Technical Information
How AutoPalletP3 works with your
WMS
AutoPalletP3 is not a Warehouse Management System (WMS),
but it is a pallet building algorithm component that is designed to work in
conjunction with your existing WMS. This section explains options of how
AutoPalletP3 can be used in your environment.
| Question |
Applies if
your answer is YES |
| Are you using an
off-the-shelf WMS? |
In adaptation mode, AutoPalletP3 operates under
its dedicated Windows
2000 Server. It will have to operate in conjunction with your WMS which
may run under another operating system. Please check out the section on Adaptation
below. |
| Are
you the manufacturer of a WMS? |
If your company is the manufacturer of a
WMS,
it is a possible to integrate the APP3 Core module (platform independent C++
code) into your WMS product. Please check out the section on Integration below. |
| Are you using a
custom built WMS? |
If you use your own WMS (custom built), both options may be feasible. Adaptation
is more than likely the cheaper and more practical solution, but Integration
may have benefits which make the extra effort worthwhile. |
The main advantage of the adaptation option is
that it is relatively quick to implement. One downside is that whenever you
upgrade your existing WMS Software, a strong possibility exists that changes
need to be made to your AutoPalletP3 software. Another disadvantage is that the
AutoPalletP3 user interface (UI) is significantly different from you WMS UI.
The main advantage of the integration option is
that APP3 Core is a seemingly integral part of your WMS. However, the
integration of APP3 Core into your WMS is likely going to take considerably
longer (increased costs) than adapting AutoPalletP3 to your WMS. Another
disadvantage is that APP3 more than likely needs to be tailored for your WMS and
upgrading to a new version of APP3 Core may not be trivial.
Data model required by AutoPalletP3 or APP3 Core
Please check out the data
model required by the AutoPalletP3 algorithm at the end of this page.
Any further questions?
We hope this page answers most of your questions. However, if you need
further technical information, please contact us or send us
e-mail.
To make AutoPalletP3 suitable to work in conjunction with as many
off-the-shelf WMS as
possible, we have designed AutoPalletP3 to operate on its own server. In
addition, AutoPalletP3 provides a thin client user interface. All that is
required on AutoPalletP3 clients is a modern web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer
or Netscape Navigator).
Runtime Environment
The diagram above reflects how AutoPalletP3 works with your existing
WMS, how it communicates with your WMS Database Management System (DBMS)
and how APP3 Client Workstations communicate with the AutoPalletP3 Server.
Database Access:
The path to access data from the SQL Server (A) and from the WMS DBMS
(B) are explained in more detail below. Path B is always expected to be
available and in use while Path A may or may not be needed. However, if
Path A is also in use, APP3 Core will use Path B for read only access. If
Path A is not used, APP3 Core will need to be able to read/write via Path
B.
 The
APP3 Core module communicates with the SQL Server 2000 database through
ADO (OLE-DB/ODBC). The SQL Server 2000 database will only be used if it is
not feasible to implement the data AutoPalletP3 requires under the WMS
DBMS itself. APP3 Core maintains a logical link to the WMS DBMS through
Path B.
 APP3
Core must be able to access data from your WMS DBMS. This can occur via an
ODBC connection or C-ESQL (embedded SQL). The access is read only if Path A
is also in use or read/write if AutoPalletP3 specific data is added to the
WMS DBMS.
Note: AutoPalletP3's web interface can only be used to
modify data that is AutoPalletP3 specific. AutoPalletP3 does not modify
any data native to the WMS. |
Adaptation Issues
| Issue |
Explained |
AutoPalletP3 Adaptation |
| HW and OS Platform |
In adaptation mode, AutoPalletP3 operates under Windows
2000 Server. It will have to operate in conjunction with your WMS which
may run under another operating system. |
We have been careful when building AutoPalletP3 to ensure
that very few requirements must be met by an existing WMS in order to use
AutoPalletP3. These requirements are:
WMS Server: AutoPalletP3 must be able to read data from
the WMS database. AutoPalletP3 has built in components to communicate with
your database directly through embedded SQL (C-ESQL) or ODBC. Other options
may be possible but require extra effort during the installation. In all
cases, the network must be configured such the the AutoPalletP3 Server can
communicate with the WMS Server.
