Mobile computing and automated data collection enable order picking accuracy

Bringing mobile computing and automated data collection together creates real-time data and more accurate picks.

By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large -- Modern Materials Handling, 4/4/2007

Companies that want to achieve order picking accuracy above 96% to meet customer service requirements develop best practices that include a combination of mobile computing and automated data collection (ADC), according to Todd Matthews, manager of Americas RFID solutions for Psion Teklogix.

“Together, they provide real-time information about an order at the point of origin, which is the point where the work is being done by an order picker,” says Matthews. “Those systems are integrated in real time through a warehouse management (WMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with the point where the orders are taken, which is inside sales or an order management system.”

Put them together, and you have full visibility of an order from sales to the shipping dock.

Two technologies, two roles
While mobile computing and data collection work together to enable processes, they play different roles.

Mobile computing: In a warehouse or distribution center, a mobile computer is typically connected to business applications systems, like a WMS, over a WiFi network—or local area network (LAN). The mobile computer provides information to the mobile worker in an interactive mode. For example, the mobile computer delivers picking instructions, like the location, product and quantity of items to be picked, and also communicates confirmation when a picker completes a task.

To ensure complete wireless mobility, a mobile computer might be wirelessly connected to other devices, like an RF bar code scanner, mobile printer, voice technology headset or a mobile RFID reader through a wide area personal network (WAPN). AWAPN uses Bluetooth technology to communicate wirelessly over short ranges.

Automated data collection: Technologies like bar code scanning, voice technology and now RFID prevent human error in processes. They may work in conjunction with automated processes, such as automatically reading the bar code or RFID tag on a tote as it travels down a conveyor.

Another best practice Matthews expects to see in facilities is a hybrid approach including voice and RFID technology.

“Voice improves productivity because order pickers have their hands free to perform their tasks,” says Matthews. “But they still have to read off a check digit to verify the accuracy of the pick. That can take time.”

Mobile solutions providers are working on picking solutions that use voice to deliver picking instructions to a worker. But to verify the pick, order pickers run products past a wearable RFID reader on their hips to read an RFID tag on the item. “That allows them to automate the verification process and remove another layer of human error,” says Matthews.