The majority of warehouses in Southern California are still utilizing RF or paper based order picking systems, in spite of the enormous efficiencies and cost decreases associated with automated picking systems. In truth, just about 20% of storage facilities across the nation make use of advanced services like voice directed or pick to light systems. These kinds of solutions can have a significant influence on profitability.

The Business Case For Automated Picking Systems

In a lot of facilities, picking is a laborious job where a picker gets an actual paper list of directions detailing the products to be picked and their specific locations. They move to the specified storage slot, evaluate their paper list to determine the number of items they require from that pick face, get the items, check the product off of the checklist, and then transport the products for fulfillment.

Just moving around a warehouse can take up to 65% of a manual order picker's day as they stride or ride around the warehouse. These inefficiencies make order picking the most labor-intensive task in an average warehouse. In some cases, over half of a typical Calexico storage facility's operating expenditures can be connected to order fulfillment. That number is in fact rising as e-com spurs additional picking demand from storage facilities.

Nearly all warehouses have at least some picking requirements. Almost 50% handle a blend of pallets, cases, split cases and pieces. In fact, less than 10% of all warehouses throughout the country manage strictly entire pallet orders. And even though many storage facilities bear huge picking expenses, only 20% have actually moved away from traditional RF and paper-based picking systems.

Innovations in Picking Technology

In the last 10 years there have been great advances in picking technology, ranging from IoT+ RFID to augmented reality smart glasses. The 2 most extensive and mature technologies, however, are light directed and voice directed picking approaches. Each has a persuasive use case in certain scenarios, and some warehouses even use both methods.

Fully incorporating technology-based picking solutions can be capital intensive. ROI models for picking automation can be powerful. A lot of programs have a fast payback and can produce substantial cost reductions in labor and pick errors for years to come. A 2018 study revealed that businesses that utilized voice, light or RFID based picking solutions decreased pick mistakes by approximately 67%.

Pick To Light

Pick to light systems are ideal for zone picking or high order volume, high speed facilities. Racks are equipped with LEDs that indicate selection quantities and locations, and employees tap these lights to validate selections and volumes as they make their way down a pick route.

Light directed solutions are less flexible and more costly than voice directed systems, but carried out properly they can greatly improve picking velocity and accuracy. As reported by MHI, most pick to light implementations gain approximately 30-50% in pick rate performance.

Voice Picking System

Voice picking solutions are perfect for warehouses that stock a more extensive assortment of SKUs spread across larger buildings. Workers can move about a storage facility hands-free--they do not need to carry a handheld device or piece of paper.

Picking instructions are communicated by the warehouse management system through an earpiece or headset, and the order-picker answers verbally to confirm each pick. There is no device to carry, no screens to read, no barcodes to scan, and no confirmation buttons to click. The entire procedure is completed through voice commands and spoken confirmation.

Order Picking Automation Systems Near Me

If you would like more details on order picking innovation for your operation, call a Raymond West Inc automation consultant today at (760) 768-8700.

Raymond West Inc
285 Rood Rd
Calexico, CA 92231
(760) 768-8700