Combining Automated Scanning & Labeling Technology Streamlines High-volume, Full-case Picking at CDWCombining Automated Scanning & Labeling Technology Streamlines High-volume, Full-case Picking at CDW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Combining Automated Scanning & Labeling Technology Streamlines High-volume, Full-case Picking at CDW
04/18/2006
Computer Discount Warehouse, CDW is one of North America’s leading providers of computer systems, technology and services for the business, government, healthcare and education markets. Their customer-centric philosophy of delivering “The Right Technology. Right Away.™” is incorporated into all segments of their business operation and is clearly demonstrated by their commitment to developing and applying the latest advancement in automation at their Distribution Centers. Being a technology company, CDW understands and embraces the benefits technology provides in delivering premium service to its customers.
“Speed and accuracy are essential factors we use in evaluating distribution process improvements. Our mission is to optimize our operations to ensure quality, accurate next day deliveries for customer orders at all our facilities”, stated Doug Eckrote, VP of Operations. These objectives are what spearheaded Doug and the CDW Team in the development and design of their advanced full case picking process. The paperless pick process developed by Doug and his Team uses RF directed batch picking to manage and direct full case pick to conveyor from several multi-level full case product storage modules.
In the past, CDW warehouse pickers picked by discrete orders using pre-printed labels and packing slips to label cartons. Using hand scanners, they would scan the product number to make sure that was the right item, and additionally scan the serial number. Because the location of the serial number bar code could be on any side of the carton, the picker had to search three or four sides of a carton before locating it. Capturing all of that information and hand applying the shipper label and the packing slip to the carton could take up 45 to 60 seconds.
To develop and integrate the technology needed for such an innovative solution CDW turned to The Numina Group - a Burr Ridge, IL-based system integrator and material handling automation provider.
“Taking one minute per carton might seem fairly efficient in low volume distribution operations, but in a warehouse that ships thousands of full cases every day, that represents a major expenditure of labor,” explains Dan Hanrahan, Numina Group President.
Numina provided the Panther Industries Print-Apply Applicators, its RDS TRAK3 real-time control software, Vitronics Vision Scanning Tunnel and teamed with Matco Integrators who supplied the conveyor belt and mechanical modification for the carton transportation and tracking to support the auto identification and labeling applications.
The CDW –Numina Team designed and installed an integrated scanning and labeling system that automated and streamlined the full case pick process. CDW developed the picking software to instruct the pickers by RF terminal to batch pick the quantity of products needed for several orders. “They don’t apply labels to the case; they simply pick and place cases on to the conveyor. If, for example, the picker is filling a pick request for five inkjet printers, the picker is directed to the proper pallet pick or flow rail pick location by the RF scanner and uses the scanner to validate the location and pick the case quantity in seconds – instead of several minutes using the scan and label based picking methods,” says Hanrahan.
As the cartons flow onto the shipping conveyor, they arrive at the Scan Tunnel, where the Vitronic Camera System scans all sides of the case, and captures the product ID and serial number barcodes. The barcode data is transmitted by the Numina RDS control system to the CDW Warehouse Management System. The WMS validates the case pick and transmits the labeling requirements and content for both the packing slip and shipper label required for each case. Directly following the Scan Tunnel is an automated labeling system consisting of dual Panther Industries print and apply label applicators that are used to print and apply a combination packing slip and shipping label to order shipments.
“If an extra carton or a picking error occurs the data from the Scan Tunnel sent to the WMS is used to check and validate that all case picks match the currently active orders,” continues Hanrahan. “If the case is a mis-pick, or a no-read condition occurs, the case will not be labeled and will be diverted as a ‘not assigned pick’ to an Inspection-exception Station for human disposition.”
Integrating all of the full case pick functions into a streamlined automated process reduced picking errors and labor while improving throughput and increased capacity to ensure same day deliveries at all our facilities.
“Essentially, we’ve reduced the pick labor by approximately 80 percent on full-case items,” Eckrote of CDW says. “This has proven to be the Right Technology to increased throughput in our operations while improving productivity and enhancing accuracy”.
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