Anatomy of a picking solution
September 1st 2010 Belgravium explains how voice picking
can help control warehouse operations
B rate has risen." elgravium has installed a voice picking solution at The
Channel Island Co-operative Society (CICS). The
solution extends the use of the RF technology to cover
the full spectrum of warehouse activities including the picking
and load dispatch operations. CICS now has ability to view
which users are operating in the warehouse and can allocate
pick assignments simply and quickly, automatically directing
each picker to their next assignment via their voice recognition
headset.
At the start of the picking operation, users will allocate three
roll cages to an assignment. Each roll cage is labelled with a
barcode and a 4 digit number which is then scanned into a
picking assignment. The three roll cages are identified as A
(Alpha), B (Beta) and C (Charlie) – an identity which will stay
with them throughout the whole of the picking operation. From
the voice recognition system, the user will be directed to a bin or
pick location via voice commands, the user will pick the
specified item and nominates which roll cage the item should be
placed in. Finally, the pick is verbally confirmed by speech.
Once a pick assignment has been completed, the user will
verbally confirm this via speech. This will enable a roll cage label
to be produced and attached to the completed picked cage. The
cages are then moved to the loading area for dispatch to stores.
Part of the pick to voice solution enabled the development of
the dispatch function. Utilising traditional scanning for this
function, users scan the barcodes on each roll cage with the
Atlanta handheld terminal, for the completed order, prior to
loading it onto the delivery vehicle.
Since the system went live, the average pick rate has risen.
The voice directed picking keeps users focused and less
distracted. The improvement in efficiency has resulted in
numerous benefits for CICS through increased productivity,
accurate consignments and timely deliveries. The increased
productivity within the warehouse has reduced the need for
overtime, and continues to deliver significant cost savings to
CICS.
In addition, the system has facilitated greater visibility of the
warehouse operation as a management tool. The ability to log
in remotely in real time means CICS are able to constantly
monitor the pick rates in the operation. Should there be a dip
in these, they can quickly identify the reason why and put the
corrective action in place – reducing the disruption and
maintaining an efficient operation.
It has also allowed the distribution centre to be a lot more
reactive to store requirements. The ability to view stock before
it arrives in-store, allows the store to identify stock location
and availability for empty shelves. The system allows CICS to
dispatch early, in order to fill
the empty shelf space. More articles from Belgravium Ltd: | 
