Conquering Shipping Crunch Time
Conquering Shipping Crunch Time
How does the world’s leading supplier of premier optical components achieve 99.9% same day order fulfillment? Compound the complexity with a 5:30 pm primary carrier cut off time, a parcel mix ranging in size from 6.25”L x 6”W X 4”H to over 44”L x 22”W x 30”H; and you understand the challenges facing Edmund Optics. Edmund Optics turned to the Numina Group and their One-Step™ Fulfillment print and apply labeling system for in-line pack and ship automation to streamline their operation.
“We already had an Enterprise Resource Planning and manifesting system,” stated Stan Oskiera, VP of Operations at Edmund Optics, “what we needed was a drop- in solution to increase parcel throughput.” “Our competitive advantages are optical product expertise, inventory of the right products, and speedy accurate order delivery,” said Oskiera. “Our customers were accustomed to placing an order as late as 5 p.m. and having us ship it that day.” (The order cut off has now been extended to 8 pm.)
The project goals were simple yet demanding; integrate the automated manifesting and parcel labeling system with the existing ERP System, manifesting software, and conveyor system, without disrupting the distribution process. The system also needed to reduce manifesting time and labor, while increasing Edmund’s ability to process the late afternoon peak order volume to meet the primary carrier’s pick-up time. Edmund Optics chose the Numina Group, a system integrator with 22 years of experience, to achieve their goals.
Numina Group’s One Step Fulfillment system automates in-motion parcel scanning, weighing, carton dimensioning and print and apply labeling of shipping labels. The labeling system combined with a void fill station, and automatic taper can automate packing and manifesting of shipments with a single operator at rates of 12-20 cartons per minute. “One-Step was chosen in order to have the option of adding Numina’ s print and apply packing slip label process to our system in the future,” Oskiera added.
The challenge at Edmund Optics, explained Dan Hanrahan, president of the Numina Group, was the carton throughput rate demanded that the system had to operate in-motion to print and apply the 4” x 6” carrier label on cartons that barely exceeded the label size. “Complicating the small size was the fact that many of the small cartons weigh less than 1lb,” Hanrahan said. The Numina Group and the team at Edmund Optics considered increasing the carton size, but even a 1” increase in the carton length raised the air shipment costs significantly. “We thrive on challenges,” stated Hanrahan. Numina Group’s engineering team evaluated several means to align the cartons. Numina Group developed a solution that could precisely position the varied size range of cartons used at the facility for labeling.
Once they had the carton positioning solved, they still needed a print and apply applicator that could precisely place the label on the moving cartons, ranging from 4” to 30” heights. Numina turned to Panther Industries and selected the Panther 2000E-All Electric Label Applicator. The 2000E is the industry’s fastest and most precise label applicator. It has the performance and precision to print and apply labels with better than .2” repeatability on cartons with over a 30” carton height variation.
“We’re happy with the increased order processing and the improvements the new system has provided us in extending our next day shipping window. The new technology has allowed us to achieve our commitment to our clients of 99.9% same day fulfillment and accuracy, without increasing labor costs,” Oskiera said.