Client Workstations: All that is required on client
workstations is a WEB Browser (thin client). The client workstations must
be able to establish a TCP/IP connection with the AutoPalletP3 Server. All
communication occurs via HTTP which requires that port 80 be open on the
AutoPalletP3 Server. |
| Complementing data in the WMS database |
AutoPalletP3 requires data that may not be available
in from your WMS. For
example, AutoPalletP3 requires the dimensions of each product. |
When we adapt AutoPalletP3 to your WMS, we will create a database that
contains data required by AutoPalletP3 but missing in your WMS. This
can either be achieved by implementing a database on the AutoPalletP3
Server (SQL Server 2000) or by adding extra tables to your WMS database
(see also Security below). AutoPalletP3 takes care of
linking the data logically.
When AutoPalletP3 is invoked to produce a pick list for an order, it
will load all the data relevant for the order into its own database and
maintain a one-to-one relationship to the data in your own database. The
AutoPalletP3 Database contains only data that is not contained in your WMS.
These additional details are entered into the AutoPalletP3 database
through the AutoPalletP3 web interface. AutoPalletP3 will issue warnings
if relevant data has not been added to the AutoPalletP3 database.
|
| Language and Units of Measure |
AutoPalletP3 can be used in different countries. |
The language and units of measure can be tuned by setting
system parameters accordingly. |
| Security |
Enhancing your WMS database with the
details AutoPalletP3 requires may cause problems with your existing WMS
software or pose a security risk. |
Because you do not have control over the
WMS software, enhancing your WMS database may cause problems. Even if it
does not cause technical problems, you may be reluctant to give us
permission to add AutoPalletP3 tables to your database. If no such
concerns exist, adding extra tables to your WMS database will reduce
maintenance costs and licensing fees.
In these cases, AutoPalletP3 tables can be implemented under SQL Server
2000 database on the AutoPalletP3 Server or a separate Windows 2000
Server. However, read access permissions to the WMS database are still
required. |
Installation Tasks
| Task |
Description |
| AutoPalletP3 Server |
AutoPalletP3 requires a dedicated Microsoft Windows 2000
Server. If your implementation requires SQL Server 2000, performance can
be increased by deploying another Microsoft Windows 2000 Server running
SQL Server 2000. The minimum system requirements are:
Pentium III 500MHz +
256MB RAM
10GB SCSI HDD
Fast Network card |
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Internet Information Server
*Microsoft SQL Server 2000
*(only required if WMS DBMS can not be used to store AutoPalletP3
specific data). |
|
| Analyzing your WMS database |
We will analyze your WMS DBMS in order to
determine the data required by AutoPalletP3 but missing from your WMS
DBMS. The data that is missing needs to be implemented in AutoPalletP3's
database. |
| WMS DBMS Access |
Your network must be configured such that the AutoPalletP3
server can access data from your WMS DBMS. AutoPalletP3 must be granted
read access (if AutoPalletP3 uses its own SQL Server 2000 database) or
read/write access (if the WMS DBMS is used to implement additional tables
required by AutoPalletP3). |
| Warehouse Map |
AutoPalletP3 contains a data model to map
your warehouse layout and the pick locations in a way that allows the
algorithm to efficiently determine the distance between any two locations
in the warehouse and thus minimize the total travel distance when turning
orders into pick lists. We will enter these details as part of the
installation process. All we require is a warehouse layout (to scale)
reflecting pick location identifiers. |
| Data Entry |
Two options are available to enter data that is required by
AutoPalletP3 but not already available from your WMS DBMS. If you do not
enter this data and run AutoPalletP3, warning messages will be generated
telling you what data is missing. You can then go back and supply the
missing data and run AutoPalletP3 again. Over time, the warning messages
will disappear.
Alternatively, we could populate the AutoPalletP3 database with bare
bone data and a data entry operator could enter the missing details using
AutoPalletP3's web browser interface. |
| Backup Procedures |
We will ensure that AutoPalletP3 specific
data is backed up regularly. |
| Warehouse Parameters |
As part of the installation, the warehouse parameters must
be fine tuned to best mach your particular warehouse. |
Maintenance Tasks
All the administration tasks listed below can be taken care of by us through
the use of remote access software (PC Anywhere, Control IT, etc) and the
Internet, cutting administration costs to a minimum and increasing response times
significantly. For this reason, we strongly recommend this kind of configuration.
| Task |
Description |
| Warehouse Map |
Whenever changes to your actual warehouse take place, the
warehouse map needs to be adjusted accordingly. For example, you may add a
new aisle, additional racks etc. All these changes must be reflected in
the Warehouse Map. |
| WMS System Upgrades |
From time to time, you may receive
updated WMS Software. This may affect AutoPalletP3 as the product has no
control over the internals of your WMS DBMS. The effort required to get
AutoPalletP3 fine tuned to operate with this new version depends on
the changes to the data in the WMS DBMS. |
| AutoPalletP3 Upgrades |
Each upgrade to AutoPalletP3 is likely to require
some minor system changes. We will take care of this for you. |
| Trouble Shooting |
We will be available to determine and
correct any AutoPalletP3 related problems you may encounter. |
The AutoPalletP3 core software (written in ANSI
C++) is compiler and platform independent. This offers the opportunity to
integrate the software with existing off-the-shelf warehouse management systems.
