Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems

Fujifilm’s management philosophy includes constant examination of hundreds of small factors that can be improved upon to create system-wide change and long-term efficiencies. In keeping with that culture of improvement, the IT team focused on optimizing the productivity of FSIS warehouse operators engaged in put-away/picking/packing applications.

A long-time AS/400 user, FSIS powers its ERP, back-office, and warehouse systems on IBM i. The warehouse employs 17 forklift truck operators, who continuously receive, check in and move product from the factory and from external suppliers as well as pick, check, and ship out customer orders. While the forklifts have long been equipped with terminal emulators connecting operators to the ERP system, the user interface for various warehouse picking functions was menu-based, limited to a series of options that needed to be entered manually, requiring heavy use of the keyboard.

Connectivity represented an even greater challenge. Initially, the forklift operators used tablets to link to the core applications via their WiFi network, but they couldn’t always sustain a connection, leading to productivity issues as well as delays. Accordingly, the IT team zeroed in on three key areas: the mobile hardware platform, the connectivity issue, and the UI of the warehouse application.