Pick-to-Light and Put-to-Light: Order Fulfillment That’s Easy and Fast to See

Eliminate errors while increase picking speed is what pick-to-light and put-to-light delivers. When the order is received, the order picker travels to the area of the warehouse where the item to be picked is displayed with a light. The light informs the picker of how many items are to be picked and acknowledges the completion of the pick by pressing a button. The real-time system provides accurate order fulfillment as well as inventory levels.

When batch picking environments is the best way to fulfill multiple orders, items are brought to a central area, scanned and a light indicates location and number of items needed. Once completed, the order picker presses the button signaling the order has been fulfilled.

Pick-to-Voice: A Hands-Free Solution

Orders to be fulfilled are many times delivered on paper or to be read off of a computer screen. By using pick-to-voice, the picking operator wears a headset listening to instructions. The voice communicates a single item at a time, where to find the item, and how many to be picked. The operator acknowledges the completion of the pick with a pre-set command such as ‘done’ or ‘order picked’ in order to move on to the next item.

Pick-to-Voice allows the operator to work in a hands-free environment, vital for case picking, labeling, loading / unloading and quality checking to name a few applications.

Ways to Pick the Products from the Warehouse

There are various ways for the order picker to get the product needed for order fulfillment. Sometimes an order will be purchased in a full case, or case picking. One of the easier fulfillments, case picking, allows the order picker to take the entire box, carton or tote and place it directly onto a conveyor, AGV or AGC or dolly. Placing the carton, tote or box directly onto the conveyor can also be further defined with a sorter.

When a specific quantity needs to be picked and a full case is too much, then split case picking or piece picking is performed. Split case or piece picking is simply picking the number of items directly from the case, bin or tote sitting directly on the shelf.  For a combination, Ellis Systems offers am automated mixed case order fulfillment solution, perfect for a mixed items warehouse.

Conveyor Systems

Integrating order fulfillment conveyors and put away conveyors brings orders to a specific location for packing or even additional picking. A variety of conveyors can be used including the power roller conveyors that are situated in front of the picking station. Once items are picked, it is placed into the box, tote or carton and moves to the next zone for further fulfillment until complete.  

The same system can also be used to put away items or replenish goods to where the picking line originates. The order picker simply takes the items, carton or box, removes it from the roller conveyor and replaces the items so it’s ready for more order fulfillment.

Powered Roller Conveyors

Powered conveyors are an automatic way of moving product from location to its next location or final destination. Depending on your application, overall there are 3 types of powered roller conveyors belt conveyor, accumulation conveyor and chain conveyor. Powered roller conveyors have individual motors inside each roller that is activated when the box, totes, pallet or items move down the line.

Gravity Conveyors

Gravity conveyors use the natural force of gravity to move boxes, totes, or cartons. For a gravity conveyor to work its best, the conveyor is situated on an include or a worker will need to push it along the line. Gravity conveyors can use roller, skate wheel, ball transfer, curves or spurs.

Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors move goods, loose goods or delicate items down a flat surface. The electric motors move the belt in a roll mounted fashion: after it passes on top, it passes underneath until it reaches full cycle where it starts again. The conveyor belt comes in a variety of surfaces such as fabric, rubber, leather, metal or plastic depending on industry.

Pallet Conveyors

Pallet handling conveyors or chain conveyors are used to move heavy goods with a variety of pallet surfaces. Wooden pallets break, plastic and foam pallets are frequently found and need the durability and flexibility to handle all variations. Use a drag chain pallet conveyor or roller pallet conveyor to integrate into a conveyor system such as chain driven live roller, accumulation line or turntable.

Accumulation Conveyor for Speed Adjustment

Accumulation conveyors manages the movement of totes, boxes, cartons or goods in a holding pattern. Accumulation conveyors adjust the amount of pressure in 3 ways: medium pressure, zero pressure and zero contact depending on the products being moved. The accumulation technology allows the products to be slowed down by zone and speeds up in between maximizing its time and efficiency.

Contact us for your warehouse order fulfillment solutions today!