The only provisions are, an ANSI C++ compatible compiler must be available and
the existing warehouse management software must have some mechanisms available
to make calls to the C++ library.
Runtime Environment
The APP3 Core module is written in platform independent
C++ code. The APP3 C-ESQL layer is used to access (read/write) your WMS Database
Management System (DBMS). In very basic terms, the Integration with an existing
WMS requires:
- Enhancement of the WMS DBMS with data
required by AutoPalletP3
- Enhancement of the WMS software with
a user interface to maintain the data required by AutoPalletP3
- Implementation of an interface between
existing WMS code and AutoPalletP3 if C++ can not be used directly
Integration Issues
| Issue |
Explained |
AutoPalletP3
Integration |
| HW and OS Platform |
Your WMS software needs to be
able to communicate with the APP3 Core. |
APP3 Core is a C++ class
library written in platform independent C++ code. If your WMS has been
written in a language that does not provide an interface for C++ class
libraries, an intermediate layer may have to be developed to overcome this
restriction. |
| Complementing data in the WMS database |
AutoPalletP3 requires data that may not be available from your
WMS DBMS. For
example, AutoPalletP3 requires the dimensions of each product. |
Existing tables in your WMS DBMS should be
enhanced and new ones added to include tables and attributes missing but
required by APP3 Core.
|
| Language and Units of Measure |
AutoPalletP3 can be used in different countries. |
Your WMS may already use system
parameters and mechanisms to ensure language independence. APP3 core ill
have to be modified to use your system settings rather than its own. |
| User
Interface |
APP3 Core has
no user interface components. |
The user
Interface of the existing WMS will have to be enhanced to enable users to
also maintain data used exclusively by APP3 Core. |
| APP3
C-ESQL |
Writing
embedded SQL for the C language may not be an option with your WMS DBMS. |
Some DBMS may
not provide an embedded SQL for C precompiler (please check with your DBMS
vendor). If this is the case, the APP3 C-ESQL module will have to be
replaced with a module that uses a DBMS specific API. |
Installation Tasks
| Task |
Description |
| Warehouse Map |
APP3 Core contains a data model to map
your warehouse layout and the pick locations in a way that allows the
algorithm to efficiently determine the distance between any two locations
in the warehouse and thus minimize the total travel distance when turning
orders into pick lists. We will enter these details as part of the
installation process. All we require is a warehouse layout (to scale)
reflecting pick location identifiers. |
| Data Entry |
Two options are available to enter data that is required by
APP3 Core but not already available from your WMS DBMS. If you do not
enter this data and run AutoPalletP3, warning messages will be generated
telling you what data is missing. You can then go back and supply the
missing data and run AutoPalletP3 again. Over time, the warning messages
will disappear.
Alternatively, we could populate the AutoPalletP3 database with bare
bone data and a data entry operator could enter the missing details using
AutoPalletP3's web browser interface. |
| Warehouse Parameters |
As part of the installation, the warehouse parameters must
be fine tuned to best mach your particular warehouse. |
Maintenance Tasks
All the administration tasks listed below can be taken care of by us through
the use of remote access software (PC Anywhere, Control IT, etc) and the
Internet, cutting administration costs to a minimum and increasing response times
significantly. For this reason, we strongly recommend this kind of configuration.
| Task |
Description |
| Warehouse Map |
Whenever changes to your actual warehouse take place, the
warehouse map needs to be adjusted accordingly. For example, you may add a
new aisle, additional racks etc. All these changes must be reflected in
the Warehouse Map. |
The logical data model above reflects (with the exception of the Warehouse
Map) entities and relationships required by AutoPalletP3. A subset of this data
will be contained within your WMS DBMS and the rest in the AutoPalletP3 specific
database. While AutoPalletP3's web based front end allows users to view all data
from the above model, only the data stored in AutoPalletP3's database can be
modified.
Any further questions?
We hope most of your questions have been answered here. However, if you need
further technical information, please contact us or send us
e-mail.
|
