Success story VOICE
technology
pick assignments simply and quickly, automatically directing individual pickers to their next assignment via their Voice recognition headset.
At the start of the picking operation, users will allocate three roll cages to an assignment. Each roll cage is labelled with a barcode and a 4 digit number, which is then scanned into a picking assignment. The three roll cages are identified as A (Alpha), B (Beta) and C (Charlie) – an identity which will stay with them throughout the whole of the picking operation. From the Voice recognition system, the user will be directed to a bin or pick location via Voice commands, the user will pick the specified item and nominates which roll cage the item should be placed in. Finally, the pick is verbally confirmed by speech; for example “Got One, Charlie”. Once a pick assignment has been completed, the user will verbally confirm this via speech. This will enable a roll cage label to be produced and attached to the completed picked cage. The cages are then moved to the loading area for dispatch to stores. Part of the ‘pick to Voice’ solution enabled the develop - ment of the dispatch function. Utilising traditional scanning for this function, users scan the barcodes on each roll cage with the Atlanta handheld terminal for the completed order prior to loading it onto the delivery vehicle.
Since the system went live, the confidence in the system has continued to grow and as a
result the average pick rate has continued on an upwards trend. Voice-directed picking keeps users focused and less distracted, and the improvement in efficiency has resulted in numerous benefits for CICS through increased productivity, accurate consign - ments and timely deliveries. The increased productivity within the warehouse has reduced the need for overtime, and continues to deliver significant cost savings to CICS. In addition, the system has facilitated greater visibility of the warehouse operation as a management tool. The ability to log in remotely in real time means CICS is able to constantly monitor the pick rates in the operation. Should there be a dip in these, the society can quickly identify the reason why and put the corrective action in place – reducing disruption and maintain- ing an efficient operation.
Multi-lingual advantage CICS employs a mix of
nationalities including Polish and Portuguese. The system’s ability to cope with any language or dialect makes it ideal for the multi-ethnic workforce; allowing them to interact with the system using words that they are comfortable with. In addition, CICS has a partially deaf operative who was required to use the Voice recognition system. This didn’t raise barriers to using the system. The user friendliness and consistent and in-depth training of the Voice profile for the user meant that the employee was not impeded by the solution – and has in fact
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Belgravium’s multimodal Atlanta handheld device, currently used for the goods receipt operation, was Voice enabled. This provided CICS with the flexibility to switch between traditional scanning, and by adding a Voice headset, instantly transform the system into a Voice terminal.
allows the store to identify stock location and availability for empty shelves. The flexibility of the system allows CICS to then facilitate early dispatch of the cage in order to fill the empty shelf space.
Accuracy improvement
With respect to accuracy it is reportedly as close to 100 per
Once the load is dispatched, the products on the roll cages are electronically dispatched, so each store would know what to expect on its delivery before it even arrives. Also, the ability to physically identify what goods have been received in store reduces invoice queries; something that wouldn’t have been achieved utilising the old label system.
October 2010
MANUFACTURING &LOGISTICS
IT 29
become one of the best pickers within the warehouse. This new solution has allowed the St Helier distribution centre to be a lot more reactive to the stores requirements. The ability to view stock before it arrives in-store,
cent as it could be. Company reports show that there are few ‘cross picks’ and shortages, and the new dispatch function now means that CICS can not put a roll cage onto a vehicle that was not going to a specified store.
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