e-ReplacementParts.com; WERC’s Newest Certified Facility in 2015

New Year Brings New Recognition of Warehousing Excellence

Oak Brook, IL, April 02, 2015 --(PR.com)-- For the past four years the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) has continued to promote and recognize facilities that meet the standards of a “best practice facility,” and the start to 2015 is no different. As with every new year, many will make commitments and resolutions to do better, only to fall short just a few weeks into the year. But for e-ReplacementParts.com this isn’t the case.

The fraternity of WERC recognized “Best Practice Warehouses” grew by one to kick off the new year with the newest addition and most recent successful participant, eReplacementParts.com. Voluntarily undergoing an assessment of 114 processes is a decision that many have contemplated, but by comparison, few have embarked on. Much like a January resolution; many are made, but few follow through. But for those who do, the rewards are plentiful, and the WERC Facility Assessment and Certification is no different.

Operating with a “home-grown” warehouse management system (WMS) that was no longer meeting the needs of the organization, e-ReplacementParts.com had reason to believe they may not receive a passing score and the subsequent certification. However, the audit revealed that the organization was more than capable and had implemented processes that met or exceeded the minimums. This isn’t to suggest that opportunities for improvement weren’t identified – they were. Accordingly, these opportunities will be used to upgrade the WMS later this year, but the significance of those findings is that it will reduce the time and expense of the implementation.

Stephen Webber, eReplacementParts.com General Manager said, “We knew our WMS wasn’t working for us and the plan was always to upgrade. However, going through the WERC audit identified opportunities that we didn’t realize, and when we share them with our supplier, the WMS implementation will be less taxing on our schedule and our budget. This was a worthwhile venture, and it’s rewarding to obtain the certification, which recognizes our team’s successes.”

The success in the warehouse mirrors their business success, which brought with it growing pains. These “pains” were a contributing reason for participating in the assessment. eReplacementParts.com saw significant increases in the number of SKU’s they were handling, and anticipates further growth in 2015.

WERC’s Assessment & Facility Certification is a voluntary program that requires each company to undergo an independent audit of 114 processes in eight core areas of warehouse operations. Only facilities that achieve a minimum score are certified and recognized by WERC. Additional information about the Assessment & Facility Certification Program can be obtained from the association’s website at www.werc.org.

About WERC
The Warehousing Education and Research Council is the only professional association focused exclusively on warehouse management and its role in the supply chain. Members are experts from all facets of the distribution industry who come together to share practical knowledge and professional expertise to improve individual and industry performance. Learn more at www.werc.org.
Contact
Warehousing Education and Research Council
Michael Mikitka
630-990-0001
www.werc.org
ContactContact
Categories