New Warehouse “Brain” Powers Faster, More Accurate Distribution

AFS is rolling out a new warehouse management system from Manhattan Associates, a move that will make the AFS distribution center more efficient, more accurate and easier to manage. 

At a basic level, a warehouse management system, or WMS, is the software that tracks products as they move through a distribution center, from the moment they arrive to when they are shipped to stores. It also helps direct workers, manage inventory and keep everything running smoothly. Justin Johnson, vice president of distribution, said the WMS serves as the operational “brain,” directing team members on what needs to be done, when it needs to happen and who is responsible across the distribution center. 

The new system, called Manhattan Active Warehouse Management, is cloud-based and designed to bring all of those moving parts into one place. It provides real-time visibility into inventory and helps coordinate both people and machines working inside the warehouse. 

That coordination has become increasingly important as AFS has invested in advanced automation, including its Project ROAR initiative with Symbotic. 

“With the old system, Triceps, and Project ROAR, the new automation, it was like powering a Ferrari with the guts of a Pinto,” said Justin Johnson. 

In other words, the company had cutting-edge automation, but the underlying software wasn’t built to keep up. 

The new system is expected to change that. Because it is cloud-based, it can be updated continuously without major disruptions. It also helps the warehouse “think” in real time, adjusting workflows as orders come in and conditions change. 

For team members, that could mean clearer direction on what to pick, pack or move next. For stores, it could mean faster and more accurate deliveries. And for the company, it brings better visibility into what’s happening across the entire operation. 

Justin says the goal is simple: make sure the technology behind the scenes is as strong as the automation on the warehouse floor. 

There are many team members who have contributed to the WMS project, including Andrew Collins, Rusty Calkins, Jesse Blake, Ben Burge, Gordon Rose, and many other key team members from warehouse operations and IT development and integration. Their collective efforts have played a key role in planning, implementing and supporting the new system across the organization.