Camif

In 2005, Camif wanted to acquire a software package to improve all of its logistic processes: reorganization of stock management and the order preparation, grouping of the current logistic tools and harmonization of management rules, considering and facilitating the management of external logistic service providers, as well as securing and modernizing systems and hardware.

This project was interdependent with three other projects for the upgrade of the IT system: the creation of product referencing,
offer management, and goods checking. The future system had to be designed to last for the next ten years.

The choice was a-SIS' LM7^® software which seemed well-suited to Camif's requirements as it is already used by many mail order specialists.

One of Camif's specific features is its wide range of products : furniture, household textiles, electrical appliances, home and garden equipment, … etc. Each universe has its own logistic constraints which LM7^® integrates into its range of functions. Also each product's specific data must be setup by parameters to record the dimensions of each product at goods-in.

For the order preparation there are different packaging types: small products dispatched in multi-reference boxes, full case boxes of less than 30 kg, voluminous boxes, and products in several boxes.

The expert functions of LM7^® allow the integration of these different packaging types and constraints due to the diversity of the products, preparing heterogeneous products in the same order. As explains Pierrer Thellière, the logistic manager : "Now we may combine automatic picking and one-off requests for certain types of special operations or batch processing for specific orders (big volumes for community groups)".

Furthermore, LM7^® carries out stock plans and manages several checking steps at goods-in to better fulfil Camif's requirements : visual checks per unit, compliance checks. "LM7® allowed us to apply a goods-in process open to new technologies such as the possible use of RFID without modifying the work processes.

LM7® today offers us traceability of all our supports in the logistic chain at any time. "

LM7^® also handles « interceptions » : some orders may not be prepared due to missing products. In that case, as soon as the missing product arrives in the warehouse, the order is automatically routed to a special order area without going through the reserve area.

The module LM.WCS ensures the management of the high automated warehouse. A tricky challenge for a-SIS as the first version of the warehouse used by Camif was created 1971. This module also optimizes the filling rate of the sorter due to complicated, parameter driven rules: depending on the type of picking, the number of products, the number of boxes, and the packaging. At Camif, the operators work in shifts. LM7^® must optimize these shifts to avoid unnecessary journey time and ensure a maximum filling rate of the sorter in charge of the distribution of the boxes by order.

Since the installation of LM7^®, the management rules have been harmonized. The flow between goods-in and storage are more fluid and delivery times have been significantly reduced. The site managers observed improved productivity on pallet operations and a better quality control. Finally it is possible to perform rotating inventories at any time without delaying production. Pierre Thellière confirms: « We greatly the number of picking waves and so the picking journeys The use of radio frequency ensures the processing of rotating inventories and sometimes even a permanent inventory carried out on a position as soon as the quantity goes below a warning threshold (fewer than 3 products). The storage reorganization operations allow us to shorten our cycles for picking and replenishment of the picking areas. LM7® offers us the possibility to handle storage activities for third parties thanks to the multi-site and multi-company management. Thanks to the BO tool , we can now trace our activity day by day in a simple, fast, reliable way based on the data of the recorded events for each logistic operation. Currently we offer our users operation tables, warnings for un-accomplished missions, a summary of parameter errors, a detailed daily production analysis, i.e. a complete library of status reports developed and upgraded by us.