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BellHawk uses "Dynamic
Binning" methods to minimize the warehouse space needed to store
materials. In this, it automatically records where every container of
materials is stored. Then, when materials need to be retrieved, the
operator is informed on their mobile computers where the materials are
located in age-first order. In this way, materials can be placed
wherever there is space without the problem of trying to find the
materials.
BellHawk can inform
material handlers as to the preferred location to put materials away
but always gives the choice of putting materials away where there is
space. This avoids having some bines over-flowing into the aisle when
other bins are empty. It also enables warehouses to dynamically cope
with short and long term changes in requirements for storage.
BellHawk works efficiently
in warehouses that use floor locations for storage as well as those
that have extensive racks and bins. It can also work efficiently in
stock-rooms and in outside yards and off-site storage where there is
no wireless coverage.
BellHawk uses wireless
mobile computers (equipped with built-in barcode scanners) to perform
barcode scanning. Users have a choice of Windows Mobile and Windows CE
based units. For most fork-lift truck usage, we currently recommend
the Motorola/Symbol 9090-G handheld units with the built-in Lorax
adaptive-range laser scanner. This unit will scan barcodes on
pick-sheets at a range of 4 inches and then scan overhead
retro-reflective floor location barcodes at a distance of 40 feet or
more. We support the Hand Held Products 9500 series of mobile
computers but these need to be mounted in a truck-mount cradle with an
external long-range scanner. We also support the Symbol fixed mount
truck units.
The wireless mobile
computers use BSC's proprietary BSAF store and forward technology to
ensure reliable and secure data collection in factory and warehouse
environments where there are many factors that can interfere with
wireless communications. With this technology, each mobile computer
has its own local database that is used to perform transactions when
wireless communications is intermittent. The use of BSAF ensures that
scanning operations are not impeded due to wireless transmission being
blocked by steel racking or by other materials that absorb radio
waves.
BSAF enables warehouses to
be effectively covered with only a few wireless access points. This
can result in a very significant cost savings for large warehouses
over the cost of deploying the many wireless access points needed for
effective terminal server operation of the mobile computers. BSAF also
enables the wireless computers to operate in off-site warehouses and
truck delivery situations. In these cases the transactional data is
stored up until the mobile computer returns within the range of an
access point.
BellHawk provides a very
cost effective alternative to complex Warehouse Management Systems
that are designed for use in large retail distribution centers.
BellHawk is ideally suited to warehouses that are associated with
manufacturing operations or that perform a significant level of
secondary operations. BellHawk does not try to control the actions of
your material handlers through a set of complicated action rules.
Instead, BellHawk provides the information your people need and
enables them to efficiently carry out their warehouse activities.
To learn more about BellHawk
Systems cost-effective implementation process,
please click here.
For more information about how
BellHawk Systems can help you with your specific inventory and warehouse
operations tracking solution, please contact BellHawk Systems by clicking on the link below:
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