Distribution is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business and optimizing it can make the difference between reactive order fulfillment and a smooth, proactive supply chain. In the INFOCUS session “JD Edwards Distribution Essentials – Featuring Mueller”, Thomas Mendoza shared how Mueller, one of North America’s largest hydrant and valve manufacturers, uses JD Edwards (JDE) to streamline distribution from purchase order to physical inventory.

This session highlighted the core JDE processes that keep Mueller running efficiently: purchasing, sales order management, inventory control, barcode automation, and wireless technology. Let’s dive into the key takeaways and lessons that other organizations can apply to strengthen their own distribution strategies.

From Sales Order to Backlog: Managing Demand

Mueller’s distribution cycle begins with sales order demand. Thousands of order lines flow through seven different manufacturing facilities and distribution centers. JDE’s MRP Workbench helps planners and buyers capture demand, create work orders, and process purchase orders.

• Automated purchase order emails: Buyers no longer need to manually send POs—JDE automatically emails suppliers overnight using contact details from the address book.
• Open order reports via orchestrations: By automating supplier-specific order reports, Mueller ensures vendors have up-to-date visibility of their open POs.

This automation not only reduces manual effort but also minimizes delays in supply chain communication.

Receiving and Inventory Accuracy

Once suppliers ship materials, Mueller leverages both manual and wireless receiving options. With handheld DSI devices, employees can scan barcodes directly in the truck before unloading, updating JDE in real time.

• Barcode receiving tags include branch plant, item number, PO number, and delivery details.
• Wireless inventory transfers ensure that put-away and picking are tracked without manual data entry.

This process improves inventory accuracy, eliminates keystroke errors, and accelerates receiving operations.

Backorder Release and Shipping Workflow

Meeting customer demand requires tight alignment between backorder management and shipping operations. Mueller uses scheduled jobs in JDE that continually search for newly available materials. When supply is ready:

1. The system automatically updates the sales order status to “shippable.”
2. Shipping clerks print pick tickets, embedded with barcodes for quick scanning.
3. Material handlers use handhelds to locate and confirm items, updating statuses from pick to pack.
4. Final ship confirmation occurs in the JDE user interface, automatically relieving inventory.

This streamlined cycle—from pick to pack to ship—ensures that shipments go out faster with fewer errors, even allowing partial shipments when inventory is limited.

Barcode Technology: Enhancing Speed and Traceability

Barcodes play a central role in Mueller’s efficiency. From receiving tags to pick slips and packing slips, every stage of the process is scannable.

• Handlers scan pick tickets to access all relevant details for an order.
• Devices guide workers to optimal locations, often starting with areas holding the least inventory to free up space.
• Packing slips reflect exactly what was physically picked, reconciling discrepancies between system counts and real-world stock.

This end-to-end barcode integration minimizes manual entry, boosts accuracy, and provides full traceability for audits and reconciliations.

Physical Inventory and Cycle Counts

Physical and cycle counts are often a bottleneck for distribution teams. Mueller uses wireless devices and mobile printers to eliminate outdated, pre-printed tag systems.

• Tag ranges are issued electronically, tracked by user, and paired with mobile printers that generate barcode tags on the spot.
• Teams scan location and part barcodes, manually entering only the counted quantity.
• If errors occur, the recount process preserves the original entry as a “breadcrumb” for variance analysis.

This modernized approach has cut down count times dramatically—large facilities complete physical counts in just two days, with reconciliations finished within a week.

EDI and Supplier Collaboration

Beyond internal workflows, Mueller is extending automation through EDI connections. Incoming purchase orders from customers can be processed directly into JDE, reviewed for accuracy, and automatically converted into sales orders. The company is also exploring outbound EDI feeds for suppliers to further reduce manual intervention and accelerate turnaround.

Key Takeaways for JD Edwards Users

Mueller’s use of JD Edwards distribution functionality highlights several best practices:

• Automate wherever possible: Use orchestrations and scheduled jobs to reduce manual workload.
• Leverage barcode scanning: Improve speed, accuracy, and user adoption with handheld devices.
• Enable real-time updates: Wireless workflows ensure inventory accuracy across locations.
• Simplify physical counts: Mobile printers and electronic tag management save significant time and improve accountability.
• Expand with EDI: Direct system-to-system connections streamline collaboration with customers and suppliers.

By optimizing core distribution processes, JD Edwards users can gain tighter control of their supply chains, accelerate order fulfillment, and reduce costly errors.

Want more?

Explore more content and resources to help you get the most from your JD Edwards investment:

• Be sure to check out the INFOCUS 2025 Event Hub (coming soon) for presentation slides – available exclusively to Quest members.
• Explore the JD Edwards Orchestrator Strategic Content Center for more Quest-exclusive resources.
• Visit the Quest Learn Library for blogs, how-to demos, and on-demand sessions.
• Connect with peers in one of our Quest JD Edwards Community User Groups to swap stories, ask questions, and share tips with other users facing the same challenges.

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