Goods-to-Person Picking Systems
Improve the volume of warehouse picks per hour, improve order accuracy, and increase fulfillment potential with goods-to-person picking systems.
Goods-to-person picking systems are scalable methods of piece picking that allow users to pick orders efficiently, accurately, and quickly using technology mixed with a dense storage component.
In most goods-to-person picking systems, incoming products are placed into totes or trays and then stored in the high-density storage system. As orders come in, products are automatically retrieved and sent to a picker, who is at a workstation ready to combine the order and either add the products to a pallet or to a packing area. This process eliminates travel time, increases order accuracy, and improves productivity for your workers.
The benefits of goods-to-person picking systems include:
There are two common categories of goods-to-person picking systems: vertical lift modules (VLMs) and automatic storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). VLMs are capable of delivering one or two trays at a time to the picking area and are often used to store and pick smaller cube, slower-moving items. ASRS systems come in a variety of forms, depending on the needs of the picking operations.
Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) are a “goods to man” picking solution that allows users to pick orders very efficiently while optimizing space utilization within a facility. Its internal software allows this seemingly complex machine to be one of the most user-friendly tools in your warehouse.
AS/RS modules are goods-to-person picking solutions that maximize space utilization with great throughput rates and have grown in popularity in the United States with the rise of e-commerce activity. They use carts, cranes, shuttles, or carousels to move products from an ultra-high-density storage system to pickers and very high rates.
As an automated tote shuttle and retrieval system, EffiMat® is a unique and effective warehouse solution. While EffiMat® may look like a vertical lift module (VLM), it is significantly faster for retrieving parts, offers more storage, and is more flexible to integrate into a broader range of applications.
With the industry shifting towards omnichannel fulfillment, micro-fulfillment shortens delivery times, often allowing same-day or next-day delivery. Orders in these facilities can be processed as quickly as within two hours of receiving the order.
In the modern world of fulfillment solutions, there are many other varieties of goods-to-person picking solutions. There are several factors distribution centers need to consider, not only to meet today’s demand but also to facilitate growth and adaptability for future unforeseen changes in fulfillment expectations.
Because there are so many options out there, sorting and finding the right choice to meet your needs may be challenging. We have the design and expertise to partner with you through the decision-making and implementation processes. Contact a Storage Solutions expert today to discuss the best practice to integrate these automation technologies into your operations.
Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) are a “goods to man” picking solution that allows users to pick orders very efficiently while optimizing space utilization within a facility. Its internal software allows this seemingly complex machine to be one of the most user-friendly tools in your warehouse.
VLMs are also great with space utilization, condensing 5,000 square feet to about 150 square feet for the machine, a 90% decrease in your footprint. They can also utilize either inside picking, where the trays stay entirely inside the device, or outside picking, where the actual picking bay comes out 3 to 4 feet. VLMs offer user-friendly interfaces for many functions making it the perfect customizable addition to your facility.
AS/RS modules are goods-to-person picking solutions that maximize space utilization with great throughput rates and have grown in popularity in the United States with the rise of e-commerce activity. They use carts, cranes, shuttles, or carousels to move products from an ultra-high-density storage system to pickers and very high rates.
As an automated tote shuttle and retrieval system, EffiMat® is a unique and effective warehouse solution. While EffiMat® may look like a vertical lift module (VLM), it is significantly faster for retrieving parts, offers more storage, and is more flexible to integrate into a broader range of applications.
With the industry shifting towards omnichannel fulfillment, micro-fulfillment shortens delivery times, often allowing same-day or next-day delivery. Orders in these facilities can be processed as quickly as within two hours of receiving the order.
In the modern world of fulfillment solutions, there are many other varieties of goods-to-person picking solutions. There are several factors distribution centers need to consider, not only to meet today’s demand but also to facilitate growth and adaptability for future unforeseen changes in fulfillment expectations.
Because there are so many options out there, sorting and finding the right choice to meet your needs may be challenging. We have the design and expertise to partner with you through the decision-making and implementation processes. Contact a Storage Solutions expert today to discuss the best practice to integrate these automation technologies into your operations.