News

Wireless solution improves inventory management

August 4, 2008

CINCINNATI — Dial Industries Inc., of Los Angeles, which produces thousands of plastic household products sold at retail chains nationwide, is employing a wireless computing solution from Psion Teklogix, Inc., and Mobile BIS to speed inventory management and accuracy while improving order fulfillment to its customers.

Using Psion Teklogix' WORKABOUT PRO G2 hand-held mobile computers and the Mobile BIS Inventory Management System (IMS) software, Dial Industries is more quickly and accurately accounting for 5,000 household plastic product SKUs handled in its Los Angeles warehouses each day. The solution provides Dial Industries with the speed and precision needed to improve the shipping accuracy of products to meet the ongoing delivery demands of its retailer customers which include Wal-Mart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Lowe's, Target, The Container Store, Staples, Ace Hardware and major supermarket and drug store chains.

At Dial Industries' three warehouses, which encompass a total of 200,000 square feet, workers previously hand-counted inventory, a process that took three to four days per warehouse. To increase the speed of inventory counts to a few hours and reduce mistakes, Dial Industries workers are using Psion Teklogix' rugged handheld computers, which feature flexible ergonomics and a user-friendly interface, to scan a barcode label found on each pallet.

The barcode identifies the number of products or SKUs within the pallet, which the Mobile BIS IMS software automatically uses to update inventory data on an Oracle 10g database that can be accessed on the handheld computer and a back office system.

Mobile BIS IMS software tracks the inventory daily, weekly and monthly, providing real-time up-to-date information on the secure Oracle database that is accessible to Dial Industries employees anywhere in the world. The data serves to accurately match manufacturing output to customer demands. Concurrently, the hardware and software solution facilitates the picking, tracking and shipment of orders and sales by location globally, while greatly speeding deliveries to retail stores.

The improved speed and accuracy of tracking and financial accounting for its inventory helps Dial Industries quickly replenish warehouse stock to meet the needs of retailers. Dial Industries can now inform retailers exactly how many SKUs are in stock with a quick scan from the Psion Teklogix mobile computers. Also, once a retailer places an EDI-based order, Dial Industries can more efficiently process the order, therefore acquiring fewer charge-backs.