Case Studies > The Alaska Railroad Engineers a Better Warehouse with RF-SMART

The Alaska Railroad Engineers a Better Warehouse with RF-SMART

Customer Company Size

Large Corporate

Region

America

Country

United States

Product

RF-SMART
JD Edwards

Tech Stack

Native JDE API

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Productivity Improvements
Customer Satisfaction
Cost Savings

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management

Applicable Industries

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Warehouse & Inventory Management
Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Warehouse Automation
Supply Chain Visibility

Services

System Integration
Training

About The Customer

The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) is a full-service freight and passenger railroad, with rail lines in south central and interior Alaska. Primarily running as a regularly scheduled public transportation service, ARRC connects major cities such as Fairbanks and Anchorage with remote locations. With more than 500,000 passengers annually, ARRC routes across miles of wild landscape connecting metropolitan areas. Alaska Railroad freight operations transport materials both within Alaska and to/from the Lower 48. With complex internal operations meeting a variety of business demands, ARRC needed an inventory management solution for their supply warehouse to improve warehouse operations. Using strict metrics, ARRC chose RF-SMART.

The Challenge

Having implemented JD Edwards the previous year, ARRC was seeking a solution that would easily and seamlessly integrate into JD Edwards. As RF-SMART uses native JDE API and does not keep any data outside of JD Edwards, the ARRC selection team knew they had found the best solution to meet their needs. The architecture of how RF-SMART works with JD Edwards is really bullet proof. Not only is there no delay or gaps in our data, but we didn’t have to make any custom modifications. ARRC had found a solution to meet all its functionality requisites and solve their business needs, and one that would require little on the part of their IT team.

The Solution

ARRC uses RF-SMART in its warehouse to serve internal customers and different departments. The warehouse is a vital component for their railroad crew. Previously, maintaining an accurate inventory in the warehouse was almost impossible. Warehouse Supervisor, Ron Lewis notes that at times, it would be a week before data was entered from pick slips into JD Edwards. Relying heavily on paper process was time-consuming and error-laden. Now re-order/ review is accurate and up to date. Utilizing the built-in logic of RF-SMART, ARRC has reorganized its warehouse to follow RF-SMART; this one change alone has accounted for over 20% increase in inventory accuracy. Not only has RF-SMART made its warehouse layout more accurate and efficient, but as a result of implementing, ARRC is better utilizing their resources and supplies. Not only can they ensure they have inventory on hand to meet upcoming work orders, but they can meet immediate demands as needs arise. With RF-SMART, ARRC is better able to maintain accurate inventory of its critical components, such as air-brake valves and bearings. Lewis knows he can now monitor daily usage and assure that critical items will be available when needed, taking manufacturer lead times and other logistical considerations into account. Having accurate information at all times allows them to identify demand, better respond to internal customers’ needs and keep its trains - and revenue - on schedule.

Operational Impact

Lewis has seen numerous benefits of the ease of RF-SMART transactions being completed on a handheld. Their warehouse crew is accurately charging items to the correct accounts and departments. Anything from location changes to printing out item labels, the warehouse crew is completing on the handheld immediately.
Previously, the crew would be required to remember to log in to a computer terminal to complete such tasks, whether at the end of the day or the following week. At times, there would be a week or more delay before information was entered. Warehouse crew would make several trips to verify and re-verify item numbers and find correct locations, and much was getting lost in this paper shuffle, according to Lewis. As Lewis states, “We now can do soup to nuts right there, standing in front of the materials.”
In the past, Willman managed the interface of data between JD Edwards and additional systems. There is no need for this with RF-SMART. “The administration tools and integration with hardware are fantastic. From an IT side, there have been no problems.” Willman said. “The RF-SMART team was very helpful with getting us online and in a way that made sense for us.”
With the automation of inventory data input through RF-SMART, ARRC has experienced improved efficiency and accuracy in its warehouse, so much that they immediately began sharing their successful experiences. “We’ve definitely been recommending RF-SMART.” said Lewis. “The realtime picture of accurate inventory has boosted productivity and saves us time. By saving time, we ultimately improve service to our internal customers. The project was, in my opinion, an unqualified success.”

Quantitative Benefit

Utilizing RF-SMART has resulted in a 20% increase in inventory accuracy.
ARRC was previously only able to complete one cycle count per year; this has more than tripled since implementing RF-SMART.