How SHIPMATE™ Works

When a window is completed and arrives at the wrapping station, the bar-coded Work-In Process Label (WIP) is scanned.  The WIP is usually located in the head of the window frame and left attached to the window for warranty work.  Once scanned, a Finished Goods (FG) Label, containing the license plate number, customer name, and additional necessary information, is produced and affixed to the window after it has been wrapped for shipping.  This label is then scanned to update SHIPMATE™ that the window has been completed and is ready for staging.

Each movable cart in the wrapping, staging and shipping areas has their own unique bar-coded tag for identification.  As the wrapped window is loaded onto the cart, its Finished Goods label is scanned along with the cart tag to identify its location.  Your staff can pinpoint the location and status of each window and easily answer customer’s inquiries about an order.  After the cart has been completely loaded, it may be moved into the Shipping department for staging.

Zones or staging areas are established in the Shipping department.  As a cart is moved into the Shipping department it is staged in its appropriate area.  Completed windows may also be unloaded from a cart and stored in fixed locations.  In this case, each window is scanned along with its zone or area ID tag, exactly as was done with the cart tags.

There may be occasions when a few windows remain on a cart and need to be consolidated onto another cart to save space and free up carts for other use.  Shipping personnel simply scan each window to be moved and scan the ID tag of the new cart onto which the window will be loaded.

When your Customer Service department has created a day’s shipping schedule, SHIPMATE™ creates a Shipping Pick List for each truck to be loaded.  The Pick List provides shipping personnel a list of all windows to be shipped and their staged location in the shipping area.  The Shipping Pick List is generated for a range of due dates, with a separate sheet printed for each due date/customer combination.  Schedule number sorts by drop location and within drop, each group.  Once gathered, carts containing the windows listed on the Shipping Pick List are then moved to the loading dock for truck loading.

As shipping personnel load a window onto a truck, its Finished Goods label is scanned.  In the event a window is loaded in the wrong sequence, the operator will be alerted to the mistake.

Once all windows and miscellaneous items, such as mullions or kits, have been loaded onto a truck, it may be closed out.  SHIPMATE™ updates the status of each loaded window to the Shipped status.  In the event items (windows or miscellaneous items) were not loaded onto the truck, they will appear on the Late Report.  The SHIPMATE™ Late Report lists all items that are “short”, where the tracked quantity at shipping is less than the quantity requested.  This information is sorted by due date, within the due date by customer, and within customer by order-item number.  Subtotals are provided for each customer for a particular due date, for each due date, and a total of “short” items is also provided.

HARDWARE

A very important element to the success of this operation is to insure that data is accurately collected, recorded, and shared between the office and plant floor.

The latest in barcode scanning hardware technology is provided.  Portable scanners have been chosen for the staging and truckload functions.  For the Wrapping workstations, cordless barcode scanners are used since scanning will be limited to the immediate wrapping area.

A Local Area Network (LAN) workstation located in the office serves as the RF Stand Alone Processor or RF-SAP.  A LAN workstation is also be positioned on the plant floor, at each Wrapping workstation.  As mentioned above, either a fixed Barcode Scanner or RF Base Station is attached to each workstation.  A LAN drop is also required at each of the wrapping workstations.

In the truck loading area, RF scanners are used for their mobility and functionality.  An Access Point is added to your LAN drop to receive shipping schedules and upload collected data from the scanners.

A Label printer is required at each wrapping workstation.  Either a Thermal or Thermal Transfer label printer may be used.  A Laser Printer is also needed to print SHIPMATE’s Reports.

Normal SHIPMATE™ operating supplies consist of Work-In-Process and Finished Goods label stock.  Stock is required to print the barcode Cart and Staging Area Tags.

We see the following business benefits as a direct outcome from implementing PMC's products and services.

Maximum efficiency

The system automates the processing of window orders throughout the wrapping, staging, storage, and shipping processes.  Through the use of the latest barcode technology, data is accurately collected, recorded, and shared between the office and plant floor so that your employees have instantaneous access to the location and status of any order. 

Real-Time Status of any Order

The system provides the ability to check the status of any order.  Late shipping items are instantaneously identified, as are incomplete orders.  Your sales and management team can immediately answer your customer’s inquiries about any order.

Reduced Manpower

The time associated with personnel attempting to locate particular windows to complete an order is totally eliminated.  The system identifies the location of every window in the wrapping, staging, storage, and shipping areas.

Invaluable Reports

The system provides a full range of reports coordinating and cross-referencing completed, stored, and shipped windows.  Your staff can quickly and easily identify missing or damaged windows that may delay a truck’s departure.