Innovating and automating processes within the distribution center (DC) is a priority to comply in time and form with the customer requirements. This time, we will look into the features and benefits of a cutting-edge solution for DCs, based on the implementation of horizontal carousels added to order assortment technologies such as Pick to Light and Put to Light.
This solution will increase your order assortment productivity by up to 200%; it is economically accessible, highly reliable, simple, and cost-efficient. Additionally, it can operate in two different ways. Find out how:
Horizontal Carousels with Put to Light
Whenever companies receive large amounts of products that will only be used once (single purchases or purchases with low repetitiveness), no storage place assignation is necessary, but it is more convenient to send them directly to assortment. Horizontal carousels serve as a work station that sends products directly to distribution with no need to complete all conventional procedures. They work as stores in which the containers are being gradually filled to further retrieve the product and transfer it to the shipping area. It is important to clarify that, in order for this solution to be functional, a finite amount of destinations exists.
Another option for using horizontal carousels along with Put to Light technology is for expensive products.
A prior assessment of the use of this solution is necessary, along with the cost-benefit of a fixed placement (with a full platform of these products), with the purpose of achieving an item assortment of products straight to the store, since no space or stock is available at the distribution center.
An example of this solution is the following: a Company acquires a highly-sophisticated wine, but it is not worth adding it to inventory. The ideal solution would be to take the product and distribute it directly into the stores or venues. The inventory will be automatically updated at the store, and more product will be ordered as per the recorded use. The necessary conditions for implementation is to have a finite number of destinations per product wave.
This potentially reduces inventory and operating time.
Arriving products are classified by the carousel, displays, and software for the different boxes that contain the orders.
This is a solution with a faster ROI for many companies, and that solves many headaches in this type of operations.
Horizontal carousels with Pick to Light
Another procedure where the use of this horizontal carousel system is convenient is when implemented with a Pick to Light system.
This is ideal for companies that require a significant order assortment operation of small-sized items, complementing it with Batch Picking. This achieves an assortment of between 10 and 20 product orders of medium to low rotation products, simultaneously.
This solution allows managing 5,000 to 20,000 SKUs, depending on product design. Furthermore, operators no longer have to walk long distances, since it would be “product to man” operations, allowing them to release the products immediately.
The following link displays the implemented solution.
In Mexico, the implementation of this technology is not as common as it is in the United States, where there are thousands of applications operating successfully since decades ago. This is why they are an excellent alternative for operations in our country and in Latin America, since their effectiveness and cost of ownership has already been proven.
These systems allow a substantial error reduction, a greater order processing capacity per day, cost reduction, better control of operations, reduction of late deliveries, and instant operational management, among other advantages.
Implement cutting-edge solutions that allow you to increase competitiveness and better position your company in the market. More than 30 years providing innovative intralogistic solutions support out commitment to the level of stability, productivity, and quality our customers require.
