There’s no way we could collect so much data without the RFgen system.
Jim Kruse, Board Secretary and Controller
Blue Bell Creameries
Snapshot
Industry: Food & Beverage
ERP: Oracle E-Business Suite
Applications: Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Offline Mobility, Field Mobility
Goals Achieved
Smoothly transitioned from Oracle 11i to 12 without losing functionality or interrupting data collection capabilities
Created efficient track and trace process for food products to comply with federal food safety regulations
Eliminated data loss from “drops” – when handheld device connectivity was unexpectedly interrupted
Digitized fixed asset tracking for 800+ truck drivers operating across thousands of locations
Reduced future cost by utilizing open source code for in-house customizing of transactions and workflows
Fast, easy implementation of RFgen with live- and webinar-based end user training
Challenge
Blue Bell had been using Oracle E-Business Suite 11i environment for their existing automated data collection solution and decided to upgrade to Release 12 to overcome workflow issues and improve overall functionality. During the transition, the Blue Bell team discovered that Release 12 also created unexpected challenges.
These new challenges included maintaining compliance as it related to tracing food ingredients and products, unreliable handheld device connectivity inside its facilities, the need to adapt to multiple types of mobile devices and tracking fixed assets via paper-based systems.
RFgen enabled Blue Bell Creameries to upgrade and automate manual paper-based processes.
Solution
To overcome the obstacles with their ERP upgrade, multiple operating systems, delivery logistics, and solution scalability, Blue Bell sought a software partner with robust, flexible and customizable solutions. Blue Bell tapped RFgen and deployed RFgen Mobile Foundations for Oracle E-Business Suite – a powerful, flexible and cost-efficient solution.
The software suite enhanced operations by implementing mobile barcoding in Receiving, Inventory, Manufacturing, Quality and Fixed Assets. It also replaced Blue Bell’s legacy barcode system as they transitioned to the new release of Oracle e-Business Suite.
“We quickly realized RFgen’s solution would not only solve our mobile batch requirements but would also provide real-time integration to our Oracle E-Business system to manage the shop floor transactions used in our plants,” stated Jim Kruse, Board Secretary and Controller for Blue Bell.
Results
Not only had RFgen helped Blue Bell make a smooth transition to Oracle E-Business Suite Release 12 without losing functionality or data collection capabilities, but the company also remains highly satisfied with RFgen’s reliability and performance.
Benefits included:
Increased productivity and improved data accuracy by utilizing handhelds for cycle counts
Resolved data drops with trusted and reliable offline data collection and quality handhelds
Significantly enhanced fixed asset tracking
Helped over 800 truck drivers manage Blue Bell’s fixed assets located at thousands of branch and customer sites with greater efficiency and accuracy
Equipped Blue Bell’s in-house developers with the ability to customize transactions and workflows in a fraction of the time and cost of the previous solution
Seamless training support
Looking Ahead
Blue Bell continues to assess the ways they can continue to leverage the power of RFgen’s offerings as they grow and their needs evolve. Other possible applications include exploring how the high availability batch mode can be used to improve route accounting for delivery of ice cream products to supermarkets and convenience stores.
Blue Bell’s Program Analyst Vitalina Lisovaya adds: “We have a lot of ideas for RFgen based on its scalability. I have a feeling it’s never going to end!”
Blue Bell Creameries has been making delectable ice cream and frozen snack products since 1907. Now the company operates four manufacturing plants, 57 distribution centers, and a large fleet of delivery trucks. Known for its unique mixtures, Blue Bell ranks as one of the top three best-selling branded ice creams in the U.S.–despite being only available in 26-percent of the nation’s supermarkets.
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