Overview
The Dematic Pick to Planogram Piece Pick System uses an automated storage sub-system with put walls to support highly efficient retail store replenishment. The system picks and pre-sorts inventory to match partial aisles, full aisles, group of aisles, and departments in stores. It significantly improves the put-away process by reducing the time and cost of store replenishment.
The system is efficient for retail store replenishment operations that currently incur significant labor costs to replenish high quantities of stock keeping units to specific shelf locations in retail stores. It is ideal for retailers of over-the counter-drugs, health and beauty personal care, groceries, general merchandise, home hardware, apparel, office supplies, and industrial supplies.
Benefits
- Efficient restocking of shelves at retail stores improves profitability
- Order picking correlates to unique planogram for each retail store
- Operational stability, flexibility, scalability
- On demand service levels for retail stores
- Scan validation ensures accuracy and enhances customer goodwill
- Modular design and defined functionality provide consistent, predictable performance
- Visibility and insight of operations
System description
The Dematic Pick to Planogram Piece Pick System has a pre-engineered, standardized design configuration that ensures predictable picking performance. Here is the general order of how the system functions:
- Inventory Induction: Inventory is transferred to inventory totes. These totes may contain a single SKU or have dividers to hold multiple SKUs. The inventory totes are inducted into the automated storage sub-system. The order in which totes are inducted is based on logic that considers certain attributes, including SKU velocity, expiration date, and hazardous material content.
- Storage: Inventory totes are held in a high density, compact automated storage sub-system. Storage and retrieval transfers are automated.
- Picking: Inventory totes the automated storage sub-system are transported to workstations where workers consolidate items for orders by placing items in store totes.
- Shipping Buffer: Store totes may reside at the shipping buffer prior to trailer loading at the shipping dock. The buffer holds portions of the order that are complete while the balance is in-process. The shipping buffer may hold an entire order until a delivery truck is available.
- Palletize: Selected store totes are palletized for shipment and delivery to retail stores.
System management
The Dematic Warehouse Execution System (WES) software manages a continuous flow of orders for processing downloaded from the Warehouse Management System (WMS). The WMS is responsible for the overall operation of the facility, including inbound receiving and outbound shipping.
The Dematic WES software is a scalable logistics software platform responsible for directing, controlling, and synchronizing workflows. It dynamically manages processes, inventory, workforce, and material handling automation in real time.
The Dematic WES software manages the flow of inventory received and put-away into the automated storage sub-system. When required, the software instructs the sub-system to retrieve inventory totes (grey) for specific SKUs and transports them to a goods-to-person workstation for workers to pick items for an order and consolidate them into a store tote (green).
Warehouse Management System (Host)
- Order entry
- Inventory control
- Allocate inventory to orders
Fulfillment orders
Status and completion
Dematic Warehouse Management System
- Order planning, management and execution
- Order attributes, priority, changes
- Consolidate for efficient store put away
- Direct storage and retrieval flow
- Coordinate and synchronize picking
- Scan and sort control
- Balance workflow
- Visibility and insight
Comparison
The Dematic Batch Pick and Consolidate High-Rate Piece Pick System is more accurate, requires less labor to operate, and is more efficient than manual pick-to-store systems.
| Manual Pick-to-Store System | Automated Pick-to-Store Planogram System |
| Person-to-Goods picking method | Goods-to-Person picking method |
| Dedicated pick faces for each SKU | No dedicated SKU pick faces |
| Slotting and re-slotting of pick face required | Slotting and re-slotting not required |
| Manual replenishment of pick faces | Manual decanting to tote, automated replenishment of storage sub-system |
| Pick inventory from shelving, flow rack | Pick from inventory tote retrieved from automated storage |
| Low pick rate | High pick rates, throughput, and capacity |
| No store planogram matching (only family groups) | Software provides picking specific to each store planogram |
| Store totes not filled to full capacity | Store totes filled to full capacity (fewer total totes required for deliver to store) |