Making low-level order picking more productive
QuickPick® Remote is a technology that can be employed with Crown’s GPC 3000 Series order pickers. Wireless control means operators no longer have to return to the truck’s operator platform as they can move the order picker forward at the touch of a button while keeping both hands free. Scanning lasers, built into the truck, identify potential obstacles positioned in front or to either side of the vehicle, preventing collisions. An automatic steer correction ensures that the order picker travels along aisles in a straight line and at a constant distance from the racks.
When picking orders from the lowest racking level, operators normally spend an average of 75 per cent of their time on foot, much of it backtracking. The new solution offers major opportunities to cut time, effort and costs. The system drastically reduces how often the operators must return to the operator platform. It also means operators no longer have to walk as far, or in as many different directions. This significantly reduces the amount of time required to fulfil each pick order and increases productivity over the order picking process as a whole.
Enhancing productivity by up to 25 per cent
With QuickPick® Remote, Crown is launching a uniquely innovative product that has already been extensively tested in the field by a large number of Crown customers. During these field tests, individual pick orders were precisely replicated and the time required to fulfil them was measured both with and without QuickPick® Remote. The outcome of these long-term tests showed that productivity between first and last pick of the day increased by ten per cent on average with gains within the aisle up to 25 per cent. To watch a video illustrating the benefits of the new system under real-world conditions, visit: http://youtu.be/SxeLIMOvI04.
This innovative technology is an ideal solution for low-level order picking in large retail and wholesale operations using high-density storage. Ken Dufford, Crown’s Vice President Europe, has this to say about the new order picking system: “We know that cutting costs is our customers’ number one challenge. That’s why Crown invests so much time in developing pioneering materials handling solutions that fully satisfy real-world needs in today’s logistical environments. With QuickPick® Remote, we’ve made significant progress towards the safe automation of certain warehouse processes, as part of a carefully formulated warehouse automation strategy.”
Achieving more with less effort
With QuickPick® Remote, working processes are simplified, resulting in significantly higher order-picking performance. And yet despite this improved performance, operators are placed under significantly less physical stress. Operators spend up to 50 per cent less time walking, thereby cutting in half the distance they must carry a load. In addition, climbing on/off the operator platform is reduced by up to 70 per cent. Thanks to these improved working processes, operators can get more done, with significantly greater economy of motion and less personal risk. QuickPick® Remote means order picking activities are less tiring, accidents and injuries are reduced, and employees feel more motivated. The corresponding reduction in lost time and associated costs, as well as the improved employee job satisfaction, underscores the system’s effectiveness.
QuickPick® Remote brings technology, workflow efficiency and operator activity together in a natural, systematic order-picking process. It’s a rare productivity improvement solution that results in operators slowing down and yet getting more done, safely.
Crown
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