From heavy lifting to more fulfilling experiences.
RA 2022 MHI and Deloitte survey revealed that retaining and reskilling the workforce is a leading strategy for protecting supply chains from global disruption. This is certainly true for one of America’s largest grocery retailers. In addition to replenishing stores faster and introducing innovative new services for customers, the retailer is focused on making jobs easier and more fulfilling for its employees.
Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning help make this possible. Robots are now capable of performing more complex tasks such as picking and palletizing. When repetitive, physically-demanding work is done by robots, food retailers can rethink how they use their workforce.
The grocer recently expanded a regional distribution center (DC). The DC serves more than 100 stores. Each store is different in terms of setup, order quantities and order frequencies. The expansion doubles capacity and enables better service to customers in the region. It also frees employees for more rewarding careers.
Fully automated for faster order completion.
The modern DC utilizes a combination of cutting-edge technologies, including:
- A robotic shuttle system
- A robotic picking and palletizing system
- Intelligent packing arrangement software
- Autonomous mobile fork lifting transport system
This winning combination speeds store deliveries, improves accuracy and is ready to scale for future growth.
The complex store replenishment process appears deceptively simple. The handling units are stored in the robotic shuttle system and then retrieved in the ideal sequence. Even before retrieval, the ideal stacking pattern is calculated so items approach the palletizing robot in the correct sequence. Each item is placed on the pallet or in the roll container. Items are arranged as needed for each individual store. With over 100 stores, this is no small feat. Pallets are efficiently transported with the flexible, scalable fork lifting transport system, which requires very little space and easily integrates into existing environments.
of surveyed supply-chain leaders say retaining/reskilling the workforce is a top strategy.
–The 2022 MHI Annual Industry Report
Flexible store delivery.
The picking and palletizing system:
- Handles multi-item picking and palletizing tasks for large handling units
- Processes fast, medium and slow movers from both ambient temp and fresh food assortments
- Builds mixed pallets and roll containers
- Combines items intelligently for store-friendly delivery
- Supplies stores with different layouts
The software calculates packing parameters in the perfect sequence for each store. The picking and palletizing system automatically assembles store orders because the software determines:
- Which handling unit is needed to fill the order
- What sequence trays should be retrieved
- Where items should be placed on the load carrier
- How pallets should be arranged on the basis of store-specific item sequences and packing parameters
Master data includes item DNA. More than 60 attributes per item can be collected. This saves time and money for the retailer by ensuring optimal density, stability and composition of pallets as well as safe handling and storage.
