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1 – 10 of over 8000Adrialdo Azanha, Mauro Vivaldini, Silvio R.I. Pires and João Batista de Camargo Junior
The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the difficulties encountered in the implementation of a voice picking system at a large multinational company of the tractor…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the difficulties encountered in the implementation of a voice picking system at a large multinational company of the tractor industrial segment, outlining a comparison related to the main critical factors concerning the system implementation at a Brazilian and a USA plant.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology utilised was qualitative and exploratory conducted through case studies in the two plants of the multinational company. The main data were collected through interviews with key managers directly involved in the project of voice picking system implementation.
Findings
The results indicate that the picking processes in the two plants were similar, since both were designed for the production line and conducted using bar-code readers and paper lists. Nevertheless, the internal warehousing process in the USA was more mature and computerised, whereas the Brazilian process still had opportunity for improvement, such as, the visual storage process, where the operator was responsible for locating an empty position.
Research limitations/implications
Since this research is an exploratory case study, its results cannot be generalised.
Practical implications
The paper provides relevant practical information and experiences to managers interested in implementing voice picking systems, as well as interested in improving the accuracy and productivity of logistics processes within warehouses.
Originality/value
The voice picking systems are more widespread in the USA than in Brazil, and therefore, companies around the world can use this studied case to better understand about the voice picking systems implementation process in both emerging and mature marketplaces.
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Daria Battini, Martina Calzavara, Alessandro Persona and Fabio Sgarbossa
Warehouse picking is often referred to as the most labour-intensive, expensive and time consuming operation in manual warehouses. These factors are becoming even more crucial due…
Abstract
Purpose
Warehouse picking is often referred to as the most labour-intensive, expensive and time consuming operation in manual warehouses. These factors are becoming even more crucial due to recent trends in manufacturing and warehousing requiring the processing of orders that are always smaller and needed in a shorter time. For this reason, in recent years more efficient and better performing systems have been developed, employing various technological solutions that can support pickers during their work. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a comparison of five paperless picking systems (i.e. barcodes handheld, RFID tags handheld, voice picking, traditional pick-to-light, RFID pick-to-light).
Design/methodology/approach
Warehouse picking is often referred to as the most labour-intensive, expensive and time consuming operation in manual warehouses. These factors are becoming even more crucial due to recent trends in manufacturing and warehousing requiring the processing of orders that are always smaller and needed in a shorter time. For this reason, in recent years more efficient and better performing systems have been developed, employing various technological solutions that can support pickers during their work. The present paper introduces a comparison of five paperless picking systems (i.e. barcodes handheld, RFID tags handheld, voice picking, traditional pick-to-light, RFID pick-to-light.
Findings
The proposed approach contributes to the understanding of the performance of different technologies in different application fields; some solutions are more suitable for a low-level warehouse, others bring greater benefits in the case of picking from multilevel shelving.
Originality/value
The study concerns an issue that until now has received very little attention in the literature. It compares some traditional solutions with some innovative ones by an economic evaluation. The presented hourly cost function also takes into account the different errors arising and their probability of occurrence.
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Confirmations are applied in kit preparation for mixed-model assembly to promote quality, but research that explains the impact on time efficiency has been lacking. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Confirmations are applied in kit preparation for mixed-model assembly to promote quality, but research that explains the impact on time efficiency has been lacking. The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which the type of confirmation method relates to time-efficient kit preparation when order batching is applied.
Design/methodology/approach
An industrially relevant laboratory experiment is applied, simulating kit preparation with order batching for mixed-model assembly. The time efficiency is studied as associated with four confirmation methods – barcode ring scanner, button presses, voice commands and RFID-reading wristbands – when applied as pick-from and place-to confirmation. Furthermore, the paper also considers the quality outcome.
Findings
Efficiency is promoted by methods that minimise interrupting the picker’s motions when performing pick-from confirmations and with methods that allow each hand to place components and perform place-to confirmations simultaneously – here represented by button presses and RFID-reading wristbands. Moreover, combining various methods for the tasks of pick-from or place-to confirmation can benefit efficiency.
Research limitations/implications
Pickers at an early stage of the learning curve (one shift of training) were considered.
Practical implications
The findings promote the customised applications of picking information systems in industry.
Social implications
Combining various methods for the tasks of pick-from and place-to confirmation can provide more fitting applications that better align with the picker’s preferences.
Originality/value
Combinations of various methods when applied as either pick-from or place-to confirmation, or both, are studied.
