Goods-to-Person Picking Systems
Increase picks per hour, order accuracy, and fulfillment potential.
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.
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.
It’s no secret that labor challenges are affecting many companies. With the latest advancements in technology, labor issues don’t have to slow down your operation. In fact, the right combination of systems can set you up to run more efficiently, while also being less reliant on manual labor.
With Storage Solutions as a partner, we will help you determine the best fit for you operation. Whether you are looking to make the picking process more accurate or increase overall productivity, we have the knowledge and experience to help you get it done.