New RFID pick-to-light system: Operating characteristics and future potential

Abstract

The recent changes in customers' orders, which on one hand are becoming more frequent and on the other require smaller quantities of several products, inevitably impact the job of warehouse picking managers, who find themselves in the necessary position to satisfy a high pick volume in a short time window. Moreover, warehouse manual picking is traditionally characterized by a high human factor impact; which derives that improving such a system requires a reduction of both orders processing time and human possible errors. In this sense, a possible strategy can be the development and employment of technological systems able to support operators during their picking tours. The aim of this study is to present a new pick-to-light design solution capable of driving different operators through their activities, preventing or reducing errors by a new real-time control and alert system, based on the main potentialities of the RFID technology. After the description of the technical characteristics and of the operation of the new solution, a qualitative comparison with other existing paperless picking systems is also proposed.