Focus on fast order picking

From KBS Industrieelektronik's point of view, all picking technologies support the user in carrying out picking tasks more efficiently. The most important aspects here are increasing speed and minimizing errors. "The use of various technologies enables procedures and processes that optimize the entire supply chain process," says KBS Sales Manager Michael Weiser. The trend towards individualization in production down to a batch size of one has potential. The increasing variance of end products increases the effort involved in material provision and picking, which can be mitigated by the use of picking technologies.

"In this process, we use both pick-by-vision and pick-by-light."

Michael Weiser Sales Manager at KBS

Michael Weiser sees particular development opportunities in the combination of new technologies with those already in use today. This could be the use of IoT capabilities in the various processes. As an example, he cites a multi-order picking process in which the employee is guided to the picking station using data glasses. "There, they identify the item to be picked using the integrated camera on the data glasses. A mobile put-to-light system on the picking trolley then supports them quickly and reliably in placing the item in the correct trolley compartment. In this process, we use both pick-by-vision and pick-by-light."

KBS is in constant contact with its customers and continues to optimize its products. "This can be the integration of sensors in a pick-by-light module for contactless acknowledgement, a new development of the eye-catching light for the simultaneous display of several colors, or the development of a modular interface unit for an improved system design, as we are exhibiting at LogiMAT," says Weiser.

KBU Logistik: Development focus on pick-by-vision

Pick-by-vision systems such as the Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses from KBU Logistik provide audio-visual support. Photo: KBU

Meanwhile, KBU Logistik is focusing on the development of pick-by-vision technology in order picking. According to Sales Manager Michael Ahnemann, there are three main areas of focus. Optimized storage compartment identification should help to find items more quickly. KBU is working on a work area identification system to automatically display information relevant to the workplace. Finally, warehouse navigation is used to guide order pickers through the warehouse in a targeted manner.

Michael Ahnemann sees the fact that the order picker has both hands free during his work as a major advantage of pick-by-vision. "He works with audio-visual support, as the necessary information is displayed directly in the field of vision and audio support can be provided via the voice output. In contrast to traditional picking techniques such as pick-by-scan and pick-by-voice, two senses are addressed - in addition to 'hands free', this is a key aspect for greater picking reliability and faster processing," he outlines. The KBU Vision app offers additional practical benefits. "The browser-based interface makes it easy to implement in the customer's existing IT environment and gives them the freedom to choose the data glasses. Thanks to the simple integration, there is no need for expensive consulting, and the customer can maintain their solution themselves or develop it further if required," says Ahnemann. The unlimited scalability in productive use was a key development factor for the KBU team.

"With new technical solutions, the picking options are also growing."

Michael Ahnemann Sales Manager KBU

According to Michael Ahnemann, the areas of application are also changing due to ever new requirements in intralogistics caused by specialization and process optimization within the supply chain. There is potential for further applications here in the future. "With new technical solutions, the picking options are also increasing. There are already other innovations such as pick-by-frame, pick-by-radar and mobile pick-by-light."

Data glasses take the strain off employees

Head starter set from Picavi for efficient order picking. Photo: Picavi

Picavi GmbH also relies on pick-by-vision technology. People absorb around 80 percent of their daily information through their eyes. Johanna Bellenberg, Director Marketing and & Communications, explains: "The data glasses support this natural mechanism and thus relieve the cognitive burden on the worker. Alongside the high wearability of the data glasses used by Picavi, this is one of the most important aspects of the technology for us." Thanks to the context-sensitive information that is always displayed at the edge of the field of vision, pick-by-vision achieves a very high level of process reliability, which in turn reduces the error rate. The picker knows at all times where to go, what to pick and what to do with it afterwards, while having both hands free for picking. "In addition to the increased productivity, the short training period is another advantage that sets Picavi apart from other software solutions," says Johanna Bellenberg.

According to Picavi, smart glasses can be used in many areas, such as remote support or assembly. Meanwhile, the company is focusing on logistics processes. "These range, for example, from incoming goods to storage and multi-stage picking through to stocktaking. In addition to shipping logistics, we also master production logistics and can therefore serve customers from various industries." The innovative technology is firmly established on the market and is winning over more and more users.

"The data glasses reduce the cognitive load on the worker."

