Hardware for the CSO Inventory System
To provide a fully functional and efficient inventory system to
Collective Supermarkets Owners, we designed a state-of-the-art
networked system with many personal computers and other hardware. The
actual size of the system can be expanded as need.
The CSO inventory system will use a Pentium Pro class system as the
center file and processing server, which will keep track of the
inventory by updating on-line database with information sent in from
other workstations. It also prepares order forms as inventory runs
low, then head managers can authorize the order and it will be sent off
to the warehouse. The current system will print out the order form and
it will be sent out by courier. In the future, CSO can automate this
part of the system by purchasing an add-on system and installing necessary
inter-store networking hardware. Personnel information is also recorded on
this server, changes can be made to update information on an employee.
An Intel 486-120mhz class personal computer with Windows installed will be
the primary workstation for positions such as cashiers and stockers.
Each workstation will have a barcode scanner attached and the CSO inventory
system will utilize it to speed up operations. Touch screens also come
with each workstation to increase the usability of the system. Users
can learn the operation of the system in a very short period of time
thanks to the specially designed user interface.
For mobile positions like stockers and managers, we provide hand-held
computer units to allow employees better access to the system. These
portable units will be able to communicate to the server through a
wireless network.
The CSO inventory system will use twist-pair cable as the backbone on
the in-store LAN (local area network), which is relatively low cost and
hence reliable. Novell Netware will be the networking software used to
run and administrate the network. To provide up-to-date information
between the portable units and the server, an infrared network will be
installed to link up the portable units and the LAN.
In the future, if CSO decides to upgrade the system to automate the
sending of an order form, we can provide options like modem connections
or ISDN communication lines.