Best Practice. Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process. IT-Process Recommendations for the Collaboration of Companies along the Supply Chain

Transcription

1 Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process Version: 05/2017 IT-Process Recommendations for the Collaboration of Companies along the Supply Chain AXIT GmbH. A Siemens Company. Nachtweideweg Frankenthal.

2 Content Introduction...3 Business Case...4 Initial Situation & Requirements...4 Best Practice Description...4 Advantages...5 Success factors for Implementation The Best Practice Methodology Integration Standardization Flexibility...6 Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process 2

3 Introduction Accumulated knowledge in reference processes Information technology both supports and drives new and innovative processes along the supply chain. One opportunity in particular that IT offers is to define and suggest best practices for collaboration among supply chain partners. No one knows these processes better than AXIT: In the roughly 2,500 supply chain management projects that AXIT has managed on behalf of its customers, we ve learned that the participating companies often face similar problems. AXIT has developed reference processes to document the best, most efficient solutions to these problems. These reference processes systematically capture the knowledge and experience of AXIT experts. They serve as a template for implementing similar projects. AXIT s best practice recommendations reduce complexity, bring stability to the supply chain, and smooth the collaborative processes among all involved parties. They are quick and easy to use, are already in practice among over 200,000 users, and address the typical challenges encountered in the operational management of logistical networks with many different participants. One central platform for all participants Cross-enterprise process standardization is achieved only when the participants look beyond the boundaries of their current in-house systems. That s why it s so important to have a central platform that connects diverse system environments and their users. This makes it possible for all parties, wherever they might be, to communicate and exchange information. Services AXIT offers various services to help businesses optimize the best practices: Workshops help you find the right solution. Training seminars support the rollout of the solution and ensure you re using it properly. And once the solution is up and running, review workshops and consultations help you discover useful extensions. Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process 3

4 Business Case Initial Situation & Requirements In the process between logistics provider and customer the creation of barcode labels for shipments can lead to an IT project requiring intensive coordination. Where do the labels come from? How to ensure they contain the right information? How can the creation of barcode labels be integrated smoothly with the shipping process? This results in the following requirements: Easy implementation: The creation of barcode labels should be done centrally to avoid a large number of shipping customers having to make programming in their local systems. Also maintenance of labels should be done centrally to avoid multiple efforts and connected error rates. Label printing must integrate smoothly with the process. Easy creation of labels in line with demand and easy allocation to the shipment. Best Practice Description This best practice describes a special form of barcode label printing integration with the shipping process by the driver. (An overview of all variants on creating barcode labels can be found in the document AX4info Barcode Label. AXIT recommends the following process: 1. Shipper: Prints SSCC label from his in house system during packaging and attaches it to the package. 2. Shipper: Upon completion of packaging his IT system sends the SSCC number and corresponding shipment data to AX4. 3. AX4: AX4 now creates the respective barcode labels in the background. There are two options to do this: a) The logic for label printing is mapped directly in AX4, b) AX4 accesses the barcode labels via web service from the forwarder s system. 4. Shipper: in AX4 he consolidates all Img.: Scan to Print shipments to be picked up by the same lorry and stores these on a loading list. 5. Driver or shipping clerk: During the pick up by the driver or even earlier in the warehouse the barcode labels are created in the so-called Scan to print procedure. The package s SSCC is scanned; this triggers the transmission of the respective barcode labels to the local printer. The labels are printed and attached to the shipment. The shipment is now readily labelled and can be loaded. Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process 4

5 7. Driver: In the so-called Loading process during loading the driver accesses AX4 s loading list via scanner and web. He scans the loaded pieces against the loading list. 8. AX4: AX4 checks the loading scans against the loading lists and reports errors (e.g. piece missing or surplus piece). The errors can be viewed online through the web mask. 9. Driver: After loading is completed the driver finalizes the loading list in AX4 (e.g. via a mobile device). It can be printed and signed. 10. AX4, shipper, logistics provider: AX4 now transmits the shipments from the confirmed loading list to the shipper s IT system marked Outgoing Goods. Simultaneously AX4 sends the data also to the Img.: Loading Process logistics provider. 11. Shipper, logistics provider: This can trigger further steps in the following IT systems, e.g. billing in the shipper s system or further dispatch in the logistics provider s system. Advantages Easy and quick creation of barcode label Smooth integration of barcode label printing with the shipping process No programming cost for shipper in his local systems Easy maintenance, fewer errors Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process 5

6 Success factors for Implementation the Best Practice Methodology AXIT s best practices are always based on the same recommended methodology. It is based on three steps: 1. Easy and flexible INTEGRATION 2. STANDARDIZATION of processes 3. FLEXIBILITY to be able to adapt to changes in an agile and swift way Each of these steps includes direct advantages so it is not necessarily required to make all three steps to achieve improvements for the logistics provider and his customers. 1. Integration Easy integration of participants through flexible options: Web account, interfaces, web service, mobile devices (scanner, smartphone) 2. Standardization Central storing and maintenance of barcode labels instead of a variety of reprogrammings to local systems Process can be rolled out for various shipping stations (factorizability) Clearly defined tasks and roles Integrated overall process instead of isolated individual solutions 3. Flexibility Combination of a variety of process options (e.g. EDI and web mask, web service and web mask, web service and scanner...) Combination with various other options for creation of barcode labels, cf. document AX4info Barcode Labels Easy changes of label contents (instead of complex programming) Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process 6

7 Published by AXIT GmbH A Siemens Company Nachtweideweg Frankenthal Contact Germany: info.germany@axit.de phone: Contact UK: info.uk@axit.de phone: Contact US: info.us@axit.de phone: Contact China: info.china@axit.de phone: You can find this and other best practices at: Best Practice Barcode Label Printing in the Loading Process 7