Many warehouses in the United States are still utilizing RF or paper based order picking systems, in spite of the massive efficiencies and expense decreases associated with automated picking solutions. In truth, only about 20% of storage facilities throughout the country use advanced services like voice directed or pick to light technologies. These types of solutions can have a significant influence on productivity.
The Business Case For Automated Picking Systems
In the majority of facilities, picking is a laborious job where a picker gets a physical paper list of directions laying out the products to pick and their specific locations. They proceed to the designated storage location, review their paper list to identify the number of products they require from that pick face, get the items, scratch the item off of the list, and then transport the products for packing.
Just moving around a warehouse can take up to 65% of a manual order picker’s day as they walk or ride around the facility. These antiquated methods make order fulfillment the most labor-intensive function in a conventional warehouse. In most cases, the majority of a typical storage facility’s operating expenditures can be attributed to order fulfillment. That number is in fact rising as e-com drives additional picking demand from warehouses.
Nearly all storage facilities have some picking requirements. Nearly 50% handle a mixture of pallets, cases, split cases and pieces. In fact, less than 10% of all warehouses across the country manage strictly entire pallet orders. And despite the fact that many storage facilities bear massive picking expenses, only 20% have actually moved beyond standard RF and paper-based picking solutions.
Innovations in Picking Technology
In the last 10 years there have been great advances in picking technology, ranging from IoT+ RFID to enhanced reality smart glasses. The 2 most prevalent and mature technologies, however, are light directed and voice directed picking options. Each has a compelling use case in specific scenarios, and some storage facilities even employ both techniques.
Fully implementing technology-based picking solutions can be capital intensive. Nevertheless, ROI models for picking automation can be convincing. Many programs have a quick payback and can produce considerable savings in labor and pick errors for years to come. A 2018 research study showed that businesses that employed voice, light or RFID based picking solutions reduced pick errors by an average of 67%.
Pick To Light
Pick to light solutions are ideal for zone picking or high order volume, high speed facilities. Racks are furnished with LEDs that indicate selection quantities and slots, and workers tap these lights to validate selections and quantities as they make their way down a pick path.
Light directed solutions are not as versatile and more expensive than voice directed systems, but executed effectively they can significantly improve picking velocity and accuracy. As reported by MHI, most pick to light implementations achieve approximately 30-50% in pick rate performance.
Voice Picking System
Voice picking solutions are ideal for warehouses that keep a more substantial variety of SKUs spread throughout larger buildings. Workers can move about a storage facility hands-free–they don’t need to carry a portable device or piece of paper.
Picking instructions are communicated by the WMS through an earpiece or headset, and the order-picker replies verbally to verify each pick. There is no equipment to carry, no screens to read, no barcodes to scan, and no confirmation buttons to click. The entire process is performed through voice commands and verbal verification.
Order Picking Automation Systems Near Me
If you would like more details on order picking innovation for your operation, call a Welch Equipment Company automation specialist today!
