Part two of five articles about distribution management optimization.

In 2004, John Traendly released the results of the Soleus Group's annual Retail Supply Chain Best Practices Review. The study included these findings in the area of vendor performance:

• On-time availability at shipment origin - 81.7% versus a goal of 97.5%
• In stock at stores - 94.3% versus a goal of 96.8%
• Fill rate on closed orders - 93.7% versus a goal of 97.2%
• Timely and accurate Advance Shipment Notifications - 93.7% versus a goal of 90.0%

• On-time availability at shipment origin - 84.5% versus a goal of 97.4%
• In stock at stores - 94.7% versus a goal of 97.3%
• Fill rate on closed orders - 91.8% versus a goal of 97.7%
• Timely and accurate Advance Shipment Notifications - 75.6% versus a goal of 90.3%

• There are several key opportunities to upgrade receiving operations including expanded use of ASN's for unload planning and automated product receipts
• Automated slot management tools can result in significant productivity improvements, but they are not used in many D.C.'s.
• Expanded use of crossdock and flow through operations is the ultimate key to improved performance.
• Current WMS applications have left significant room for improvement.