WMS taking larger role in chemical warehouses

Technology Briefing -- Supply Chain Management Review, 2/28/2008

ARC Advisory Group has released a report that indicates that chemical industry companies are starting to deploy warehouse management systems (WMS) to help enforce environmental health and safety (EHS) regulations. Here are a few places where WMS can play a role in enforcing EHS regulations:

• The yard. WMS solutions can help monitor entry and exit
• Receiving. WMS can prevent products not listed on the operating permit from being stored in the warehouse
• Put-away. WMS can help enforce safe put-away locations for hazardous chemicals
• Shipping. WMS can integrate manifesting solutions to enforce the proper materials as shipped to the proper locations using appropriate transportation
• Reporting. The WMS can be programmed to produce reports on what chemicals are stored where so local emergency response units are aware in the case of an emergency