February - Modern Materials Handling

items to be picked for a client order;4) when the worker puts the item inthe tote, the tote itself re-displaysa visual, digital message of the pickorder; and5) in the pack area the items to beshipped are checked against theoriginal order for accuracy before itAbove: The VLM automatically deliversand stores trays of parts managed bythe center. Below: Operators use lightdirectedpicking to pick parts from thetrays and place them in totes.After picking, the totes are deliveredto a packing station where the partsare prepared for shipping.is shipped.This five-point check system hasimproved picking accuracy from 98% to99.67%.The system not only increasedthe density of storage, but operatorswere significantly more productive.“Previously, we were using nine workersto handle 111 orders per worker, perday,” says Trammel. “Between runningto pick the part, and then taking it overto packing, it was all we could do to getour orders out.”This new system is run with five workers,each handling 200 orders per day.Orders picked per person per hour hasincreased by 80%—13.9 picks per laborhour before, and 25 picks per labor hournow. In addition, same day shipmentsimproved from 95% to 97.5%. “Samedayshipping is no longer an issue,” saysTrammel. “And in a 24/7 world, that hasbeen a big improvement.”System suppliersSYSTEMS INTEGRATOR, VERTICAL LIFTMODULE, & PICK-TO-LIGHT PICK SYSTEM:Remstar, 800-639-5805, www.remstar.comCONVEYORS: Intelligrated, 513-701-7300,www.intelligrated.comWAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:Dove Tree Canyon Software, 619-236-8895,www.dovetree.comSTACKER CRANE: Automated Fork Truck,801-676-8070, www.asrs.netBAR CODE SCANNING: Datalogic (PSC),800-929-3221, www.datalogic.comBAR CODE PRINTERS: Zebra Technologies,847-634-6700, www.zebra.commmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / FEBRUARY 2009 21