Hardware Podcasts

When and How to Implement a Warehouse Management System w/ Casey Winans

The Manufacturing Executive · 9 Jul 2024 · 38m · Episode 213

What this episode covers

Casey Winans, CEO of Fullstride, explains that implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) requires prioritizing business clarity and process documentation over technology selection. He warns against the 'demo doom loop' and common misconceptions, such as expecting a WMS to solve process issues or replace a Manufacturing Execution System (MES). Winans outlines five critical pre-implementation steps: capturing tribal knowledge, aligning leadership with frontline teams, fixing ERP data integrity, treating the rollout as program management, and using visual process flows to define guardrails with other departments.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Fullstride, GE, Red Prairie, Blue Yonder, JDA, Open Sky Group, Gorilla 76
Tools
ERP, MES, WMS

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 38m

    #462: Implementing an eQMS: The Ultimate Move-In Guide for MedTech Leaders

    Michaela Kivett, a medical device consultant at Greenlight Guru, explains the strategic implementation of an electronic Quality Management System (eQMS) using a 'moving house' analogy to warn against simply migrating messy legacy data. She details the operational friction of paper-based or generic repository systems like SharePoint, highlighting issues with version control, physical signatures, and tracking personnel across large facilities. The conversation emphasizes leveraging AI to scan documents for ISO 13485 compliance gaps and automating workflow updates to mitigate the efficiency dip during transition. Kivett argues that successful adoption requires a culture of quality and a structured, room-by-room self-evaluation of procedures rather than just installing new software.

    Quality & yieldDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    7 chapters

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 54m

    #139 Inventory Management for Early Brands: Cory Hebert from Cin7, and Jamie Valenti-Jordan, Catapult Commercialization Services

    Cory Hebert from Cin7 and Jamie Valenti-Jordan of Catapult Commercialization Services discuss inventory management strategies for early-stage CPG brands. They highlight the limitations of Excel, the critical importance of lot tracking for FSMA compliance, and the operational nightmares caused by inaccurate data entry. The guests compare specialized Inventory Management Systems (IMS) like Cin7 Core with complex ERPs like NetSuite, advising founders on when to upgrade their tech stack.

    Scaling productionPricing, margins & unit economics
    8 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 31m

    Implementing an eQMS after Switching from Paper

    Kendyl Williams, a Medical Device Guru at Greenlight Guru, details her experience transitioning a medical device company from a paper-based Quality Management System (QMS) to the Greenlight Guru eQMS platform. She describes the logistical failures of the paper system, such as 'document signing parties' and lost binders, and explains how the team validated the new software by locking themselves in a coffee shop to test workflows. Williams highlights the importance of using the sandbox environment to learn the system without risking live data and emphasizes the need for intentional setup regarding document nomenclature and attributes to ensure traceability between risk and design controls.

    Quality & yieldValidation & product-market fit
    8 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 22m

    The State of Warehouse Automation

    Tim Tetzlaff of DHL Supply Chain, John Santagate of Körber Supply Chain, and Adrian Stoch of GXO discuss the state of warehouse automation, emphasizing that successful deployment requires business-led use cases, flexibility, and human-in-the-loop orchestration rather than just technology. The panelists highlight challenges in selecting the right technology for diverse operations and the critical need for simulation, proof-of-concept testing, and clear business requirements to avoid costly mistakes. In a separate interview, Carlos Bielicki of Performance Motion Devices explains that robot manufacturers face pressure to miniaturize motion control electronics and provide total solutions to compensate for shrinking engineering teams and tight timelines.

    Scaling productionRobotics & autonomy
    5 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 57m

    #444: Scaling Your QMS: What the FDA Really Expects for MedTech Startups

    Mike Drues, president of Vascular Solutions, joins host Etienne Nichols to discuss how MedTech startups should scale their Quality Management Systems (QMS) to meet FDA expectations without over-investing in unnecessary processes. They emphasize that the Quality System Regulation (QSR) and the new QMSR are starting points, not exhaustive checklists, and that companies must use professional judgment to tailor their systems. Drues advocates for a 'triage' approach, prioritizing Design Controls and Risk Management during early development while deferring post-market systems like complaint handling until the product is closer to launch. The conversation also covers the strategic timing of FDA establishment registration and the dangers of using boilerplate, copy-and-paste quality manuals.

    Validation & product-market fitCertification & compliance
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Manufacturing Executive. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.