tlix4028a lesson 4 (1) technologies
TRANSCRIPT
PICKING TECHNOLOGIESIn the previous scenario, you would have seen the significant cost that incorrect
picks can have on a business. You would have also noticed how increasing pick
rates can result in efficiencies, savings (an potentially OHS concerns!!)
In this presentation you will learn about different picking technologies that can
potentially result in increased pick rates and a reduction in errors:
• Manual picking system (for comparison)
• Pick by Label
• Barcodes
• Radio Data Terminals
• Pick by Light
• Put to Light
• Radio Frequency Identification
• Voice Picking Technology
MANUAL PICKING (PAPER SYSTEM)
When using a manual pick process, workers receive a physical pick
slip that contains the information they require to pick the order. An
example of a pick slip is below:
MANUAL PICK SLIP (PAPER SYSTEM)
Paper Pick Slips
Printed by computer systems
List all of the SKUs to be picked, together with their location and the number required
Normally lists these in sequence of locations to be visited as per the pick route used
Picker proceeds to pick all items, noting any discrepancies on the paper pick list
PICK BY LABEL
Pick by Label
Comprises a series of gummed labels on a backing sheet, printed in the sequence
that the items need to be picked
Picker sticks label onto each item and returns any unused labels to the pick
station in order to record any shortages at the pick face
BARCODES/RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) SYSTEMS
Barcodes/RF Systems
Most common method to confirm pick accuracy
Barcodes may be placed at each location and the picker then scans this label to confirm that he/she is at the correct location prior to commencing a pick
If individual products have barcodes then the picker may be required to scan each label. This provides a
more precise check than location labels as it also identifies any replenishment mistakes
RADIO DATA TERMINALS
Radio Data Terminals
Can provide online communication between designated warehouse workstations and warehouse management systems, and are therefore often used
in order picking
Terminals may be truck-mounted, waist-mounted, or fitted to the wrists of the pickers
Often combined with bar-code scanners
PICK BY LIGHT
Pick By Light
Normally in these systems every picking location is fitted with an LED (light-emitting diode) display panel,
controlled by computer
A common application is for a plastic tote bin, representing a customer order, to be taken by conveyor to a specific zone of the warehouse
Barcode on tote bin is read and the appropriate LED panels illuminate, showing the quantities of items to
be picked for all SKUs required for that order
Having picked items, picker presses a cancel button and then uses the conveyor to pass the bin to the
next zone
This process continues until order completion. This method can give high pick rates and very high levels
of picking accuracy
PUT TO LIGHT
Put To Light
Similar to pick by light except that it is normally used in the sortation process
On scanning a particular product, LED panels illuminate, showing the number of items required for
each customer order
RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
If cases or items are fitted with RFID tags, the accuracy of the pick can be confirmed by these tags
being read at the time of picking
E.g. by using special gloves for reading tags or by placing a tag reader on the receptacle that the goods
are being picked to
VOICE TECHNOLOGY
Voice Technology
With this technology the picker can hear voice instructions from the computer through a headset
Picker then selects required items and speaks through a microphone to confirm the pick
Frequently, a check digit located at each location needs to be repeated by the picker to ensure that the goods have been
picked from the current location
As with pick by light, this system completely frees the picker’s hands and thus facilitates high pick rates
Offers improvements in productivity while maintaining high levels of accuracy