JBS Tackles WMS to Streamline its Operations
JBS is a beef producer with operations in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and Italy. The company processes, prepares, packages, markets, and delivers fresh, processed and value-added beef and pork products to customers in the United States and international markets.
Customer satisfaction is paramount to JBS. The company rallies around a motto of "Perfect Match, Perfect Plant, Perfect Order," which means creating the best product out of the raw material, running the plant as efficiently as possible and delivering to customers exactly what they order at the time they want it.
Finding a Common Platform
JBS needed a warehouse management system that could run three of its U.S. Swift & Company brand plant-based warehouses. The three facilities were running different systems and needed a common platform for better efficiency, communication and visibility.
JBS Swift & Company was running RedPrairie at one of its plant-based warehouses, and after much research and consulting with industry analysts, chose to upgrade the RedPrairie solution at its Grand Island, Neb. site and to add the RedPrairie WMS at the other two facilities. JBS chose the solution provider because the technology was a good match for their needs, the system provided flexibility for process change and JBS felt a strong feeling of partnership.
Case for Change
JBS has complex supply chain needs. Each of the warehouses is attached to a processing plant, so the warehouse acts as an extension of the manufacturing facility. The company needs to track and manage inventory from receipt in the processing plant, throughout processing, into the warehouse and on to its final retail destination.
Because it is in the food industry, Swift faces additional requirements for safety, traceability and freshness. For safety and potential recall purposes, the company must start tracking meat all the way from the ranch where an animal was bred. Due to the nature of the business, there is also a wide variety of products that are produced since every part of the animal is sold. Therefore, the solution needed to be able to handle a diverse mix of product types, containers and measurements.
In addition, JBS also relies heavily on automation, expectations for shipping 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the fact that its workload is skewed from Thursday through Sunday. There are processing challenges, as well. Complex trailer movements are required because different products ship from different doors, and there is a complex product mix, ranging from 20-pound boxes to 1,000-pound tubs.
Case for change -- through its RedPrairie implementation, JBS had goals to improve productivity, improve system supportability, facilitate effective change control management and improve customer satisfaction by improving the percentage of Perfect Orders.
Transitioning Process
JBS upgraded its RedPrairie Warehouse Management solution in the summer of 2007 at its Grand Island, Neb. facility, and has since rolled out the solution to two additional facilities in the fall of 2007 and winter of 2008. The Grand Island, Neb. site is a combination of processing facility and a 56,000-square foot distribution center.
"We knew we needed more than just software -- we wanted a partner. We were in the midst of a new strategy for our supply chain. Our mission was to continuously elevate and sustain superior levels of satisfaction for our customers." says Geoffrey Scott, chief information officer for JBS.
JBS now had visibility to merchandise and the capability to transition product from processing to storage and distribution. The company runs a very lean operation with the distribution center as an extension of its manufacturing facility. The product has to be kept moving through the chain to avoid any bottlenecks.
Continued Results
Since implementing the new solution, JBS has increased operational awareness end-to-end, from the receipt of goods at the processing plant to the final retail destination. Inventory position is better understood and actionable so they have better inventory accuracy and increased shipping throughput. Since implementing, the company has increased overall throughput as well as shipped with greater awareness.
Reliability and proven "uptime" were two additional reasons JBS deployed the solution. "RedPrairie has streamlined our operations like it was never done before. We have gained efficiencies in the plant and can consistently fulfill demand with accuracy. We have less waste because we know exactly what is where," concludes Scott.
Customer satisfaction is paramount to JBS. The company rallies around a motto of "Perfect Match, Perfect Plant, Perfect Order," which means creating the best product out of the raw material, running the plant as efficiently as possible and delivering to customers exactly what they order at the time they want it.
Finding a Common Platform
JBS needed a warehouse management system that could run three of its U.S. Swift & Company brand plant-based warehouses. The three facilities were running different systems and needed a common platform for better efficiency, communication and visibility.
JBS Swift & Company was running RedPrairie at one of its plant-based warehouses, and after much research and consulting with industry analysts, chose to upgrade the RedPrairie solution at its Grand Island, Neb. site and to add the RedPrairie WMS at the other two facilities. JBS chose the solution provider because the technology was a good match for their needs, the system provided flexibility for process change and JBS felt a strong feeling of partnership.
Case for Change
JBS has complex supply chain needs. Each of the warehouses is attached to a processing plant, so the warehouse acts as an extension of the manufacturing facility. The company needs to track and manage inventory from receipt in the processing plant, throughout processing, into the warehouse and on to its final retail destination.
Because it is in the food industry, Swift faces additional requirements for safety, traceability and freshness. For safety and potential recall purposes, the company must start tracking meat all the way from the ranch where an animal was bred. Due to the nature of the business, there is also a wide variety of products that are produced since every part of the animal is sold. Therefore, the solution needed to be able to handle a diverse mix of product types, containers and measurements.
In addition, JBS also relies heavily on automation, expectations for shipping 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the fact that its workload is skewed from Thursday through Sunday. There are processing challenges, as well. Complex trailer movements are required because different products ship from different doors, and there is a complex product mix, ranging from 20-pound boxes to 1,000-pound tubs.
Case for change -- through its RedPrairie implementation, JBS had goals to improve productivity, improve system supportability, facilitate effective change control management and improve customer satisfaction by improving the percentage of Perfect Orders.
Transitioning Process
JBS upgraded its RedPrairie Warehouse Management solution in the summer of 2007 at its Grand Island, Neb. facility, and has since rolled out the solution to two additional facilities in the fall of 2007 and winter of 2008. The Grand Island, Neb. site is a combination of processing facility and a 56,000-square foot distribution center.
"We knew we needed more than just software -- we wanted a partner. We were in the midst of a new strategy for our supply chain. Our mission was to continuously elevate and sustain superior levels of satisfaction for our customers." says Geoffrey Scott, chief information officer for JBS.
JBS now had visibility to merchandise and the capability to transition product from processing to storage and distribution. The company runs a very lean operation with the distribution center as an extension of its manufacturing facility. The product has to be kept moving through the chain to avoid any bottlenecks.
Continued Results
Since implementing the new solution, JBS has increased operational awareness end-to-end, from the receipt of goods at the processing plant to the final retail destination. Inventory position is better understood and actionable so they have better inventory accuracy and increased shipping throughput. Since implementing, the company has increased overall throughput as well as shipped with greater awareness.
Reliability and proven "uptime" were two additional reasons JBS deployed the solution. "RedPrairie has streamlined our operations like it was never done before. We have gained efficiencies in the plant and can consistently fulfill demand with accuracy. We have less waste because we know exactly what is where," concludes Scott.