Zero Picking Errors
Reduce your Logistics Costs with Error-Free Picking
When logistic costs are holistically considered, it becomes obvious in an increasing number of companies that error costs are the most important factor of cost optimization. Unlike warehouse building and energy costs, transport costs, and personnel costs for picking and packing, error costs are often incalculable.
How do errors occur?
"To err is human and mistakes can happen." This statement definitely rings true in warehousing and logistics, as time is often of the essence. But if you look more closely at what causes the mistakes, it is possible to eliminate many sources of error by putting the right technical and organizational measures into practice.
A warehouse process can be divided into a number of subprocesses that are all susceptible to error:
Errors during goods identification
Errors during storage
Picking the wrong goods
Errors when counting goods
Mixing up goods after picking
The mistakes can be human, resulting from a lack of concentration, for example. But the root of the problem is often an imperfect process, or untidiness and lack of order in the warehouse, making it difficult for warehouse staff to work without making mistakes.
Visual aids ensure that processes are virtually error-free and safe.
As well as high compression and efficient staging, the SSI LOGIMAT® also provides valuable tools to help operators work with hardly any errors. This is based on intelligent software applications that guide users and provide them with the right, context-specific information they need.
This graphic display is enhanced by the LOGIPOINTER, a laser pointer that projects a clearly visible cross-hair onto the goods to be retrieved or stored. A visually assisted Pick by Light system like this virtually rules out careless mistakes.
For customers for whom this indicator system does not go far enough, SSI SCHAEFER has created another instrument, called LOGISAFEPICK, to reduce the error rate. You can watch a video to see it in action!
Save up to 44,000 euros per year – thanks to LOGISAFEPICK.
Calculation example: With 200 warehouse procedures on one day, and thus approx. 44,000 warehouse procedures per year, an error rate of 1% corresponds to at least 440 errors. If you estimate that an error costs 100 euros, for instance, your annual error costs run to 44,000 euros.
1. Assembly Line Supply
A missing or incorrect part on the assembly line, results, in the simplest case, in additional effort to organize replenishment. This process often involves waits and interruptions, which can again put quality at risk. In a worst-case scenario, the wrong component would have been installed, with great detriment to quality, subsequently costing an incalculable amount due to customer dissatisfaction.
2. Shipping Replacement Parts
The supply of replacement parts is often a highly critical process. When a replacement part is required, an expensive machine or system often stands idle. This can cause severe economic loss for the additional processes in the production chain. If the wrong replacement part is delivered, this increases the downtime, and the loss multiplies. Added to this is the time maintenance personnel spend unable to work, because they are waiting for the replacement parts they need.
3. Depot
An internal supply of process materials is possibly a less critical process. But with tools, for example, a mispick can have far-reaching consequences, and can in turn lead to the production of rejects.
4. Shipping Items to End Customers
In the B2C business, the actual economic consequences for the customer are often far less severe. Despite this, mispicking can also involve a serious loss here. An item that is wrongly delivered results in a dissatisfied customer, and often leads to negative recommendations and online reviews. An image tarnished in this way can have a devastating impact, and should be avoided at all costs.
In any case, it is worth examining your warehouse and picking processes with a view to improving efficiency, and thus reducing both the time taken and the cost – let's talk about it.
