Pick by Light system is an effective combination of Hardware and Software that leverages order execution data and transfers it to the picking zones without the need for picking lists, control lists, etc. Pickers, having both hands free, collect orders rapidly while eliminating unnecessary and time-consuming processes such as reading picking locations, searching for picking positions, checking lists, etc., dramatically improving order execution time and reducing picking errors.

Pick by Light technology eliminates the need for operators to read picking lists and perform system data entry, practically eliminating customer order picking errors.

Productivity

Pick by Light system increases productivity by up to 300% and reduces order picking errors by 95%, while the investment payback period does not exceed one year. A variation of the system is Pick Cart.

The recommended application range of the three picking methods (RF Picking, Pick by Light, Pick Cart) for the company’s products is presented in the following ABC Analysis diagram:

Pick by Light and Pick Cart technologies are two complementary systems that can be implemented independently of each other with impressive and immediate results. However, the combined use of both systems is the ideal choice in many cases, aiming at drastically reducing costs, eliminating picking errors, and reducing order execution time.

Technology

Pick by Light is the result of integrating leading technologies such as networking technology, microcomputers, microelectronics, barcode technology, and software technology into a single, efficient, and integrated system.

Pick by Light is a solution that competes in performance with a fully automated high-investment installation, while its implementation cost is only one-tenth of the cost of the latter and the investment payback period does not exceed one year.

Benefits

The benefits of using Pick by Light and Pick Cart are:

• Increase in productivity up to 300%
• Reduction of order picking errors by 95%
• Reduction of order execution time
• Measurement of user performance
• Continuous productivity improvement

Pick Cart is a wheeled system for multiple order picking.

The system communicates with the WMS in real time through wireless communication. Orders to be executed are grouped into order batches, depending on the number of picking positions on the cart, while each order within the batch is assigned to one of the Pick Cart positions.

Pick Cart generates the optimal picking route and directs the picker to the picking locations, displaying for each product the quantities required by each order assigned to the Pick Cart. Thus, with a single route of the user within the warehouse, three, six, nine, or even more orders can be picked simultaneously.

Voice Picking is an alternative picking method mainly used for the collection of case or item orders. In special cases, voice technology can also be applied to product receiving, picking location replenishment, and inventory counting.

The Voice Picking solution consists of a PDA equipped with a headset (headphones & microphone) and a picking management application using voice recognition. User interaction with the system takes place through dialogue.

The advantage of the Voice Picking solution compared to traditional RF picking is that the user has both hands free, which leads to increased productivity. Especially in deep-freeze environments where users wear gloves, the use of wireless terminals complicates the picking process. In such cases, Voice Picking provides an alternative solution with competitive advantages.

Hardware

Unlike other competing systems, Voice Picking can operate on any industrial-type PDA with Mobile Windows 5 or Windows CE 3 and above operating systems. In this way, the customer’s investment is protected, since the same PDA device can support both the traditional RF application and the new Voice Picking application.

Process – Benefits

The implementation of the Voice Picking system offers:

• Increase in picking productivity from 10% to 25%
• Reduction of operator training time compared to RF usage
• Reduction of errors compared to picking with picking lists
• Natural voice quality (100% human voice) that does not create a sense of fatigue or discomfort for the operator
• Open architecture of the application, allowing it to operate both on voice PDA devices and on standard RF terminals

Put-to-voice

This is a variation of the Voice Picking solution where order picking is executed in two phases:

• Consolidated picking, where orders are grouped at route level, group level, or across the total set of orders and consolidated picking is executed
• Breakdown phase, where the consolidated order is split into individual customer orders

Data Collector system consists of three sensors positioned along the three axes of a trihedron. It is mounted on a scale for weight measurement and includes a camera for capturing images. The device is connected to a workstation equipped with a barcode scanner.

The user places the item on the Data Collector and scans the item barcode with the scanner connected to the workstation. If the item does not have a barcode, the user selects the item from the item search list on the workstation screen. Within seconds, the device updates the database with the physical dimensions, weight, and image of the item.

Smart Conveyor is a wheeled conveyor belt that includes: an industrial computer with a touch screen, a pallet label barcode printer, barcode scanners, and flow control automation. Smart Conveyor connects wirelessly with the warehouse management system in real time.

Smart Conveyor is manufactured in various dimensions according to the specific requirements of each installation.

Additionally, Smart Conveyor can be used for loading cartons into trucks or containers by reversing the movement flow. In this way, loading accuracy is verified and any shipping errors are eliminated.

Two important advantages of RFID technology compared to barcode technology are:

• RFID tag can carry more useful information than a barcode, such as critical information related to the product that cannot be included in the barcode label due to size limitations
• Barcodes are a “line-of-sight” technology, which means the scanner must “see” the barcode to read it. In contrast, RFID tags can be read if they are within the reading range.

ENTERSOFTONE aberon supports RFID technology and can coexist with barcode technology.

The ability to use both technologies simultaneously provides the user with unmatched usability, user-friendliness, reliability, and speed.