automatic identification using radio waves. A system consisting of a transmitter (transponder) and receiver (reader) is required for the application. The RFID labels and tags at the storage location are read with readers on the forklift truck in a fixed position. In addition, various Barcode scanner to automate mobile data collection as far as possible.
The Technical connection to the respective customer takes place via a direct database connection via an interface. This in turn means that the Business Central database of PSP Pack GmbH is permanently connected to the customer's external database via a VPN tunnel. These external database tables are seamlessly integrated into Business Central using special technologies.
Which messages are transmitted?
- The respective customer enters daily reservations (material requirements). They enter which material is required in what quantity and at what time.
- Returns that are sent back to the warehouse by the customer are transmitted.
- Incoming goods from external suppliers are transmitted.
- The current stock level is transmitted once a night (as no material movements take place here).
Important: Ad-hoc queries about stock levels are possible at any time!
Other special features of the logistics solution
- FEFO picking: Material is removed according to the "First Expired First Out" principle. This means that whatever has been stored the longest is selected first for material removal. This is implemented using batch numbers with an automatic expiration date.
- Calculation of the material quantity: The materials are taken from the warehouse in cartons, i.e. as complete containers. However, a customer has now reserved a quantity. The containers to be removed are then automatically calculated based on the specific storage bin contents.
- Various cockpits for managing reservations, returns and incoming goods:
- Status overview
- Error processing
- Stock search (e.g. own views for batch numbers and expiration date)
- Selection of reservations for batches (batch processing) for individual truck deliveries
In concrete terms, the process via the cockpit looks like this:
The warehouse employee checks his cockpit in Business Central in the morning. He immediately sees what materials have been requested. They can then sort by date and time and see which materials are available. A batch process can then be created for each truck and the picking process can begin immediately. The warehouse employees are shown their "worklist" directly on their tablets. - Customized role centers: Each employee group has a customized role center (start screen in Business Central with the required functions) for logistics processing.
- Automatic receipt creation with barcodes:
- Source documents: purchase orders, sales orders, complaints.
- Logistics documents: goods receipts, goods issues, putaway and picking,
Labels - Automatic storage bin suggestions for removal and storage.
- Use of mobile devices (tablets) with barcode scanning function: PSP Pack GmbH uses industrial tablets with a holder on the forklift truck with power supply. The Business Central data display is adapted for mobile devices.
- Quality assurance: Plausibility and completeness check using barcode scans. When goods are removed, the system scans whether they are being removed from the correct storage bin. The article is also scanned to check whether it is the correct article.
Technical architecture
PSP Pack GmbH has Microsoft Dynamics Business Central Version 14 on premise in use. All logistics customizations were implemented as Extension App realized. This was done No change to the standard objectsThis makes it much easier to upgrade to newer versions. For document generation with barcodes, the Add-On ForNAV e.g. for storage and retrieval labels.
Technology used
- RFID labels/tags at the storage location, reader from Sick (http://sick.com) on the forklift truck in a fixed position
- Windows 10 tablets with integrated barcode scanner: Bluechip industrial tablets (T11 outdoor tablet (https://www.bluechip.de/mobil/tablets/12830/bluechip-travelline-t11-i3-outdoor)), bracket on forklift truck with power supply
- Additional handheld scanners: Bluetooth Scanner: Zebra LI3678 (https://www.zebra.com/de/de/products/scanners/ultra-rugged-scanners/3600-series/li36x8-sr.html)
- Label printer: CAB (https://www.cab.de/de/kennzeichnung/etikettendrucker/)
Are you also interested in a logistics solution in Business Central or Dynamics NAV or do you want to outsource your warehouse management? Please get in touch with us at 089 – 21 111 848 or by e-mail to vertrieb@br-ag.com in contact! We will be happy to advise you!
