CHE10/07: HIGHWAYS AGENCY INTRODUCES NEW STOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (2 August 2010)

Issue Date: 2 August 2010
Ref: CHE10/07

Integrated stock management, planning and purchasing system incorporating Empirica WMS is helping the Highways Agency to track and manage utilisation of valuable traffic management assets more efficiently Underpinning the solution will be the stock management system, Empirica WMS provided by specialists Chess Logistics Technology.

HIGHWAYS AGENCY INTRODUCES NEW STOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Integrated stock management, planning and purchasing system incorporating Empirica WMS is helping the Highways Agency to track and manage utilisation of valuable traffic management assets more efficiently

The Highways Agency uses integrated traffic technology as part of the Managed Motorway Programme to control traffic and support initiatives such as hard shoulder running.  Traffic technology allows the Highways Agency to address the continued growth of traffic volume by better utilising the existing network.

To ensure cost effective deployment and support of this technology which includes matrix signs, cameras and telecommunications a new set of systems has been deployed.  The systems are designed to ensure timely delivery of equipment onto site while reducing the technology stockholding in the Highways Agency supply chain. 

Delivery of the new solution has been handled by systems integrator Atos Origin, and involves a networked stock management system integrated with a centralised planning and purchasing system.
The new stock management system uses Oracle Portal technology to capture demand from external contractors, supply chain systems from Oracle’s eBusiness Suite to balance supply against demand and web tools based on Oracle iProcurement for contractors to call off product onto major schemes.  Underpinning the solution will be the stock management system, Empirica WMS provided by specialists Chess Logistics Technology. The new system will provide integrated warehouse management at the Agency’s regional depots and national distribution centre offering the Highways Agency a real time and accurate view of technology stock at their depots.

A key element of the project is the delivery of tight integration between the Highways Agency’s centralised Oracle Financials and the warehouse management system with interfaces developed jointly by Chess and Atos Origin.  Each stock transaction will initiate a transfer of information via the interfaces to provide centralised real time data across all the Highways Agency stockholding locations.

Many benefits are expected to be gained from the new system, in particular the improved visibility of demand and accurate view of supply now available to central planners.  Additional benefits will include enhanced traceability of stock issued to new schemes, control of damaged or returned items and the management of mobile stocks.