Order picking system with miniload storage for 3PL Wilhelm Hammesfahr gives 600 items/manhour
Wilhelm Hammesfahr is a third party logistics service provider (3PL) in the personal care sector. Hammesfahr picks and delivers 600 different products in Monheim, Germany for the Henkel company. Products are delivered to points of sale in packaging that is ready for sale. Deliveries are made to 600 sales outlets everyday.
Vanderlande Industries built a goods-to-man order picking system with ten pick-to-light workstations in Monheim.These were equipped with four repacking stations and two QUICKSTORE miniloads (AS/RS) with single-product totes. In a 12-hour period, 50,000 order lines can be picked and processed in the automated warehouse.
Staff at Hammesfahr can pick as many as 600 items/hour at peak times. A compact layout of ergonomically designed order picking workstations makes this possible: the order picker has a pick face of 10 totes; the packer is equipped with a mobile packing table. In order to actually achieve the system performance required with the designated number of staff, Vanderlande Industries initially conducted an in-depth simulation. The system has led to an increase in productivity and improved delivery quality: personnel costs have been reduced as a result of a better pick performance. The new system has also improved order picking accuracy.
"Early on in the planning, Vanderlande Industries made it possible for our staff to get involved and to be responsible for the ergonomics of their workstations. This went a long way to increasing acceptance of the new system in the early stages. I would recommend everyone to involve their staff like this."
Herbert Vogel, Authorised Agent for Hammesfahr.