Success Story in Japan

Overview

Precise and fast distribution to multiple destinations is always required at apparel industry. A famous apparel manufacturer in Japan was requested to look into its supply chain / logistics management due to new demands from its customers: department stores, wholesalers and specialty stores. As it handles more than 400 different tag/label designs, this manufacturer needed a reliable and fast solution.

In addition, the manufacturer also has to do tagging onto apparel goods, sorting, and printing of shipping labels where it needs to print a total of more than 200,000 labels/tags in a day. How does the manufacturer, with thousands of shipping destinations, deal with such tight requirements?

SATO to the rescue

Due to SATO's long standing reputation, experience and ability to provide an integrated DCS & Labelling Solutions, the system integration companies which the manufacturer approached recommended the SATO.

Data transfer : Ordering Information is consolidated in 2 locations, Tokyo and Osaka where it is then transferred to the factory/warehouse into ACOS/Unisys system. From the client's server, SATO's unique label designing software, Multi Labelist 2000, retrieves the necessary data and edits the information for printing.

Data processing : The client's PC, Multi Labelist 2000 installed, can control two printers at the same time. At the manufacturing area, 33 TR400 printers (overseas model is available as XL400e) in total are connected to the client's server through the client's PCs. The TR400 is a specialized printer which is able to produce a crisp image onto either label (laminated paper) or tag (most of case, hole in the centre for tagging onto clothes).

In addition, all printers in the client's site are electrically monitored by bi-directional communication interface at centralized station to check the status of printer, the balance of consumables, etc. To create convenience for its clients, most of label/tag format can also be found in SATO Label/Tag Format library in its web-site (to use this function, membership registration is required) and can be downloaded into the Multi Labelist 2000, so that the user does not need to create a new programme for new label/tag design.

Printing : Printers are placed according to the duty cycle of printing or label/tag design per shipping destination. This allows the operators to minimize frequency of changing the label/tag. Most of label format includes JAN Code, a barcode commonly used in Japan, to be scanned at the end of inspection process for creating another database to print the shipping labels, such as PD label or SCM label.

ASN : ASN, advance shipment notice, is transferred to the destination, such as warehouse of department store or wholesaler to prepare them for the receipt of goods from the manufacturer. This is very effective in eliminating double-counting at shipping and receiving points which results in faster process and cost reduction.

Mission Accomplished

With the impeccable Data Collection System and Labelling functions that the SATO systems offer, the manufacturer was able to function more efficiently and this has, in turn, increased productivity tremendously.

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Success Story in Japan

Overview

SATO to the rescue

Mission Accomplished

Related Solutions

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