The constant pressure to reduce costs, improve throughput, and meet stringent delivery timelines in manufacturing and food and beverage production sites requires streamlined logistics. Many businesses focus on implementing an Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) system to gain control over warehouse operations but overlook a key piece of the puzzle: a Yard Management System (YMS).
Let’s explore why EWM and YMS are complementary, why implementing an EWM without a YMS leaves critical gaps, and how integrating the two can elevate your supply chain efficiency.
An EWM system focuses on optimising operations inside the warehouse. It tracks inventory, improves picking accuracy, and efficiently stores stock. For manufacturers and food and beverage producers, an EWM offers inventory control, preventing overstocking or stockouts for raw materials and finished goods. Other benefits are labour optimization, which assigns tasks to employees based on priorities and workloads, and compliance support, which manages temperature-sensitive goods or tracks expiry dates.
While these capabilities are invaluable, an EWM stops at the warehouse door. What happens outside the warehouse, in the yard, often remains a black box.
The yard is the bridge between external transportation and internal warehouse operations. Without a YMS, the yard can become a chaotic bottleneck that negates the benefits of your EWM.
A YMS manages truck movements, dock scheduling, and trailer visibility. Key benefits include Real-Time Visibility, knowing exactly which trailers are on-site, what they’re carrying, and where they’re located. Dock Scheduling, avoiding congestion by assigning trucks to docks based on availability and priority. Finally, Reduced Dwell Times, eliminating inefficiencies that lead to trucks idling on-site, costing you money and delaying deliveries.
Implementing an EWM without a YMS is like optimizing your assembly line but ignoring the supply of raw materials. The two systems need to work together to maximize your site’s potential.
When integrated, EWM and YMS create a seamless flow of goods from arriving at your facility to leaving. Dynamic prioritisation allows for quicker unloading times and stock allocation. Together, these systems reduce dwell time in the yard and warehouse, boosting throughput. Combined data from both systems provides actionable insights into bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
Take the example of Bridgestone, a global leader in tyre manufacturing. By combining EWM with a YMS, Bridgestone achieved synchronized operations across its supply chain. Trailers with raw materials were assigned priority docking, reducing production delays. At the same time, finished goods moved swiftly through the yard, ensuring delivery commitments were met.
Focusing solely on EWM is a half-measure for manufacturing and food and beverage sites. Without a YMS to manage the yard’s complexities, you risk inefficiencies, delays, and missed opportunities. You gain full control over your logistics from the yard gate to the warehouse shelf by implementing both systems in tandem.
Peripass’ Yard Management Solution perfectly complements your EWM system, like SAP, if your facility struggles with yard chaos or warehouse bottlenecks. Contact us today to learn how we can help you streamline your operations and achieve supply chain excellence.
Find out why companies like Bridgestone, Alpro, and Saint-Gobain use Peripass to manage their yards. Please fill out the form to see how our software works.
