Provia Introduces Supply Chain Execution Optimization Product

ViaOptimize Promotes More Effective Supply Chain Processes Through Scheduling, Capacity Planning and Dynamic Slotting Modules

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. and CHICAGO, Sept. 16, 2003 -- Provia Software, a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, announced the availability of a new product solution for supply chain execution optimization. The product suite, ViaOptimize, is an advanced step for companies who have automated their facilities with Provia's warehouse management system and are now looking at optimization as a key area of improvement, efficiency and cost reduction. The product announcement was made today at a noon press conference at Frontline Supply Chain Week in Chicago.

"For years AMR has seen distribution centers struggle with the challenges of managing daily cost, equipment, inventory and personnel issues -- all constraints that can negatively affect a DC's ability to operate profitably," commented Larry Lapide, vice president of supply chain management, AMR Research. "Bringing optimization capabilities into the warehouse has the potential to quickly deliver an incremental improvement in productivity, thereby justifying the investment in this type of system."

Provia is the first supply chain execution software provider to offer a product specifically designed to handle optimization tasks. Already in the implementation stages with one of the world's leading entertainment retailers, the ViaOptimize suite consists of three products: Scheduler, Capacity Planner, and Dynamic Slotting. These applications, when combined with the ViaWare Warehouse Management System (WMS), allow distribution facilities to deliver maximum throughput and resource utilization through the optimization of orders throughout the facility.

"The benefits of this real-time supply chain execution optimization suite are numerous for all of our customers, regardless of size and complexity," said Paul Crist, vice president of sales and marketing, Provia Software. "By allowing our customers to take into account existing and changing constraints, and order configurations, ViaOptimize maximizes throughput, efficiency and quality, while making the most out of the company's existing resources."

"The products in the ViaOptimize suite enhance the ability of ViaWare WMS to manage order execution schedules by providing real-time feedback of actual versus scheduled performance," said John Pulling, vice president and chief operating officer of Provia Software. "When unexpected events occur, such as inventory shortages or equipment breakdowns, the Scheduler is immediately notified, an updated schedule is produced that takes into account the new constraints, and the WMS workflow in the distribution center is automatically changed through task management."

Scheduler - The Scheduler product considers the potential constraints or bottlenecks, including available labor, equipment, value-added services, order complexity and transportation requirements that can affect the optimal output of a facility and produces a constraint-based daily schedule that includes order release times, requirements for warehouse equipment, personnel and assembly workstations, in addition to detailed schedules for staging lanes, dock doors and carrier appointments. The schedules are transmitted to the ViaWare WMS where new Wave Plans are generated and released to the DC workforce. Real-time feedback of actual versus scheduled performance allows for "on-the-fly" adjustments to the schedule if an unexpected event occurs. In the case of an unexpected event, the Scheduler is immediately rerun and an updated schedule is produced, taking into account the new constraints and allowing the maximized output of the facility to continue uninterrupted.

This real-time optimization of the fulfillment process will enable Provia clients to configure complex, multi-step kitting and assembly operations in make-to-stock, make-to-order and configure-to-order environments by trading off constraints like temporary or overtime labor costs, equipment capabilities, transportation costs, inventory availability and required delivery dates to ensure the optimal sequence in which orders should be released for processing.

Capacity Planner - The Capacity Planner product looks at all the work and related costs to fulfill orders and perform activities in the distribution center over a several day span and allows managers to evaluate the associated cost trade-offs. As an example, the Capacity Planner evaluates the work and true cost required to get a particular order out the door and to its destination to meet a required delivery deadline. The cost/effort of using temporary/overtime labor and sending the item out today versus using expedited shipping and sending it out tomorrow can now be accurately compared and evaluated so that planners can develop the most effective labor, operations, and transportation plan that delivers orders on time and at the lowest possible cost.

The Scheduler and Capacity Planner products are OEMed from Taylor Scheduling Software (http://www.taylor.com ).

Dynamic Slotting - The Dynamic Slotting product continually evaluates the "popularity" of items in a distribution center and makes sure that the items picked the most often are rotated to positions closer to the dock doors. As items lose favor due to seasonality or other reason, they are placed continually farther from the dock doors. "Having faster moving items closer to the dock doors reduces the travel time required to pick those items and increases the productivity of your labor force," added Provia's Pulling. "Automating the reslotting process allows for continual optimization, rather than relying on staff to notice that an item isn't moving as quickly."

"This is the first time that our clients will have the ability to meld shipping requirements with the various constraints that affect a distribution center environment each day to deliver a greater level of supply chain execution optimization than has ever been available," said Ken Lewis, Provia President and CEO. "Provia Software is committed to ensuring that our clients offer unparalleled customer service and realize heightened cost savings, while also maintaining a low total cost of ownership for all of our products."

About Provia Software - With over 500 global installations, Provia delivers The Power of Delivery(TM) for such enterprise and third-party logistics (3PL) clients as Gillette, Menlo Worldwide, Graybar Electric, US Freightways, Spencer Gifts, Lanier Worldwide, and Owens Corning. Provia's Supply Chain Execution solutions include RFID-enabled warehousing, transportation, order and yard management products seamlessly integrated together with web-based visibility tools to create a real-time, end to end supply chain execution solution. For more information, visit http://www.provia.com .

SOURCE Provia Software

Web Site: http://www.provia.com

http://www.taylor.com