• What is the difference between a consultant and a systems integrator?
• Does TZA sell any systems?
• Do you offer free operational reviews?
• What differentiates TZA's solutions?
• Can you help us design a new facility?
• Can you also help us increase throughput in our present facility?
• Do you offer a slotting package? How much value is there in slotting?
• How do I decide between software based slotting and manual?
• What does RFID mean for Distribution Centers not related to Consumer Packaged Goods or Pharmaceutical products?
• What does typically offer the greatest opportunity for improvement in transportation operations?
• What other programs do you offer to improve our distribution network performance?
• Can Optimized Labor Performance/ProTrack be part of a Continuous Improvement Program?
• How does Optimized Labor Performance relate to any Six Sigma initiatives?
• Can Optimized Labor Performance be implemented in manufacturing?
• Do you offer a labor management tool?
• IIs a stand alone system worth the effort?
• Why do you combine Labor Management Software with Optimized Labor Performance Solutions?

What is the difference between a consultant and a systems integrator?

A systems integrator is focused on delivering tactical services to an already designed solution. Consultants are more versed in solving business problems and creating solutions that can be later sourced to a systems integrator. Systems integrators are typically aligned with specific types of product offerings used in the implementation process. Consultants are product and solution independent.

TZA does not sell any hardware products, and that is why our advice is unbiased. We can help you determine what your warehousing and transportation needs are, and we can also assist you in the process of submitting RFQs, evaluating proposals and choosing the one that best fits your specific requirements.

Yes, our expert team is at your disposal for evaluating at no charge logistics improvement opportunities within your organization. TZA has over twenty years of experience in helping companies in wholesale, retail and distribution across numerous industries improve their warehousing and distribution operations.

TZA is passionate about helping its clients succeed with a laser-focused methodology built on value realization. We will work with you in the trenches and ensure that your company can reap the benefits of our partnership already at an early stage of the process. Our proven implementation methods strive and constantly succeed to achieve maximum return on investment.

Yes, we can help you appropriately size your facility and develop construction specifications to assure high quality and compatibility with the internal material handling system. TZA's objective will always be to construct a facility that meets your operational goals within the project budget. Included in the process will be site selection review and design, sizing on the facility based on sales, inventory and SKU growth, material handling system and equipment requirements review, development of construction specifications, RFQ development, qualification and selection of design build firms, final negotiation and contract review and project management of the construction phase.

Yes, we can work with you to engineer the optimum material handling design. We will analyze your present facility's capacity and future storage requirements and determine the appropriate material handling system, whether it is manual, mechanized or automated. We will work with you in the bidding and negotiating process, help you with the installation project management, employee training and start-up assistance.

Slotting can offer tremendous opportunities but requires some maintenance. Typical operational cost savings achieved by implementing slotting in picking operations start at 10-15%, though we have seen significantly higher percentages in some of our projects. Other benefits of using slotting are improved inventory accuracy, reduced shrinkage and an overall increase of facility capacity.

Typically, software based slotting is a better fit for operations with a high SKU count, seasonal business or companies that are looking to do an enterprise wide deployment across multiple facilities.

Everybody is buzzing about RFID, but in our experience the implementation of this technology can be painful and not justified from the cost standpoint. Unless usage of RFID in your operation is required by the DOD, FDA, or customers such as Wal-Mart, our recommendation is that you to take a "wait and see" approach until RFID price points come down.

In most delivery operations, the driver wages and benefits account for the majority of the delivery costs and therefore, offer the greatest opportunity for improvement. TZA can help you develop and execute an overall change plan to better manage your fleet drivers' performance. The strategy combines the use of technology and human resources to improve productivity and reduce overall costs.

TZA can also assist you in reducing transportation-related expenses by performing transportation system audits, establishing carrier negotiations and vendor conversion programs, developing the ideal carrier base of inbound freight and optimizing outbound routes to minimize miles and reduce costs.

A majority of TZA clients use Optimized Labor Performance and ProTrack as the foundation for continuous improvement. A key element of a Continuous Improvement Program is the elimination of waste in the system or process. Without a way to measure results, it is difficult if not impossible to determine how much actual waste exists. With ProTrack implemented, operations management can easily view key performance indicators facility by facility and put in place specific and measurable actions to eliminate identified waste while driving a Continuous Improvement program. Optimized Labor Performance is a key part establishing a baseline for improvement with ProTrack. The key to Optimized Labor Performance is identifying and implementing best practices prior to overlaying technology.

Six Sigma methodologies consist of a very structured process to collect data and analyze it, come up with a solution and implement it. Optimized Labor Performance goes one step above and beyond by acting at the floor level and implementing change management programs that ensure change does actually happen, creating a sustainable culture that reinforces change effort. Optimized Labor Performance is not just a conceptual strategy project but a hands-on program focused on successful execution to drive maximum Return On Investment.

Yes, actually the concept of Engineered Standards, which is the foundation of Optimized Labor Performance solutions, originated over one hundred years ago in manufacturing, as a decision tool for staffing, planning and scheduling production. Engineered Standards are an accurate, fair and documented representation of the work methodology and time required to perform a certain task. Any organization, whether in manufacturing, warehousing or distribution, that needs to measure work to create a basis for managing performance and controlling costs can benefit from Optimized Labor Performance.

We can empower your management with the best labor management software in the industry. ProTrack Warehouse is the most effective PC-based labor reporting application for tracking performance, and can be integrated with any of the leading WMS applications. ProTrack Drivers provides similar capabilities for your fleet productivity management. The software offers a robust interface to other SCP/SCE applications and offers you a centralized source from which to view the results that drive productivity.

You need to weigh the benefit of real time access to information versus the cost of interface development and maintenance. Stand alone applications generally provide deeper functionality with the trade off being interoperability.

The software is just a tool; the total value is determined by how well the management team uses the tool and by managing change so that new processes can be effective.