Information Management: Beverage distributor replaces paper-based picking with voice

Schweppes, a manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages, employs 1,800 people across 11 manufacturing sites and 12 distribution centers throughout Australia. Using a new voice-directed picking solution, the company has improved accuracy while eliminating task redundancies.

The old paper-based picking system and the process of planning each load could take a worker up to 15 minutes. Because many of the product descriptions are similar, workers could easily misread information. Stock tracking also was made difficult due to multiple SKUs and pallets being stocked at each picking location.

“Our goal was to build a fully integrated system that would eliminate the double handling of pallets and non-value-added repetitive tasks, as well as provide our managers and supervisors with visibility,” says Danny Murphy, Schweppes Australia’s national logistics execution manager.

With the old paper-based picking system, it would take up to two weeks before an operator could be fully confident to pick unsupervised. With the new voice solution, Murphy says workers can now be set up in the system within 10 minutes and trained within 20 minutes.

The new system provides real-time visibility into each worker’s shift, accuracy and productivity. Carton picking errors fell by 90% within the first week. Voice also resolved the issue of product identification; under the paper-based system, workers had to identify 400 different products in the warehouse, some of which have very similar packaging. Murphy also reports productivity benefits, particularly when it comes to product replenishment, and a pick rate increase of around 20%.

“We can gauge the workload at the beginning of the day and flex our casual labor force based on this information, rather than waiting for the end of the day to determine how much work is still required,” Murphy says.

Honeywell—Vocollect Solutions
412-829-8145
vocollectvoice.com