With supply chain processes and product flows optimised ‘to the max’ during the recession, an increasing number of organisations are switching on to substantial further productivity improvements which can be achieved through the introduction of supply chain workforce management systems, as Chris Buckley, services director of RedPrairie, explains.

Compared to the US, the discipline of workforce management is relatively immature in the UK and Europe. However, according to productivity solutions provider RedPrairie,few logistics service providers or other major warehouse operators now purchase a warehouse management system without a workforce management system to fully optimise warehousing operations. And with productivity improvements of 10 to 35 per cent in a typical warehousing operation, with the added benefits of improved employee satisfaction and retention and reduced labour costs, it is not difficult to see why. While this may sound too good to be true, the proof can be seen in operation in an increasing number of major UK warehousing and supply chain operations. Read more