Operations Review/GAP Analysis

The following describes the steps that SIMS personnel would take in order to perform an Operations Review or GAP Analysis of your current processes and/or systems that are used in running your operation. Following the review, we would present our findings and propose recommendations for operational improvement.

  1. Review Hardware, Software and Procedures Used to Support Current Operations.
    1. Collect data on Current Corporate Systems:
      • Current information systems processing cycles, current and projected processing rates and distribution cycles
      • Warehouse Management System Environment, including order management, inventory control, and order processing.
      • Manufacturing interfaces and controls, including requirements planning and process control
      • Current paperwork and systems procedures, including record keeping requirements for purchase orders, work orders, freight bills, packing lists, invoices, manifests, etc.
      • Value added processing requirements and procedures, including accuracy auditing (quality assurance), customer specific labeling, special packing, and packing and freight restrictions.
      • Transportation planning and shipment documentation requirements for labels, manifests, memo bills of lading, freight bills, customer manifests, and UPS manifests.
      • Billing practices and procedures, including method of computing special handling and special freight charges.
      • Claims Processing and Procedures
      • Copies of all manual forms used to process material through the operations including: receiving documents, case labels, packing slips, work orders, pick tickets, bills of lading, inventory tags, return good authorizations, etc.
      • Samples of current information systems operational, program and system documentation.
    2. Conduct interviews and/or meetings with client personnel to strengthen understanding of the processes
    3. Accompany employees, as required, and observe them perform existing process operations, taking statistical samples as necessary.
  2. Conduct Systems Analyses.
    1. Analyze the findings from the data gathering above and identify issues and deficiencies with the current hardware, software and procedures.
    2. Develop summary requirements and suggestions for modifications to existing systems and/or additions of new hardware, software and procedures to provide optimum support for these operations.
  3. Prepare and Present Findings
    1. Based on data collected above, prepare a detailed and summary report for management.
    2. Present summary findings to management.