Actualités

Afficher l'aperçu des nouvelles

Cinram benefits from voice picking solution

08.03.2010

Cinram Logistics UK is Europe’s largest distributor of entertainment media, with access to tens of thousands of titles.

Cinram Logistics UK is operating a new pick-by-voice system supplied by KNAPP at its site in Aylesbury, UK. The 10 VDP terminals – which are used for the picking of very fast-moving lines from pallets, such as new DVD releases of top films, as well as for slow-moving and bulky articles from static shelving – are just part of a comprehensive modernisation project at the Aylesbury site.

Cinram commissioned KNAPP to upgrade both the hardware and software at the distribution centre, with the objectives of making the installation future-proof and providing additional capacity. The project marks the latest milestone in a long and successful partnership between KNAPP and the distribution centre’s management. The new equipment includes a new KiSoft WCS, a PLC upgrade from Siemens S5 to S7 and modernisation of the pick-to-light system, including replacement of all 8,456 displays with the latest technology.

Cinram Logistics UK is Europe’s largest distributor of entertainment media, with access to tens of thousands of titles. The company partners leading content owners, helping them to streamline their supply chain operations and providing them with competitive advantage through next-day delivery of all lines to retail outlets across the whole of the UK.

As it now demonstrates a proven track record, voice-directed picking is growing in popularity. With a pick-by-voice system, each operator is supplied with orders to a headset via radio frequency, with each step in the picking sequence being confirmed verbally. Unlike paper-based or RF systems, pick-by-voice solutions allow staff to use both hands for picking, making the technique ideal for handling loads of mixed sizes and varying weights. KiSoft VOICE, KNAPP’s own sophisticated pick-by-voice software, has the facility to use several different languages simultaneously, allowing clients to integrate non-mother-tongue workers seamlessly into the workflow. Key benefits of pick-by-voice are highly efficient picking operations, precise inventory control and accurate lot identification. In addition, avoiding the need for high-speed printers and paper pick lists makes the technology appealing to companies with a green agenda.

Switching to voice-directed picking can have dramatic effects on performance. “Our pick-by-voice solutions show an increase in picking performance over paper picking of up to 35% and over handheld scanner operations of up to 15%. In these testing economic times when comparative costs and margins really matter, these are significant advantages”, explains Craig Rollason, Head of Sales & Marketing for KNAPP UK Ltd.

This pick-by-voice order from Cinram is just one of many that KNAPP has installed recently across Europe. A leading UK supermarket chain has ordered 300 pick-by-voice units and KNAPP has supplied other pick-by-voice solutions in the UK to home entertainment specialist Handleman and veterinary products supplier Centaur Services. KNAPP has installed four voice systems in Germany – for food wholesaler Kaiser’s Tengelmann; electronics supplier Vivanco; garden centre retailer Dehner; and Coca-Cola licence holder Getränke-Industrie Hamburg – as well as one for the pharmaceutical company Cooprofar in Portugal.

Cinram International Inc. is the world’s largest optical disc manufacturer, with an annual production capacity of 2.1 billion DVDs and 800 million CDs. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cinram employs 17,000 staff at 25 major facilities across North America and Europe which feature 15 million square feet of manufacturing, warehousing and distribution space. Founded in 1969, Cinram offers value-added services to manage all aspects of its clients’ supply chains from product origination to retail. The group warehouses more than 340,000 SKUs for customers worldwide.
 



Further information that could be interesting:
Pour assurer le bon fonctionnement de ce site, nous devons parfois enregistrer de petits fichiers de données sur l'équipement de nos utilisateurs. Données confidentielles