As the market leader for tourist information in Germany and Europe, MAIRDUMONT is constantly working to optimise its products and services for its customers. In order to be able to meet this demand in logistics in the future, MAIRDUMONT has decided to replace the existing warehouse management system at the logistics site in Ulm-Jungingen with SuPCIS-L8 from S&P Computersysteme GmbH in Stuttgart.
The project
In the course of the SAP implementation at the parent company in Ostfildern, SuPCIS-L8 was introduced as the new warehouse management system at MairDumont.
The application software is used to control the pallet high-bay warehouse as a replenishment area, which is operated with radio data transmission-supported forklifts, the automatic container conveyor system and paperless order picking using pick-by-light and put-to-light. Great importance was attached to the system's support of special processes for more efficient handling. For example, two-stage processes ensure efficient single-item handling, picking of large quantities as well as picking of replenishments into totes for the flow rack system at a goods-to-man picking station. A separate picking zone has been set up for promotions. Consolidation and order merging processes are managed by the WMS, and a wide variety of special handling requirements at the packing station ("value-added services") are supported by the WMS.
In the publishing industry, returns are often higher than normal returns in other industries. In addition to controlling incoming goods, picking and outgoing goods, the WMS also handles returns and manages returns.
The high-bay warehouse has a capacity of 19,000 pallet spaces. The four high-bay stackers in use here are controlled with SuPCIS-L8 via mobile terminals. For more efficient order picking, there are three picking areas adapted to the article structure: fast-moving items can be taken directly from the original pallet, medium-moving and slow-moving items are stored in flow racks or shelf racks. A tote conveyor system reduces travel times for orders. A total of 2,500 running metres of conveyor technology are installed in the logistics centre. of conveyor technology is installed in the logistics centre. In addition, there is a 660-metre-long order picking line. A pick-by-light system, which is controlled via the WMS, enables parallel processing of orders and replenishment at the shelving and flow racks and thus an increase in productivity in order picking.
"S&P's proven expertise in the field of book and sound carrier distribution, extensive, long-term experience as a WMS provider, very good references and ultimately a reasonable price-performance ratio tipped the scales in S&P's favour. All project participants at S&P are very customer-oriented, flexible and highly competent. The partnership-based cooperation before and during the go-live was very effective at all times. Our specific requirements were implemented very well. We are convinced that we have found the right partner in S&P", says Andreas Bachmaier, Technical Manager at MairDumont, about the cooperation with S&P. Regarding the warehouse management software SuPCIS-L8, he explains: "SuPCIS is a very well scalable solution that best meets our requirements in terms of functionality and user-friendliness. Furthermore, we benefited from the fact that ready-made solutions could already be established for the connection to ERP (SAP) and subsystems (pick-by-light, container conveyor technology, shipping system)."
About MairDumont
The MAIRDUMONT publishing group, which was founded in 1948, is, in addition to its publishing work, a distribution and delivery partner of leading specialist publishers with a programme focus on travel, tourism and transport.
The family-owned company with around 400 employees has its headquarters in Ostfildern near Stuttgart. The logistics centre is in Ulm, and the publishing group also has subsidiaries in Great Britain, Austria, the Czech Republic & Slovakia and Switzerland. The entire group generated approx. 105 million euros in turnover in 2012.
MAIRDUMONT's product range includes print and electronic media. The publishing programme delivered from Ulm includes the Marco Polo travel guides, Falk city maps/city atlases, Baedeker Allianz travel guides, the ADAC cartography, Großer Generalatlas, DuMont travel guides, DuMont picture atlas, Lonely Planet travel guides, Varta guides and the Kompass hiking and cycling programme.