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Martina Calzavara, Alessandro Persona, Fabio Sgarbossa and Valentina Visentin
In order-picking activities, the performance of the system can be influenced by different variables such as the order to be fulfilled, the distance to be covered or the experience…
Abstract
Purpose
In order-picking activities, the performance of the system can be influenced by different variables such as the order to be fulfilled, the distance to be covered or the experience of operators. Usually, this kind of activity is performed by operators rather than machines to assure flexibility. Consequently, their fatigue accumulation can decrease the performance of the overall system. The purpose of this paper is to define the kind of device to be used in an order-picking context, to obtain data which can be utilized for the evaluation of the level of fatigue and to improve the performance of the picking system.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents a comparison between existing fatigue methods which can be applied in a picking context. In addition, an analysis of the physiological literature for the evaluation of a new device for the monitoring of fatigue level is carried on and its practical use is shown.
Findings
The proposed research identifies in the heart rate monitor the device that, thanks to its advantages, can be the best one to be used in an industrial context for monitoring the physical fatigue of operators.
Originality/value
This study considers the importance of human factors in picking activities such as physical fatigue of operators and the need to have validated tools to monitor and to define the level of fatigue accumulation in each activity of different rate and duration.
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The purpose of this paper is to review the Promat Show (material handling) and the Automate Show (robots and vision) run jointly in Chicago with emphasis on new automation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the Promat Show (material handling) and the Automate Show (robots and vision) run jointly in Chicago with emphasis on new automation innovations for packing and order filling applications.
Design/methodology/approach
In‐depth interviews with exhibitors of material handling automation which addresses packing and order filling.
Findings
Mobile robots have come of age with multiple vendors offering units for handling goods. Delta robots have found a niche in quick handling of packing and order assembly.
Practical implications
Customers will have to begin thinking of mobile robots as much more autonomous and self‐guiding for goods handling in the warehouse. Logistics customers need to examine the abilities of the delta style robot to do more and faster picking and packing than ever before.
Originality/value
The paper provides an expert insight into how automation innovation continues to reduce cost, improve accuracy and speed of logistics and order filling.
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Antonio Casimiro Caputo, Pacifico Marcello Pelagagge and Paolo Salini
The purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative model to assess probability of errors and errors correction costs in parts feeding systems for assembly lines.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative model to assess probability of errors and errors correction costs in parts feeding systems for assembly lines.
Design/methodology/approach
Event trees are adopted to model errors in the picking-handling-delivery-utilization of materials containers from the warehouse to assembly stations. Error probabilities and quality costs functions are developed to compare alternative feeding policies including kitting, line stocking and just-in-time delivery. A numerical case study is included.
Findings
This paper confirms with quantitative evidence the economic relevance of logistic errors (LEs) in parts feeding processes, a problem neglected in the existing literature. It also points out the most frequent or relevant error types and identifies specific corrective measures.
Research limitations/implications
While the model is general purpose, conclusions are specific to each applicative case and are not generalizable, and some modifications may be required to adapt it to specific industrial cases. When no experimental data are available, human error analysis should be used to estimate event probabilities based on underlying modes and causes of human error.
Practical implications
Production managers are given a quantitative decision tool to assess errors probability and errors correction costs in assembly lines parts feeding systems. This allows better comparing of alternative parts feeding policies and identifying corrective measures.
Originality/value
This is the first paper to develop quantitative models for estimating LEs and related quality cost, allowing a comparison between alternative parts feeding policies.
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David A. Menachof, Michael A. Bourlakis and Thrasyvoulos Makios
The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a comparative study of order lead times for firms operating in the UK and Greek food retail markets with the UK one being…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a comparative study of order lead times for firms operating in the UK and Greek food retail markets with the UK one being regarded at the forefront in terms of logistics efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
The main research instrument is a survey of managers employed by the major food multiple retailers operating in the UK and Greece. Statistical analysis is employed to illustrate the variances and differences between these retailers.
Findings
The study illustrates that total lead‐time is longer than the sum of the components. This implies that there are non‐value‐added time delays that are occurring between the components and there is still room for improvement. It is also shown that any differences in lead‐time between Greek and UK grocery retailers have been effectively eliminated as the entrance of retail multinationals in Greece has forced domestic retailers to improve their logistics systems.
Originality/value
There is a scarcity of papers in the logistics field that cross‐examines the logistics performance of national grocery supply chains. This is addressed via the current paper that reports the results of a comparative study of order lead times for firms operating in two European food retail markets, the UK and Greece. The paper will be beneficial to the strategic thinking of retail logistics managers and will support further empirical research work in that academic field of study.
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Ying Yu, Xin Wang, Ray Y. Zhong and G.Q. Huang
The purpose of this paper is to present the state-of-the-art E-commerce logistics in supply chain management by investigating worldwide implementations and corresponding models…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the state-of-the-art E-commerce logistics in supply chain management by investigating worldwide implementations and corresponding models together with supporting techniques via furniture industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Typical E-commerce logistics companies from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific are comprehensively investigated so as to get the lessons and insights from these practices.
