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

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-07-09
- Length: 38m
- Episode: 213
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-88b396d3-3884-4b12-b5e0-cce1101838a9

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans#t=40) Introduction and Casey Winans' Background
- [9:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans#t=577) Defining WMS vs ERP and MES
- [13:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans#t=837) Common Misconceptions About WMS
- [15:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans#t=955) The Demo Doom Loop and Vendor Incentives
- [22:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans#t=1369) Five Pre-Implementation Steps for Success
- [33:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans#t=2000) The Importance of Clarity and Client Advocates

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Fullstride (company)
- GE (company)
- Red Prairie (company)
- Blue Yonder (company)
- JDA (company)
- Open Sky Group (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- ERP (tool)
- MES (tool)
- WMS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#462: Implementing an eQMS: The Ultimate Move-In Guide for MedTech Leaders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-06-29-462-implementing-an-eqms-the-ultimate-move-in-guide-for-medtech-leaders) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [#139  Inventory Management for Early Brands: Cory Hebert from Cin7, and Jamie Valenti-Jordan, Catapult Commercialization Services](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-04-23-139-inventory-management-for-early-brands-cory-hebert-from-cin7-and-jamie-valent) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Implementing an eQMS after Switching from Paper](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-02-02-implementing-an-eqms-after-switching-from-paper) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [The State of Warehouse Automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-08-01-the-state-of-warehouse-automation) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [#444: Scaling Your QMS: What the FDA Really Expects for MedTech Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-30-444-scaling-your-qms-what-the-fda-really-expects-for-medtech-startups) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-09-when-and-how-to-implement-a-warehouse-management-system-w-casey-winans. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Manufacturing Executive.