QC Software’s Essential Guide to Lower Shipping Costs in the Warehouse

Cincinnati, OH, December 07, 2011 --(PR.com)-- In today’s volatile economy, the good news is that distribution managers can often find additional ways to more efficiently manage their operation and reduce shipping costs.

According to Rich Hite, President of QC Software, a leading provider of warehouse control systems, “Managers who consistently apply lean principles in the warehouse will root out inefficiencies, optimize resources and minimize errors. To accomplish that, they need the right tools for the job. Besides equipment, an effective layout, and a well trained staff, they need agile software to manage floor operations and provide real-time analytics for greater visibility and control. Finally, companies need a comprehensive and dynamic freight program.”

Following are key ways to lower shipping costs:

Perform a comprehensive audit and evaluate freight costs. Understand all the costs involved in transporting your product. Be sure to look at all suppliers and trading partners for domestic and international shipping. Evaluate service requirements to maintain proper service levels. Consultants can often find additional ways to cut costs.

Use the right technology. Make sure you have the appropriate equipment for your operation. Agile warehouse control software is essential for efficiently managing resources and operational flow.

Lower the cost of materials. Find out if less expensive packing materials are adequate for transporting orders. Instead of using cardboard totes and wooden pallets, plastic containers and pallets that are light weight, durable and reusable can often be less expensive in the long run. Use carton optimization software to ensure the minimum size and number of totes are used for shipping.

Maintain end-to-end product visibility. With the right software you can accurately track inventory items and orders throughout the order fulfillment process, across multiple warehouses and channels.

Increase the velocity. Streamline floor operations to reduce handling and increase order fulfillment rates. Make sure your IT system provides real-time data and alerts. This allows you to quickly pinpoint and resolve problems, thereby minimizing downtime and improving productivity.

Utilize cross docking when possible. With an automated process, you can efficiently consolidate and move orders from receiving directly to shipping. This eliminates storage, replenishment, picking and sorting activities, thereby lowering labor costs and improving on-time deliveries.

Manage your freight program using best practices. Periodically review the planning, procurement and management processes to identify and adapt best practices. Regulations, costs and customer requirements can change frequently. What worked well last year may not be as effective today.

QC Software is recognized as an industry leader in providing innovative and adaptive software solutions for order fulfillment and distribution centers. Their RFID-enabled warehouse control system provides advanced management capabilities for inventory control, resource scheduling and order management. For over 15 years, their solutions have enabled customers to streamline their warehouse operations with the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry.

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