Wear It’s At Wearables can help warehouse workers do their jobs more safely and eciently. For instance, wearable computers with dual voice picking capabilities are useful for moving large objects, as many can be worn on an arm or clipped to a belt with a ring scanner. “The user does not have to juggle a mobile computer at the same time,” says Kevin Beasley, chief information ocer with VAI, an ERP provider.
our warehouse,” Wilkinson says. The software helped Balance One optimize its labor force and improve accuracy, while the data and analytics allow quick responses to different business situations. “With pick-to-light, we were able to elevate our warehouse operation to new levels of ef ciency, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness,” he notes. Slotting streamlines eort and material flow. Slotting solutions help optimize warehouse worker efforts. “Workers put items into places where they need to be, creating a more optimized pick ow,” explains Santagate. A common example is placing fast- moving items where they’re easily accessible. Workers can complete their jobs with fewer steps, which can lower frustration. And material moves through the warehouse more quickly. Leveraging mobile devices. For workers using mobile devices, such as handheld scanners, the goal is to optimize the ergonomics of the interactions, Fralick says. Touch screens also can help, particularly when paired with navigation software to let workers know, for instance, when to move to another aisle. “The solution gives hints so workers don’t have to decode things in their head to determine whether they need to move left or right,” he says. Text-to-speech systems help heterogeneous workforces. As more workforces become heterogeneous, warehouse management systems that incorporate text-to-speech capabilities in a worker’s native language can let them quickly know which task to tackle next, says Suresh Bhaskaran, senior director, product management, with Softeon. This cuts frustration while increasing ef ciency. Computer vision and AI. When it comes to computer vision solutions driven by arti cial intelligence, “the oodgates have opened,” says Chandler
opportunity to drive optimization,” he adds. For example, a hybrid pick cart lets workers complete multiple functions— such as picking, replenishment, and cycle counting—in one rather than multiple runs. Another bene t of many tech solutions that increase worker productivity, like robotics, is their ability to slash required training time from weeks to hours. “A worker could literally come in off the street having never picked in a warehouse before, and by the end of day one be fully productive,” says John Santagate, vice president, robotics with supply chain solutions provider Körber. With many of these tech tools, workers no longer need to immediately learn where certain products are kept or how the aisles are laid out. Instead, they can refer to a screen that shows a graphic of the product and quantity to be picked. Here’s a look at some tech tools that are contributing to warehouse worker safety and productivity. Pick-to-light optimizes warehouse operations. “Getting the most out of the warehouse labor force has been a key goal,” says James Wilkinson, CEO with Balance One Supplements, a family- owned supplements business. The company struggled with labor scheduling and planning, and wanted to improve work ow volume and the rate of errors occurring during item picking. “Pick-to-light software was a crucial addition for us,” Wilkinson says. Warehouse pickers simply follow the light, eliminating time they’d otherwise spend searching for product locations. Picking times have dropped by 25% because warehouse pickers receive visual cues that tell them where items are located, which accelerates their ability to nd speci c items. Balance One also minimized stockouts by 30% through an improved inventory management system and replenishment process. In addition, overtime costs fell by up to 15%. “Pick-to-light software has transformed
An emerging solution is visual wearables that enable augmented reality and can assist warehouse workers in their jobs. One example is software that can help workers load pallets more eciently and eectively. For instance, the Soterspine ( pictured ) can identify body motions that can create cumulative musculoskeletal injuries, such as lifting objects from the floor using lower back muscles. And as the technology behind VR/AR progresses, the headsets will become more lightweight with more battery capacity and processing power. While it’s hard to predict what programs will be developed for logistics once workers can wear these headsets casually throughout an entire workday, potential options include programs that guide users to destinations and display holographic models to demonstrate optimal product positioning atop pallets or within freight containers.
May 2024 • Inbound Logistics 35
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