Our role in your supply chain is to ensure that your product is received accurately, stored and tracked efficiently, and shipped without error. We do this through a combination of facility and equipment, process and procedure, and inventory management systems to tie everything together.
Inventory Management
Efficient. Accurate. Driven by Systems and Rigorous Process.CDS Inventory Management has one goal: flow product through our distribution centers safely, accurately and efficiently
Product Planning & Characteristics
CDS can handle various product units of measure (pallet, case, each, or specialized), product labeling with 1D or 2D barcode, environmental and hazardous data, and product batch code formats with robust date interpretation and automated hold implementation.
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Receiving
CDS systems offer receipt against an electronic Advance Ship Notice (ASN), blind receiving with second-level checking, and the ability to use an existing or a CDS-applied pallet ID. The result? Quick and accurate product receipt.
Inventory Control
Automated counting processes via warehouse floor RF units based on location or product velocity are a key part of maintaining inventory accuracy — these processes are reinforced by second-level processes to address inventory issues in a timely manner. Complete physical inventories are also available as a service.
Order Allocation
Allocation of product can be controlled via numerous parameters — typical is FIFO or opposite, FEFO or opposite (with batch codes being used combined with optimized RF allocation ranges to ensure oldest product leaves the warehouse first while maintaining floor picking optimization), or specialized allocation using product conditions or holds — very useful for specific customers or marketing needs. Allocation can also be controlled by order attributes such as scheduled ship time, product lines or characteristics, or carriers — this results in waves of orders being sent to the floor to allocate the right product at the right time.
Shipping
At this point, any special product configuration and labeling needs are addressed — various types of ASN labels are supported along with well-defined formats for many large retailers. Once product needs has been set and checked, CDS systems provide various ways to load inventory into a trailer depending on both product characteristics (things like stack height, weight, and size attributes) and order, load, and stop configuration. The goal is to make the inventory secure inside the trailer for its journey to another distribution center, store, or end consumer. Once there, it should be easy to identify and unload. Carrier management is a key part of this process.