Enhance Your Plant's Distribution Automation With Pick To Light And Point And Apply Label

Manufacturers seeking methods to enhance current distribution automation processes should consider implementing pick to light and print and apply label technologies.

When it comes to effectively and efficiently managing the internal functions of a manufacturing or distribution warehouse, operations managers are constantly endeavoring to streamline and automate the facility's processes and procedures. In this consistent quest for distribution automation, two important technologies have proven time and again why they are leading the pack of available innovations; pick to light and print and apply label systems.

Pick to light and print and apply label technologies have firmly established themselves as more than mere distribution automation passing trends. Incorporating elements of automated programming with a solid grasp behind the logic and practice of common warehouse operations while still relying on operator engagement have helped make these two approaches invaluable to manufacturing leaders in virtually every industry. Understanding some of the specific benefits and features of each system can help you determine if either of these effective warehouse operation technologies makes sense in your packing and shipping environment.

Print And Apply Label Technologies

Print and apply label systems are a form of distribution automation that eliminates the need for hand written packing sheets and shipping labels. These devices accurately print and label packages for shipment almost instantly and can include amenities that manually created forms can deliver such as:

•    Double-sided printing
•    Inclusion of T's&C's, customer logos and other brand-specific pictures and graphics
•    Inline scanning and weighing capabilities
•    Automated packing sheet folding and tucking

When used properly, a print and apply label system virtually eliminates the chance of manual errors. In some cases, these devices are so effective they can seamlessly manage the output of 6-8 physical workers. In short, a print and apply label strategy proves extremely effective as a distribution automation tool.

Understanding The Concept Of Pick To Light

A pick to light system reads a scanned barcode to determine the particular item that needs to be found. From there the locators distributed throughout the facility flash or illuminate, directing employees on where in the warehouse to find each specific item and the quantities required to fill the order. With options for individual pieces or entire case quantities, pick to light programming brings with it a host of features and benefits including:

•    Paperless, hands-free order fulfillment
•    Ease of use, most systems require minimal training to get started
•    Operational flexibility and streamlined resource management
•    Increased staff productivity, efficiency and accuracy

Best of all, most quality pick to light systems deliver a strategy that will complement already existing warehouse automation or voice pick systems to ensure a truly cost-efficient solution.

If your business is looking to raise the bar with its distribution automation procedures, both of these innovative technologies make an excellent place to start. Whether moving full steam ahead incorporating both systems as part of your new distribution automation initiative or simply utilizing one program to start, you and your employees will notice an almost immediate difference in efficiency, accuracy and overall output capabilities.

Article Tags: Distribution Automation, Apply Label

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR