Justifying Goods-to-Person Technology

Justifying Goods-to-Person Technology

by | Apr 14, 2020 | Goods-to-Person Tech, Robotics, Supply Chain Consulting, Supply Chain Technology

Michael Wohlwend, Managing Principal of Alpine Supply Chain Solutions sat down with Russell Goodman, Senior Editor of Supply Chain Brain to discuss Goods-to-Person Technology and how Alpine is using tools from several providers to meet clients implementation needs.

“All verticals and all sizes of companies can benefit from implementation of goods-to-person technology”, says Michael Wohlwend, managing principal of Alpine Supply Chain Solutions.

Goods-To-Person Technology

  • Storage Analysis identify size and quantity of Pick Locations
  • Storage Analysis identify size and quantity of Reserve Locations
  • Slotting Optimization

 

How it works:

“The goods-to-person concept is simple: incoming goods are removed from pallets, either manually or automatically. The cartons and/or pieces are then placed into totes (smaller goods) or into trays (larger goods), and stored in high-density automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), carousels or robotic systems. As orders are required to be fulfilled SKUs are automatically retrieved from storage and brought to the picker, either at a pick station where the operator picks into an order container or to an ergonomic palletizing station where items are placed on a pallet. Since the picker does not have to walk, the focus at the pick stations and pack stations is on ergonomics and high productivity.” – Material, Handling, & Logistics

Alpine is now Goods to Person Technology Certified

Alpine is now Goods to Person Technology Certified

by | Mar 12, 2020 | Warehouse Management

Alpine Supply Chain has recently been certified by three different Goods-to-Person Technology Providers: @Opex “Perfect Pick,” @GreyOrange “Ranger” and @Slate River Systems Integrators “RAFT” solutions. Goods-to-Person technology has gotten quite a bit of buzz lately, and rightfully so. With the rise of e-commerce, the volume and mix of orders increases pressure to store, pick and deliver goods in a faster and more efficient manner.

If you are challenged with what items to designate and at what velocity, Alpine can identify the items that will work best in different Goods-to-Person Technology options, and will develop an estimate for assessing the potential ROI for the investment.

How it works:

“The goods-to-person concept is simple: incoming goods are removed from pallets, either manually or automatically. The cartons and/or pieces are then placed into totes (smaller goods) or into trays (larger goods), and stored in high-density automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), carousels or robotic systems. As orders are required to be fulfilled SKUs are automatically retrieved from storage and brought to the picker, either at a pick station where the operator picks into an order container or to an ergonomic palletizing station where items are placed on a pallet. Since the picker does not have to walk, the focus at the pick stations and pack stations is on ergonomics and high productivity.” – Material, Handling, & Logistics

“Software that eases labor pains”

“Software that eases labor pains”

by | Nov 21, 2019 | Supply Chain Consulting

Alpine was featured in an article from Ben Ames of DC Velocity on the benefits of Labor Management Software and the evolution of LMS solutions to meet the demands of the shifting labor landscape.

On shifting labor landscape:

“The recent shift marks the latest stage in labor management systems’ ongoing evolution to meet changing business challenges, says Michael Wohlwend, managing principal with Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, a Chicago-based consulting firm.

In the early ’90s, many companies used their LMS platforms to track workers’ performance against ‘engineered labor standards’ in an effort to gain leverage against unions that were pushing for less-stringent metrics, he says. Then in the late ’90s, managers started using LMS software more strategically, implementing “pay for performance” programs that offered workers incentives to meet specific performance goals.

Today, warehouses are using their LMS systems—often in conjunction with their warehouse management systems (WMS)—to respond to a new challenge: meeting strict order-shipping deadlines. Many e-retailers now promise same-day shipping for all orders placed by, say, 5 p.m. However, fulfilling those promises often results in a last-minute scramble to get orders out the door, forcing managers to shift worker assignments on the fly. During these crunches, performance data from an LMS can help managers quickly identify the workers best suited to the tasks at hand,” said Michael Wohlwend, Managing Principal of Alpine Supply Chain Solutions.

Read the full article here!

Read full article