Findings
Future technologies like Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing would be possibly adopted to enhance the E-commerce logistics in terms of system level, operational level, and decision-making level that may be real time and intelligent in the next decade.
Research limitations/implications
This paper takes the furniture industry for example to illustrate the E-commerce logistics and supply chain management (LSCM). Other industries like electronic appliance industry are not considered.
Practical implications
Opportunities and future perspectives are summarized from practical implementations so that interested parties like E-commerce and logistics companies are able to get some guidance when they are contemplating the business.
Social implications
E-commerce is booming with the development of new business models and will be continuously boosted in the near future. With large number of enterprises carrying out E-commerce, logistics has been largely influenced.
Originality/value
Insights and lessons from this paper are significant for academia and practitioners for considering E-commerce LSCM.
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Antonio C. Caputo and Pacifico M. Pelagagge
To develop a decision support system (DSS) and improved management criteria for operating dispenser‐based single‐piece automatic order picking systems (AOPS) in distribution…
Abstract
Purpose
To develop a decision support system (DSS) and improved management criteria for operating dispenser‐based single‐piece automatic order picking systems (AOPS) in distribution centers, able to reduce the need for manual decision making based on personal experience or subjective judgement.
Design/methodology/approach
Simulation was utilized to analyze the relationships between stochastic demand, setup parameters and performances of an AOPS. A set of rules was then defined to cost‐effectively select the values of setup parameters. A DSS was built incorporating the heuristic rules to dynamically update the equipment setup.
Findings
Manual management of an AOPS can be poorly efficient even if largely practiced. Significant economic benefits may result from rule‐based equipment setup instead of the traditional manual decision approach. This was verified resorting to a case study referring to the distribution center of a leading pharmaceuticals distributor in Italy. Major performances improvements resulted regarding manual operation by an experienced logistic manager, including a 40 per cent reduction of the cost per picked order line.
Practical implications
The proposed DSS is able to monitor the system behaviour over a specified time window and automatically set the values of the state variables for the next period. It is able to automatically define the set of items to be allocated on to the machine, to select the number of storage locations allocated to each item and set reorder levels and maximum picking quantities for each item, thus greatly simplifying the task of the logistic manager. Utilization of this DSS enables one to maintain a high level of picking automation efficiency while drastically cutting the required support personnel, thus significantly improving profit margins of high‐volume high‐rotation distribution centers.
Originality/value
The paper addresses, with original methodology, a practically relevant issue which is neglected in the literature. The paper is aimed at distribution centers managers seeking to improve the performances of AOPS and reduce their operating costs.
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Sebastian van Delden, Michael Umrysh, Carlos Rosario and Gregory Hess
The purpose of this paper is to design an interactive industrial robotic system which can be used to assist a “layperson” in re‐casting a generic pick‐and‐place application. A…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design an interactive industrial robotic system which can be used to assist a “layperson” in re‐casting a generic pick‐and‐place application. A user can program a pick‐and‐place application simply by pointing to objects in the work area and speaking simple and intuitive natural language commands.
Design/methodology/approach
The system was implemented in C# using the EMGU wrapper classes for OpenCV as well as the MS Speech Recognition API. The target language to be recognized was modelled using traditional augmented transition networks which were implemented as XML Grammars. The authors developed an original finger‐pointing algorithm using a unique combination of standard morphological and image processing techniques. Recognized voice commands trigger the vision component to capture what a user is pointing at. If the specified action requires robot movement, the required information is sent to the robot control component of the system, which then transmits the commands to the robot controller for execution.
Findings
The voice portion of the system was tested on the factory floor in a “typical” manufacturing environment, which was right at the maximum allowable average decibel level specified by OSHA. The findings show that a modern/standard MS Speech API voice recognition system can achieve a 100 per cent accuracy of simple commands; although at the noisy levels of 89 decibels on average, every one out of six commands had to be repeated. The vision component was test of 72 test subjects who had no prior knowledge of this work. The system accurately recognized what the test subjects were pointing at 95 per cent of the time within five seconds of hand readjusting.
Research limitations/implications
The vision component suffers from the “typical” problems: very shiny surfaces can cause problems; very poor contrast between the pointing hand and the background; and occlusions. Currently the system can only handle a limited amount of depth recovery using a spring mounted gripper. A second camera (future work) needs to be incorporated in order to handle large depth variations in the work area.
Practical implications
This system could have a huge impact on how factory floor workers interact with robotic equipment.
Originality/value
The testing of the voice system on a factory floor, although simple, is very important. It proves the viability of this component of the system and debunks arguments that factories are simply too noisy for current voice technology. The unique finger‐pointing algorithm developed by the authors is also an important contribution to the field. In particular, the manner in which the pointing vector was constructed. Furthermore, very few papers report results of non‐experts using their pointing algorithms. The paper reports concrete results that show the system is intuitive and user friendly to “laypersons”.
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