|
Zurn ZPPG Online
Distributed Network Software created ZPPG Online, a hybrid warehousing software that focuses mainly
on generating orders.
Company Background
Zurn Corporation started out by manufacturing a patented backwater valve. Today it manufactures and
distributes one of the most diverse plumbing products packages in the world. Zurn’s products include;
Specification Drainage Operation, AQUAFLUSH flush valves, AQUASENSE sensor-operated plumbing products,
AQUASPEC commercial faucets, Wilkins, Zurn Light Commercial, Flo-Thru™, the Chemical Drainage
Systems, Zurn PEX Plumbing Systems and Zurn Radiant Heat. This wide variety of products requires
manufacturing, assembly, distribution and service of plumbing products and accessories.
Situation
A typical Zurn warehouse order includes pre and user-defined kits made up of parts from multiple
locations and suppliers. Employees often filled orders at warehouses using pick lists and order forms
and any unfilled orders were marked as back-ordered. Back-orders were faxed to warehouses with
similar stock. Faxing was time consuming and often delayed orders from being filled and often times
produced duplicate orders. In addition to manually faxing back-orders, the accuracy of manually
stocked inventory levels was an issue because this information was not maintained or available in
real-time.
Solution
Distributed Network Software (DNS) and the Zurn warehousing team created a warehouse solution named
ZPPG Online. ZPPG Online is hybrid warehousing software that focuses mainly on generating orders.
Key metrics of an order at a Zurn warehouse include pick lists, inventory level reports and status
reports of an order. Zurn turned to DNS to produce a fully functional warehouse solution that exceeds
their needs. DNS used standard development methods and Microsoft Visual Studio software to create
industry specific warehouse software for Zurn. ZPPG Online is used today to create orders, track the
status of orders, create order documentation and instantly transmit back orders to other warehouses
for fulfillment. Microsoft Terminal Server across the Internet is used to distribute ZPPG Online to
multiple warehouses.
Benefits
The fact that ZPPG Online centralized inventory of multiple warehouses to a single location eliminates
back-order delays and greatly reduces inventory inaccuracies. Employees now spend less time faxing
orders and more time producing additional orders. Along with Zurn’s relationships with customers,
ZPPG Online has enhanced the business’s overall competitiveness. Customer satisfaction is on the rise
as internal efforts are more focused on growth and less on troubleshooting customer orders.
|
|