Germantown, WI -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/14/2010 -- Manufacturing journalist TR Cutler looked at Pick to Light technologies for the current issue of AS411.com. Advanced software technology that enables productivity-enhancing tools, are critical to gain a supply chain competitive edge. According to Jim Bast, Vice-President and General Manager of Lightning Pick (http://www.lightningpick.com), “More functionality means more control and precise optimization of critical order fulfillment operations. Through the Lightning Pick Management Console companies quickly add products and locations, change staffing and work zones, expedite hot orders, access real-time statistics on picker productivity (including on an individual level), order volumes and all system activities. Advanced data management capabilities allow for easy manipulation of business intelligence and reporting needs.”
Fast Flow-Through Container Routing System.
In many high-performance picking operations how the cartons or totes get to the pick areas can be just as important as the pick process itself. LP Convey can help streamline that process. This software solution makes use of data within the Lightning Pick database to understand the container routing requirements. The system integrates with conveyor control programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and the conveyor mounted bar code readers over Ethernet network to identify and divert containers into required pick areas. The unique decision point configuration approach relieves the PLC of data handling tasks associated with most bar code based applications and results in a system that is easily modified and maintained by plant personnel.
For facility conveyor requirements outside the areas controlled by Lightning Pick, LP Convey can route to quality control, value add, or supplemental pick areas based upon real time pick data or data from weight scales or manifest systems. More complex applications are handled through our real time MS Message Queues interface. This standardized approach allows seamless integration with a number or leading Warehouse Control (WCS) package providers, such as QC Enterprise, by QC Software.
The Lightning Pick Convey includes easily configurable features include programmable routes, decision points and destinations as well as complete process tracking and reporting. The unique decision point configuration approach relieves the PLC of data handling tasks associated with most bar code applications. This results in a system that is easily modified and maintained by plant personnel.
Pick to Light for Order Fulfillment.
Pick to Light is acknowledged to be the fastest operator-based picking strategy available to execute broken case quantity order fulfillment operations and is ideal for team-based approaches like zone picking. According to Jim Bast, “The LP Pick solution increases the pick rate productivity, accuracy and cost efficiency of this labor intensive operation by reducing the walk time, eliminating the reading errors and simplifying the task throughout the pick process. Lightning Pick Technologies’ flagship product LP Pick is the most flexible and powerful light-directed picking application available. With the fastest growing user community, Lightning Pick leads the Pick-to-Light industry in both new installations and in retrofitting legacy light-directed systems.”
Lightning Pick is the industry's first and only proactive Pick to Light solution, offering greater performance and continuous improvement for critical fulfillment operations through superior system software tools. Ultimately these software solutions allow for faster and better decision responses with real-time visibility into all important activities including events and productivity statistics in real-time, presented through a sophisticated GUI featuring complete reporting tools.
About Lightning Pick
For over 25 years and across 500 installations worldwide, Lightning Pick Technologies has delivered advanced order picking technologies on time, on budget, every time. Lightning Pick has best-in-class applications for Pick to Light, Put to Light, Pack to Light (Put to Store) Voice and RF systems support lean supply chain processes from manufacturing through order fulfillment. As a result, Lightning Pick clients improve their level of service, achieve superior order quality, and advance their positions in the market.
Lightning Pick Technologies
http://www.lightningpick.com
Joe Pelej
joe.pelej@lightningpick.com
262-250-2143