“The inventory accuracy is phenomenal—this system has definitely paid for itself.” —Donna Holten, Director of Information Technology, Fraenkel Company

 

“The Symbol mobile computers are very durable and easy to use—an end user can deploy a new one in about ten minutes.”—Donna Holten, Director of Information Technology, Fraenkel Company

Company overview: Fraenkel Company

Fraenkel Company is an employee-owned manufacturing distributor of household furniture and related products and services. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in business since 1959, Fraenkel Company takes pride in its reputation as a progressive, dynamic organization. Fraenkel’s primary business objective has remained constant since the company’s founding: to grow prudently and profitably by anticipating and fulfilling market needs.


The challenge: Improving inventory accuracy and warehouse efficiency

The Fraenkel mission statement offers insight into the company’s nearly half-century of success in a highly competitive market: “We keep an open mind to new ideas. If we ever shut our minds, we should shut our doors.”

One idea that had clear benefits to Fraenkel was enterprise resource planning (ERP). The company created an in-house ERP system in the early 1990’s. This solution was quite sophisticated, including the use of Symbol PDT8146 mobile computers to track merchandise as it left Fraenkel warehouses. However, home-grown software can be unwieldy to maintain and difficult to upgrade. In 2001, Fraenkel saw a solution that offered more advanced ERP capabilities and implemented VAI’s S2K Enterprise for Manufacturing.

“Fraenkel is a very sophisticated ERP user—a real power user—so VAI selected Fraenkel as a Beta site for S2K. They use every aspect of S2K, and had valuable input into the final design of the product,” said Luke Heaton, Project Director, VAI. “Just one example of how they helped shape S2K was their insight about streamlining the process of completing manufacturing orders and getting a product into inventory easily. It is a pleasure working with the Fraenkel team, and we continue to partner with them on product enhancements,” noted Heaton.

When Fraenkel decided to automate and streamline its warehouse operations for even greater efficiency and customer satisfaction, VAI was ready with an innovative new WMS module that was radio frequency (RF)-capable.

The solution: Implementing a Symbol wireless network and new VAI software

“The VAI system has been excellent, and when we wanted to take the next step—automating the warehouse and putting in wireless—VAI was there with their new WMS module. This was an ideal solution,” said Donna Holten, Director of Information Technology, Fraenkel Company. “Obviously, there were no comparisons with the astronomical costs and integration headaches of purchasing a separate WMS system, and we already had good experiences with both VAI and Symbol,” she added.

In 2003, Fraenkel installed the new version of the VAI S2K with the integrated WMS module and a Symbol wireless network infrastructure including Symbol AP-4131 access points at its three warehouses. These facilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dallas, Texas, and Olive Branch, Mississippi employ approximately 325 people.

Symbol mobile computers are used to scan items from the end of the manufacturing process through loading onto trucks. Automated updates about merchandise location are provided in real-time to the VAI system at the Baton Rouge location, and the Symbol mobile computers are used to access that data to facilitate retrieval in the warehouse.

Fraenkel chose the Symbol’s 9000 Series for its mobile computers’ ruggedness and ease-of-use. “We knew the Symbol equipment held up well in our warehouse environment, and each mobile computer could be deployed in only about ten minutes, compared to a half an hour or so in the past,” said Holten.

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The benefits: Dramatically improved inventory accuracy and warehouse efficiency

The combined VAI and Symbol solution has streamlined Fraenkel’s operations and improved its service to customers by:

• Improving inventory accuracy by 85 percent or more
• Increasing warehouse efficiency
• Providing real-time details on product availability for customers
• Streamlining picking and loading processes through pinpoint location of merchandise

“Inventory accuracy and real-time tracking are important to us for efficiency and customer service. With the manual processes we had been using, even though we scanned items as they left the building, we still spent time finding inventory in the warehouse,” said Holten.

“Now if a dealer calls and asks about a product, we have real-time inventory data to answer the question immediately. This system is exactly what we need—with Symbol and VAI, we can locate any item in any bin at any time,” she explained.

About Symbol Technologies

Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company™, is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world's leading companies. More information is available at www.symbol.com.

About VAI

VAI provides end-to-end, integrated enterprise solutions for the Wholesale Distribution, Manufacturing, Retail and Service industries. As a leader in the small and mid-sized market, VAI offers world class applications, IBM leading technology, and expert service and experience to maximize information technology investments. VAI offers a full suite of integrated applications that can be tailored to meet specific business requirements. VAI has helped more than 750 companies of all types and sizes change the way they do business, enhance organizational performance and lower costs. For additional information, visit www.vai.net.