Automated logistics systems provider, Dematic Northern Europe, has introduced Voice+ Laser Trucks at the Logistics Link show in Doncaster, UK, with a fully operational demonstration of this case picking solution. The solution combines Laser Trucks, driverless trucks upgraded with industrial grade laser guidance and safety features, with Voice picking, to deliver the maximum picking productivity possible in manual warehouses.
The picking challenge in manual warehouses
Within your manual DC, you are constantly looking at opportunities to maximise your pickers productivity and accuracy; this is typically the most labour intensive task in the DC, one that has a major impact on customer satisfaction. The challenge you face is that during picking, your pickers are doing everything but picking: getting a new shipping pallet, getting on and off a pallet truck, and taking the completed pallet to despatch.
Voice+
Further optimisation of the pickers productivity can be obtained through the addition of Voice Picking technology. By leaving the pickers hands free the picking action becomes faster with additional benefits in terms of ergonomics and accuracy. However this still leaves them doing a lot of travel as opposed to doing what they are meant to be doing: picking.
Voice+ Laser Trucks: Maximising the Productivity of Case Picking
By eliminating the non-value added tasks associated with a typical case picking operation, Voice+ Laser Trucks have the potential to double picking productivity, while retaining the flexibility of manual systems.
The Voice+ Laser Trucks solution upgrades your pallet trucks to driverless operations using the latest in industrial grade laser guidance systems. At the start of an order the Laser Truck delivers a new pallet directly to the picker, automatically moves with the Voice-equipped picker as they verbally confirm picks, and transports the completed pallet to despatch while the next Laser Truck brings a new pallet to the picker.
The pickers productivity literally doubles as they are freed up to focus solely on picking!
Retaining High Flexibility
Beyond maximising picking productivity in manual warehouses, Laser Trucks deliver improved safety, energy efficiency and operational transparency. System flexibility is maintained. During peak periods, pickers with manual pallet trucks can work in conjunction with Laser Trucks+ to take up the additional throughput. Routing plans can be updated as requirements change and additional Laser Trucks+ can be added, and even transferred between sites.
Seamless, Easy Integration
Dematics DC Director Warehouse Control System seamlessly integrates Voice+ Laser Trucks into your current WMS or ERP. It provides real time management and complete transparency of your Voice+ Laser Trucks operations, including management information and decision support, order prioritisation, order status, productivity statistics and reports, and workload analysis and reports. Everything you need to optimise, manage and control your system.
Summary of Benefits
Voice+ Laser Truck benefits include:
Doubling of picking productivity, up to 400 cases per hour per picker
High flexibility
Ease of upgrading and optimising manual systems
Improved operator safety
Reduced product damage
Reduced truck and rack damage
Real-time transport and picking management
Reduced truck energy use and extended battery life
Flexible to changing operational requirements
Applicable to new and existing sites
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