Vargo Adaptive Software is an Ohio corporation and is a member of the Vargo family of material handling companies. Formerly ADS Specialists, Inc. founded in 1998 the principals of VAS have worked in the automation of distribution and order fulfillment processes since the early 1970’s. VAS’ primary skills are focused on the real-time optimization of fulfillment operations to improve both capacity and productivity. VAS works on the design and implementation of new systems as well re-designing existing systems to better utilized earlier investments in automation. There are numerous VAS white papers that describe real-time optimization, how and where it may be applied, and what actual improvements it has yielded. Please refer to these papers. In addition to real-time optimization, VAS is highly skilled in machine and equipment control systems. The real-time optimization of equipment requires machine interfaces that allow tight integration with data that in combination with the current conditions drive the decisions necessary to achieve the required results.
The main office of VAS is located in Austin, Texas. VAS also has an office in Berkeley, CA.
Originally VAS was formed by a number of the engineers from Computer Aided Systems (CASI) of Hayward California. VAS engineers, while at CASI, were responsible the design and implementation of the distribution facility projects of CASI and took over the completion of the US facilities as CASI withdrew from that business to pursue other opportunities. VAS continues to support those customers.
The primary VAS organizational groups and their managers are:
- President – Michael Vargo
- Sales / System Engineering – Dan Perry
- Project Management, Documentation, Training – Jose Oliva
- Director Systems Engineering – Philip Harris
The following are descriptions of some example projects and the extent of VAS involvement in each of those projects. Contact information is available for any of our customers.
HEB (Grocery Distribution)
One Facility, San Marcos, Texas
Pick optimization and order delivery (WCS), dynamic order selection, RF picking, optimized order delivery sequencing for trailer loading. ASRS (Cleco Crane) case pick replenishment pallet load sequencing.
Levi Strauss US Distribution Network (Apparel Distribution)
Three facilities: Las Vegas, Nevada, Canton, Mississippi, and Hebron, Kentucky. Two facilities in Europe. VAS system design (CASI), sortation machines (Crisplant) with VAS sort control, carousels VAS machine and WCS/WMS control, conveyance systems (VAS machine and WCS/WMS control), automated workstations (VAS machine and WCS/WMS control), receiving, inventory management, picking, packing, shipping (all VAS WMS/WCS).
Blish-Mize (Hardware Distribution)
One facility, Atchison, Kansas – Picking system, optimized batch-picking carts, VAS controls, WCS, fulfillment management system.
USAF NRTF & Lockheed Skunkworks (Operations And Equipment Automation)
Three Facilities – White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Helendale CA
Control systems, human and equipment interfaces, and operations. Mechanization controls for material (F117 etc.) handling equipment.
Gymboree (Children’s Apparel Distribution)
Dixon, CA – Eurosort sorter, VAS sortation controls, portions of VAS WCS
LL Bean OFC Sortation Optimization (Direct To Consumer)
One facility: Freeport Maine – VAS system design (existing operation re-design), sortation machine (Crisplant – VAS optimized sort control), tote management (VAS controls), workstations, conveyance controls. Optimized carton sortation.