Most people who think of order picking have a mental picture of workers busily moving through warehouse aisles – very few associate it with automation and AI. However, the reality in many warehouses is now different. A good example can be seen at Migros Verteilbetrieb AG, where the future of order picking has already arrived.
How can order picking be made more efficient? This is a critical question for many companies, because the work is difficult, demanding and tiring. People and vehicles must cover long distances each day and move tons of material. What’s more, there is always the risk of a stall in operations. New methods such as goods-to-person picking are a sign of major changes on the horizon. For now, however, the biggest benefits can be expected from smart driver assistance systems: vehicles that lighten the workloads of employees and, ideally, even serve as helpers.
Boosting productivity with smart driver assistance systems
The principle is simple. Automated guided vehicles are assigned to workers and closely follow them on the job. For order pickers with repetitive tasks, this in itself can be very helpful. But some systems already go a step further. An example is the OPX neo iGo horizontal order picker made by STILL, which uses smart automation and continuous data processing to create a detailed picture of its environment.
The practical benefits can be seen at Migros Verteilbetrieb AG (MVB), the biggest logistics provider for Switzerland’s roughly 900 Migros supermarkets. Its warehouse in Neuendorf handles the logistics for all of the retailer’s nonfood items. Autonomous neo trucks have injected new life into MVB’s busy warehouse operations. “The iGo neo has given us a noticeable boost in productivity,” says Manfred Walther, Head of Operations.
Greater productivity, fewer picking errors
And how was this achieved? The key is a sophisticated system of vehicles that can find their way through narrow aisles, distinguish between different pickers and steer clear of obstacles. All of this belongs to what smart driver assistance systems can do. The dynamic safety zone of the OPX-L20 ensures precise navigation in the warehouse environment, close maneuvering, high-speed travel and accurate braking. The result in Neuendorf is smooth and trouble-free operations.
A high degree of automation is also advantageous for Z order picking, i.e. switching between sides of an aisle. This comes into play when an employee moving through the aisle picks an item from one side and then sees that the next items to be picked are on the opposite side. Instead of returning later on a longer route, the employee can just press a button on the OPX-L20. The vehicle automatically changes its course, crosses to the other side and realigns itself with high precision.
Accurate tracking at all times
The STILL OPX iGo neo uses a hybrid tracking system. Localization scanners keep tabs on the picker and note his or her contours. In assistance mode the truck additionally receives radio signals to verify the picker’s position. Based on the picker’s movements it also chooses an optimum picking position, adjusts its speed and path, and stops at the right moment. If changes in processes are necessary, the OPX iGo neo can easily adapt.
The example of Migros shows that smart driver assistance systems are ideal for warehouse work. They fit smoothly into existing processes without causing disruptions. They reduce the burden on employees, require no major changes in infrastructure and bring about significant improvements in picking performance – a blueprint for order picking of the future.