Sanofi-Aventis

The European number 1 in pharmaceuticals chose a-SIS' WCS to modernize its distribution centre in Amilly (45, central France).


The reorganisation context

A strong need for automation
In the context of its project to reorganise distribution flows, the Sanofi-Aventis group decided to use its site at Amilly for the distribution of more than 400 references directly to pharmacies in France.

 

 

To do this the centre was completely reorganized as the current activity is totally different from the past activity (hospitals, wholesale dealers, 3PL, export). To increase capacities and the picking quality, Sanofi-Aventis decided to automate its centre for improved performance and reliability (speed, equipment control, real time management …).

Differentiated WMS / WCS architecture
For logistic organization, Sanofi-Aventis chose an architecture with a WMS for the « logical » control of the order preparation (creation of waves, launching scheduling…) and a WCS for the “physical” control of boxes on the handling installation.



WCS role

Control of mechanized preparation lines

 

a-SIS' software, LOGYS, was chosen to control the equipment supplied by Savoye Logistics and to interface with the the instructing party's software package. The WCS ensures conveying control and optimizes movements depending on stations' workload: launching regulation of the split case boxes, directing to the picking stations, checking stations, sorting lines, or recycling management. It sends informatio  about what happens to boxes in real time to the WMS and, on demand, may modify the route of a certain box in real time. As well as transporting boxes, it ensures the continuous weight checking function and may adjust between the boxes' theoretical and the real weight during weighing.

Controlling all the warehouse's technical devices
The WCS also manages the interfaces with the PLCs: control of the transfer tables, barcode readers etc. It communicates with the equipment integrated in the installation: case assemblers, labelling machines, printers, lidding machines, document inserting machines, etc.
The associated supervision ensures the monitoring of the activity and of events.



WCS : a real added value tool

Intelligent solution
Besides the basic essential functions, a-SIS developed upgrades for its WCS ensuring the integration of intelligent modules offering numerous additional advantages to make the most of the equipment and optimise operation. The WCS became a fundamental element for the global solution boosting the global performance of the installation.

Separation at several levels
"The WCS offers a strong separation between the order preparation system and the warehouse management system. There are three separation levels:

• semantic separation : adaptation of the functional units of the WCS & WMS (notion of waves / mission, routing point, checking point).
• logical separation : for instance, we may optimize the use of the sorter by separating the logical management of the sorting from the physical configuration.
• physical separation (type of handling, integration of new elements in the installation, its service level don't affect the interfaces).

This separation ensures substantial time saving and an increase in reliability. During the project and for maintenance limits perimeters during validation and qualification."

Jean Pierre le Boulaire
Distribution Methods and Project Manager France