storage order picking l
Michelle Campbell, industry director, supply chain at RedPrairie, believes that the increasing sophistication of consumers to order via multi channels presents tighter order picking windows for logistics operations.
Small order picking grows
This is because more savvy customers shop around for deliveries that suit there needs as well as looking to get the best price.
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This results in more small parcels being handled and picking of single items, which need to be effectively integrated into the supply chain to keep distribution costs down. As a result there is an increase in the development of shared inventory pools, which can reduce stockholding so that retail, wholesale and direct to consumer markets can be supplied efficiently. As consumers expect to be able to order today for delivery tomorrow further pressure is added to the supply chain. Where this involves ‘Click and Collect’ the challenge is to manage the small order picking and packing to ensure smooth consolidation with store deliveries and their timelines. This adds further complexity that a flexible warehouse management solution has to be able to accommodate. To increase productivity in the warehouse, businesses can use multi- order pick carts that enable operatives to pick anywhere from 12 to 48 customer orders concurrently to
50 ShD January 2012
www.PressOnShD.com
here are increasing challenges to meet growing levels of direct to consumer deliveries as well as the demand for ‘Click and Collect’ at store.
predefined pick slots that improve accuracy, reduce pick time and minimise travel time.
However, economies of scale can be made where the items are bulk or aggregate picked and then a sorter can be used to deliver the orders to the packer rather than individually picking each customer’s order. In addition sorters can be used to move the goods from the packing stations to directly to the vehicles reducing the handling of many small packages.
As logistics operations adapt to these changing requirements some
systems will require upgrading. The areas to look at are voice technology, automation and make a thorough review of your paperwork. It’s highly likely you are printing and writing things down that are never used. Take a look at what you really need as opposed to what you currently do. Many people try and replace systems with like for like – a new version of what they have. This is not cost effective or beneficial; you need to look at what you are trying to achieve rather than how you currently do it. ●
www.redprairie.com
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