NetSuite Industries: Automotive
Managing the Automotive Industry with RF-SMART
From Manual to Automatic
In automotive manufacturing, production efficiency directly impacts the bottom line. Many manufacturers rely on Just-in-Time (JIT) manufacturing to balance inventory levels with production demands, but JIT requires near-perfect inventory control. Parts that arrive too early tie up capital; parts that arrive too late can halt production lines and cost hundreds of dollars in lost labor.
Manual processes make that balance nearly impossible. Handwritten counts, manual stock checks, and paper-based receiving slow down operations and introduce errors that cascade through the supply chain. Automating inventory management eliminates these inefficiencies and creates a more responsive, agile production environment.
Shifting Gears with RF-SMART & NetSuite
RF-SMART's warehouse management system (WMS) for NetSuite offers a robust inventory management solution tailored to meet the unique needs of the automotive industry. With RF-SMART, companies in this sector can transform their inventory operations through:
Real-Time Inventory Visibility
Access accurate, up-to-the-minute information on inventory levels across all locations, enabling better production planning and reducing the risk of stockouts that can halt a production line.
Automated Receiving & Put-Away
Streamline the receiving process with barcode scanning that validates incoming shipments against purchase orders, ensuring the right parts are available for production when needed.
Advanced Picking & Kitting
Optimize the assembly of component kits for production lines using RF-SMART's Pick Planner, which automates pick strategies and directs workers on the most efficient path through the warehouse.
Manufacturing on the Shop Floor
RF-SMART guides workers from staging bin to completed work order, with automatic component backflushing and handheld scrap reporting built in. Production managers get real-time visibility into component and assembly status across the entire shop floor.
Lot & Serial Traceability
RF-SMART maintains full lot and serial traceability from inbound receiving through assembly and outbound shipping. Whether tracking VINs, component serial numbers, or part lot numbers, every movement is recorded and auditable, supporting quality control, warranty management, and compliance requirements.
Printing & Labeling with Speed
The automotive industry deals with many small parts, such as hardware, electronic pieces, and engine components, all needing unique labels for tracking and traceability. Manually creating and printing labels by entering product information can cause errors and slow down operations. To keep production lines running smoothly, companies must automate these processes.
RF-SMART Cloud Printing integrates directly with NetSuite and puts label printing capabilities at every stage of your production flow:
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At the receiving dock: Auto-prints raw material and component labels the moment inventory arrives, ensuring every item is accurately identified before it reaches the production floor. |
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At the assembly line: Prints work order and production labels in real-time, maintaining full traceability from raw materials to finished goods. |
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At putaway: Generates and prints finished goods labels upon work order completion, verifying every completed unit is traceable before it enters finished goods inventory. |
Shipping Accuracy from the Warehouse Floor
For companies distributing automotive parts, getting the right part to the right customer on time is non-negotiable. RF-SMART's Shipping solution brings carrier rate management and pack verification directly into the shipping workflow through:
Automated Rate Shopping
Intelligently compares rates across UPS, FedEx, USPS, and regional carriers in real time, selecting the most cost-effective option while meeting customer delivery requirements.
Pack Station Verification
Scans items at the shipping station, catching mispicks and missing items before they leave the facility.
Compliant Carrier Documentation
Generates carrier labels and packing documentation in one step, eliminating manual intervention between picking and shipping.
Driving Towards Excellence:
How RF-SMART’s Built-For-NetSuite Solutions Helped Transform
Rhino-Rack’s Warehouse Management
“To be able to scan and select the PO that we need, put that straight in with the goods and
then straight into stock has cut down our time to receive from a day to minutes.” – Rhino-Rack
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Challenges
Rhino-Rack, an Australian manufacturer of automotive roof rack systems exporting to over 55 countries, faced significant challenges when they discovered their initially chosen WMS lacked essential functionality. This realization during the testing phase required them to find a replacement solution that could handle their complex inventory management needs while maintaining their implementation timeline.
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Solution
To address these challenges, Rhino-Rack chose RF‑SMART as their WMS solution. RF‑SMART WMS provided native NetSuite integration with real-time visibility into transactions, which proved to be a perfect fit for Rhino-Rack's requirements. With key functionalities including receiving, order picking, enhanced item inquiry, and bin transfers, Rhino-Rack was able to significantly improve their inventory control processes.
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Results
By implementing RF-SMART WMS,
Rhino-Rack experienced:
Reduced receiving times from a full day to just minutes Improved inventory accuracy with daily cycle counts Increased number of orders picked Enhanced supply chain efficiency Elimination of picking error 
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