Pitman Creek, one of the largest distributors of freshwater fishing tackle in North America, consolidated and expanded space in a new automated facility. The result: a 250% improvement in picking efficiency.
A new system design allowed one of the country’s largest distributors of fishing lures to consolidate operations, increase throughput and lay the foundation for growth.
While the stories this month delve into a few unique niches of materials handling, it’s fascinating to see that the current operations environment is the common denominator.
Amid shortages and disruptions, e-commerce orders are on fire at the same time as brick-and-mortar sales are heating up. Retailers are looking to technology and innovative strategies to keep up.
Inventory control at the warehouse level is simple, right? Follow WMS processes, set some minimum SKU levels, be diligent about scan verifications to track consumption, and you’ve nailed it. While that worked 20 years ago, in today’s more complicated world with automated storage and fulfillment systems that hold inventory, you may need WES capabilities.
Automatic data capture just got a new ally, the edge. The technology allows everything from scanners to voice systems to process data on the edge of where it is collected. The result is real-time decisions that deal with reality, not some plan that no longer applies.
Much has been made about the rise of robotics and the inflexibility of traditional fixed conveyor and sortation. But the fixed future is shaping up just fine, given that goods-to-person robotics and AMRs work often in concert with conveyor or sortation, in addition to the continued usefulness of fixed conveyance and sortation to support high-volume operations.
The loading dock gets more attention as companies look for new ways to eke more efficiency and productivity out of their distribution operations in the safest way possible.
In a recent report, IFCO has put some numbers to what can be accomplished with reusable totes and related containers.
Modernization of key user interfaces to a custom WMS, along with new wearable Android devices, brought Mobis a 15% productivity increase and an additional 39% reduction in errors without changes to its WMS. The system now is also voice enabled for
the future.
Modern sat down with Rob Thyen to discuss 3PLs and Piece Picking Robotics.
Electric lift trucks are evolving to deal with pressures wrought by e-commerce, including labor shortages and higher handling volumes, through high- and low-tech means.
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