Johanna Bellenberg Director Marketing & Communications Picavi

For Picavi, the focus of the development work is on increased efficiency and a particularly ergonomic working environment. Johanna Bellenberg calculates: "With our pick-by-vision solution, we achieve productivity increases of up to 40 percent for our customers after the changeover, depending on the previous system. The use of smart glasses saves a significant amount of time, reduces the error rate, enables fatigue-free working and ensures strict visual process control during order picking." Picavi sees the simple integration of systems into everyday logistics as a focal point of its work. "This includes, for example, the development of the Picavi Power Control - a battery and control element in one. It not only supplies the smart glasses with sufficient power for uninterrupted shift operation, but also offers simple and intuitive operating options that make working in the warehouse even easier," explains Johanna Bellenberg.

Voice-guided systems reduce the number of work steps

The warehouse team benefits from reduced work steps made possible by voice-guided systems. Photo: topsystem

On the other hand, topsystem Systemhaus GmbH takes up the cudgels for voice-guided systems. Managing Director Tim Just: "Compared to conventional picking solutions, these offer the significant advantage that the work steps in the picking process are reduced. The employee is guided through the picking process by voice dialog. This allows them to concentrate fully on the picking process, resulting in greater accuracy." The advantages of voice technology have convinced companies in many sectors. Logistics service providers benefit in particular from the flexibility of the technology. "The voice application can be easily scaled according to the seasonal order situation and the expected business development."

"Voice-guided applications also score points because they can be used to map a wide variety of processes. If the customer's requirements for the work process change, the voice application can be easily adapted," Tim Just continues. As a result, users achieve greater efficiency and quality: "The integration of a flexible voice system can save an enormous amount of time, reduce the error rate by an average of 55% and increase productivity by an average of 20%."

"By integrating a flexible voice system, the error rate can be reduced by an average of 55%."

Tim Just Managing Director topsystem Systemhaus

topsystem has a number of innovations in store for 2018. For example, the Lydia 8 software puts speech recognition on an expanded technological basis that uses the functionality of neural networks. "As an essential basis for artificial intelligence, this technical approach in speech recognition enables noticeably increased flexibility and quality of speech dialog as well as significantly increased process speed. Lydia Smart Assistant is the companion for the use of Lydia Voice on Android-based smart watches, tablets and smartphones," explains Tim Just. At LogiMAT, topsystem will be presenting the Voxter Elite +, the new generation of a mobile voice computer with performance data optimized for the use of voice recognition technology.

Pick-by-voice has proven itself many times over

According to prologistik, the acceptance of voice-guided systems has grown continuously in recent years. Photo: prologistik

proLogistik GmbH & Co. KG also has clear words for voice-guided picking. "The technologies are characterized in particular by Pick-by-Voice, as this is one of the most mature and proven picking technologies. Pick-by-Voice makes a decisive contribution to the ergonomic design of the working environment," explains Andreas Golombek, Head of Hardware Sales at proLogistik. Pick-by-vision with smart glasses is also a method. "But this development is still far from being fully developed enough to meet all requirements," says Golombek.

The pick-by-voice technology opens up a wide range of applications. "The pro-Voice system from proLogistik can be used in logistics in the areas of order picking, incoming or outgoing goods, stocktaking or quality inspection," says Golombek. However, the use of a voice-guided dialog system also makes sense outside of logistics, for example in industrial applications such as machine control. One of the advantages is that productivity is increased through hands-free working. This makes order pickers faster and reduces the error rate. The voice of the voice client guides the employee through the picking process.

"Picking technologies are characterized in particular by pick-by-voice."

Andreas Golombek proLogistik

According to proLogistik, the ergonomics factor is increasingly becoming the focus of pick-by-voice. The health-friendly design of work processes has a positive impact on the company's success. "Acceptance of this technology has grown continuously over the last five years due to the numerous benefits it offers," continues Andreas Golombek. Looking ahead to 2018, the topic of work-with-voice is becoming increasingly important in industry and robotics and is being used more and more in machine control and the control of automated guided vehicles. One trend is the integration of e-paper displays for professional use in industrial environments, which opens up additional opportunities for the industry in the field of picking technologies. Klaus Hiemer

www.kbs-gmbh.dewww.kbu-logistik.de www.picavi.com www.prologistik.com www.topsystem.de