The future of picking: Multi-modal picking comes of age
End users don't have to be limited to one picking technology on a device.
By Bob Trebilcock, Executive Editor -- Modern Materials Handling, 5/13/2009
For years, picking has been an either/or proposition. Pickers were either directed by scanning a bar code with an RF scanning device or they were directed by voice recognition technology. In some applications, they might even be directed by RFID. Either way, you picked one technology for a device.
For some time, the automated data capture industry has been talking about multi-modal devices. These mobile computing and scanning devices do it all. The idea is that an associate would be able to choose between keying in data or scanning a bar code or confirming a pick with voice or even reading an RFID tag, all from the same device.
Multi-modal devices have been available on the market for some time, especially devices that are both RF- and voice-enabled. The challenge to date has been the software that enables the processes. In many instances, an associate would have to close out one application and open the other to switch between data collection modes. Of course, if an associate has to take time to open and close applications, most of the efficiency of multi-modal would be lost.
That is now changing.
“When we first began looking at multi-modal devices, we were utilizing the device for picking during the day, but RF scanning on the second shift for receiving or returns,” says Jeff Slevin, chief operating officer for Lucas Systems. “Today, we’re seeing a migration to true multi-modal applications in the sense that the user can determine what is the most efficient process to capture data during that part of the picking process, all from one application.”
While an all-in-one application with scanning, voice and RFID may be a ways off, scanning and voice are working today, Slevin says. An associate may use voice to direct picking, but use a scanner, or an integrated ring scanner, to capture a 14-digit lot number for tracking purposes. The evolution has been enabled by software solutions that integrate both technologies. As Slevin points out, at the end of the day, it’s all bits and bytes to a computer anyway.
Lucas Systems isn’t the only company offering multi-modal applications. LXE began talking about the concept a few years ago; Aldata and Cadre Technologies have built WMS solutions with an integrated voice technology engine that enables users to seamlessly shift between different modes of data capture.
Some examples of processes being enabled by multi-modal technology include:
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In one pharmaceutical distribution center, an associate confirms that he is at the right location and confirms a pick by speaking a location check digit and the number of items picked. He uses a scanner to capture lot/batch information for e-pedigree requirements.
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Another pharmaceutical distributor does batch picking to multiple totes on a cart. To set up the cart, an associate marries a tote to a picking position by scanning bar codes on the tote and the cart. The picking processes themselves are directed by voice.
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A gun distributor uses voice to direct picking in the warehouse and a ring scanner to capture the serial number information for the weapons.
“The common theme between the gun manufacturer and the pharmaceutical industry is regulatory requirements,” says Slevin. “This is something we’re also seeing in the food industry and we think it’s only going to increase.”
The multi-modal warehouse
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08/31/2004When voice and RFID converge
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