ensto customer magazine 2009

logisticsown reference ("mark") that is automaticallyprinted out at the trucks as stickers andglued on the shipment. This helps the receptionof the shipment.Paper goes electronicWith the institution of computers, selectionlists for picking were naturally transferredfrom paper to electronic form. This createdproblems of its own for those used to the oldsystem. Adapting to the on screen operatingsystem, understanding its logic and learningit as a whole posed quite a learning curve.With a diverse range of ages and educationalbackgrounds, some workers had to startfrom the very basics of computer learning.– Some of our employees have been workingfor Ensto for quite a long time and somewere even afraid to push computer buttonswhen this project began, Logistics Managerat Ensto, Kai Raittila explained.Having identified this as a major problem,much work has been done to train all thewarehouse personnel to become familiarwith working with computers and with thesystem as a whole. The work has, however,paid off with greatly improved pickingaccuracy.Increased accuracyRaittila explained that prior to the new barcodesystem, picking errors were approximately1.5% – an unacceptably high figure,in his opinion. Apart from being disruptiveto business, errors in shipments could alsoprove costly. In one instance sending awrong shipment to the Far East meant thatthe cost of retrieval was so great that theonly option was to leave it there. Before thechangeover to the barcode system, thecommon logic was to identify the operatorwho had made the mistake and get them tocorrect it personally. While this was a goodpolicy, the present system has meant a dropin errors to 0.2%, a figure which Raittilaexplains is in keeping with best warehousingpractices.Looking back over the project, Raittila whotook the role of ‘driver’ explains that despitea good outcome, there were many challengesto overcome. Staying on scheduleand matching the schedules of the five differentorganisation members involved wasdifficult. Adapting the ERP system took doublethe time anticipated and all documentationalso needed to be kept up to speedwhen changes were made to the system.Raittila says there will still be an increase intraining of existing personnel and animprovement in induction for new staff butis assured that the project has been worthwhile.With all products itemised and listedin the barcode system, it is now possible forthe first time to do a full stocktake in a fractionof the time using barcode scanners.Operations in Ensto’s Estonian warehousingoperation have now also been brought inline with the Porvoo Logistics Centre.Now that our internal handling in the warehouseis at a great level, we will focus ondeliveries and transportation. What happensafter our picking is ready and the customergets our invoice. Some customers and theFinnish customs are eagerly waiting that wecan send delivery information electronically.We are also looking forward to sending ourtransportation orders electronically to transportationcompanies soon, says Kai Raittila.With everything now in place, it’s time toreap the rewards of two and a half years ofhard work and look to the future of thelogistics with confidence.16 | ENSTO TODAY 2009