TRENDING
How GTP picking systems can
solve warehouse challenges
T
oday’s supply chain managers
are faced with a growing list of
challenges and these are causing
distribution centres (DCs),
even small and mid-sized operations, to
seek fast, efficient and flexible automated
solutions.
Dematic’s white paper Six Warehouse
Challenges Overcome by Goods-to-Person
Picking Systems looks at the challenges
addressed by GTP picking solutions and
the types of operations best suited for
them.
1. Capital costs
A compact GTP solution does not
require the conveyor system that is typical
of traditional GTP solutions. Without
that extra conveyor and equipment,
DC operations can not only reduce
capital investment, but also ensure easy
expandability as the operation changes.
The compact design of smarter
GTP picking systems makes it a cost-
effective automation option with an
attractive ROI for even small to mid-sized
businesses. The systems can be installed
to suit current operations and expanded if
required in the future.
The systems are capable of
increasing storage and picking capacity
independently and easily. In addition,
new technology options such as inter-
aisle transfer reduce or completely
eliminate the need for expensive conveyor
systems that require a large amount of
valuable floor space to manage and route
totes.
2. Order fulfilment demand
fluctuations
A GTP picking solution should have a
flexible, highly standardised design that
can scale up or down as business needs
change or demand dictates. The solution’s
storage or picking capabilities can be
expanded during peak periods by adding
extra aisles and picking stations.
All workstations can operate
independently and be opened and
closed according to order volumes.
If workstations are turned off during
off peak periods, they provide full
redundancy without affecting SKU
Compact picking goods-
to-person (GTP) solutions
work well in all markets
but these solutions offer
specific advantages, in part
electronic components,
cosmetics, and in general
industries that require
handling of tens of
thousands of stock keeping
units (SKUs) of small items.
rates between 350 and 500 order lines per
hour, depending on the size and type of
SKUs being picked.
4. New system deployment
downtime
System downtime can be largely avoided
with modular GTP picking solutions as
they are pre-engineered systems that can
be easily configured and deployed with
minimal impact. They can be installed
quickly and require little training to get
operators up to speed.
Compact GTP solutions should have
the flexibility to be deployed in existing
or new facilities. They should be able
to operate as a stand-alone system or be
incorporated into a larger DC solution.
5. High number of SKUs
Dematic’s white paper Six Warehouse
Challenges Overcome by Goods-to-Person
Picking Systems looks at the challenges
addressed by GTP picking solutions and the
types of operations best suited for them.
availability at the workstations still in
operation.
Additionally, orders can be processed
at any location and employees work in
parallel at multiple picking stations,
allowing them to be unaffected by each
other’s pace.
3. Labour efficiency
GTP picking solutions minimise the
amount of overall labour necessary to
fulfil orders. By delivering items directly
to pickers, the non-value-added activities
such as walking to and searching storage
for products are fully eliminated.
Additionally, GTP picking offers much
higher productivity compared to a
traditional picking system.
While traditional picking solutions
offer rates of 100 lines per hour, per
operator, with goods-to-person picking,
individual operators typically achieve
GTP picking solutions can store tens of
thousands of small-item SKUs easily. The
solutions can replenish, pick and pack
quickly, efficiently and accurately from
one workstation.
The solutions offer secure, high-
density, completely trackable storage
and totes that can be subdivided, which
dramatically increases storage capacity
for very small items such as cosmetics or
electronics components.
Improved inventory management and
visibility, as well as secure storage, means
GTP picking is also suitable for the order
fulfilment of high value items.
6. Fast and accurate order
fulfilment
As consumer demands put more and more
pressure on fast delivery and allowing no
room for error, businesses are being forced
to invest in DC solutions that support fast
and accurate order fulfilment.
GTP picking systems feature ultra-
high productivity and a single pick station
operator can achieve very high rates of up
to 500 or more order lines per hour, with
virtually no errors. Stock is delivered to
picking stations in the precise sequence
required for order assembly — heavy
items first, fragile items last, by family
group or in whatever sequence dictated
— ensuring high productivity and
throughput. ra
Retail Asia May 2018
13