Beverage World - October 15, 2007 - (Page 11A)

Maximum Experience . . . M i n i m a l R i s k . A Case For: vol.07 issue.03 AN EDUCATIONAL SERIES DEVELOPED BY HK SYSTEMS Can You Automate Down To A Single Pick? The benefits of automating your order fulfillment process down to each-pick level are many. Automation fills orders faster, eliminates touches, improves accuracy, and reduces labor costs. Consistency and order quality increase, and highly accurate, sophisticated tracking becomes feasible. That said, implementing automation can appear to be more difficult as shipments move from whole pallets down to individual cases and pieces. Automation for unitpicking or each-picking can indeed be a tough nut to crack. For that reason, many abandon the quest and depend on manual labor — despite the drawbacks in cost, error, and continual supervision levied by manual means. Yet the available technologies for automated each-pick solutions have grown tremendously over the years. Many are adaptations of tried-and-true automated motion and machine systems proven with whole pallet and carton handling. Others, such as pick-to-light technology, are extensions of aids to manual systems. All offer lower labor costs, reduced error rates, more consistent operation and faster order fulfillment compared to manual methods. Each-Pick Technologies High Throughput Sorters A-Frame Robot Low Throughput As a general rule, the complexity of solutions increase Goods-To-Person Automated Person-To-Goods with the number of SKUs, orders and order lines go up. Picking/Dispensing Some situations may mandate picking by human labor. But a rigorous systems approach combined with an ROI awareness of available technologies can help you Accuracy & Flexibility select the best technology to make your operation extremely efficient. A full range of each-pick technologies is available to meet a wide range of throughput, from low to high. Three Designing a successful each-pick system requires asking the right questions, analyzing the right data, and applying the right expertise. HK Systems recommends a five-step approach. F I V E S T E P S TO E A C H PICKING SUCCESS broad categories encompass how people and goods interact, moving (l. to r.) from manual to automated. For person-to-goods methods, a warehouse associate moves to the goods, where appropriate technology is used to help pinpoint the right item. In goods-to-person modules, units move to an associate in a more or less automated way. With automated picking, human labor is replaced by full automation. Aside from throughput, Each Technology offers other business benefits that need to be considered. 1. PINPOINT YOUR BUSINESS OBJECTIVES Determine the precise role of order fulfillment for your business. Your prioritized list of business objectives will help you grade and focus on the appropriate technologies. For example, your choice of technologies may be different if your top priority is to handle seasonal peaks rather than to minimize your transportation cost. 2 . C A P T U R E Y O U R O P E R AT I N G PA R A M E T E R S A thorough analysis of historical order data provides a valuable window into your operations. The number of SKUs in a given facility, their profiles, storage requirements, peak shipment volumes and a host of other data offer clues for the solution. Make sure to account for the future growth needs at this point. 3 . I D E N T I F Y Y O U R P R O D U C T S E G M E N TAT I O N There are often surprising revelations when HK analyzes the historical data to see which SKUs move in what quantity over time – and these findings provide even more clues to the right answers. From this comes a much-needed framework for selecting correct technologies. Pick-To-List Vertical Lift Module Carousel Mini-Load AS/RS Case Sequencer Pick-To-RF Pick-To-Voice Pick-To-Light

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Beverage World - October 15, 2007

Beverage World - October 15, 2007 Table of Contents Global Recycling Trends Editor’s Note CCE’s Recycling Initiative New Beverages: VeeV New Beverage Roundup Market Metrics: Green-Minded Consumers Cover Story: Earth’s Brewer Adina World Beat Beverages • Fetzer Vineyards Kim Jeffery, Nestlé Waters North America Sambazon Icelandic Water Holdings John Compton, PepsiCo North America Dennis Puffer, Coors Brewing Co. ITO EN Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. • Cuca Fresca Exports Jeff Seabright, The Coca-Cola Company Mendocino Wine Co. Doug Muhleman, Anheuser-Busch Seth Goldman, Honest Tea Supply Chain: Waste Management Production: Environmental Operations Operations Observations Packaging: Lightweight Bottles Trendspotting R&D: Eco Beverages • Ask the Expert Sales & Marketing: Green POS Materials Distribution: Green Fleets Distribution: Fleet of the Month: Manhattan Beer Distributors FleetBeat The Beverage World Top 100 Classifieds Ad Index

Beverage World - October 15, 2007

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