Casual Male Bolsters Supply ChainCasual Male Bolsters Supply Chain

Though admittedly behind the curve when it comes to automated supply chains, Casual Male Retail Group Inc. is overhauling its systems so it can improve operations and save millions.

The retailer will implement Manhattan Associates Inc.'s PkMS warehouse-management software and integrate it with its point-of-sale systems and JDA Software Group Inc.'s merchandise-management software.

That means when an item is sold at one of the retailer's 600 stores, the sale can automatically affect inventory systems at its 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Canton, Mass. For example, point-of-service data will flow into an inventory application and also be used to generate customer demand reports that affect buying decisions. Purchase orders will be automatically uploaded to the warehouse-management system, which sends alerts when orders are filled and shipped out.

"This is the nerve center of our company that we are changing out," says Dennis Hernreich, senior VP and CFO at Casual Male.

The PkMS warehouse-management software relies on radio-frequency technology and will replace the paper-intensive process currently in use. The improved supply chain will help Casual Male cut labor costs in its distribution center by nearly 70% and will save the retailer some $20 million to $25 million annually, Hernreich says. The integration and implementation, which is in the planning phase now, is expected to take about a year.