Warehouse slotting made easy; Do it visually using our 3D model techniques

Update on March 1, 2012

We appreciate your interest in the new 3D technology. The underlying algorithms and analysis is based on our slotting expertize built over many years and many installations.

1.0 Whether you already have a WMS/slotting system or have neither.

January 29, 2012

What do you mean visually?

Yes, we first create a 3D model of your facility, accurate to 1 inch. Then we populate your present products.  Shown below is such a model of a DC.


We think of this as a third generation technique.  Doing it visually.

First we used Excel sheets and updated them with product information everyday and did the analysis.
[we can accept your Excel sheets into our software]

Then you called in the consultants or accepted a slotting technique that you did not understand. And after a few months, slotting came to an end.

In this method, it is simple and visual and we want 'you to do it' again 'yourself'.

a 3D model showing slotting groups based on detailed profiling of the orders, inventory and customers

visually look at the fast movers (red), medium (blue) and slow (yellow)

You can walk thru an aisle, get slot and sku information for any slot

Put it on a Ipad, take it with you, with the Forklift Driver, with any one

How do you build the correct slotting groups?

We describe below the steps involved.

1.   Detailed Profiling

2.   Review of existing slotting and layout. 

Do these pictures remind you of your own DC? With various challenges

3.   Reduce travel time but not create congestion

We all know that almost 60% of picking time is 'travel' time

 

Study how different customer groups order their sku's

4.   Examine the available current slots and the type of products slotted

Does the current slot openings match the demand?

5.0  Examine ways to increase number of slot faces.

Using the above chart, look for opportunities to increase number of faces. You may be able to change a number of cross beams in the short term, to get some relief.
     

change pick levels and faces based on profiling results

 

6.   Connect with 3 databases that we need

Flow-chart showing the weekly (or daily) slotting process

7.   Our slotting techniques will initially start moving all the slow and dead items occupying premium slots.  We establish few KPI (key performance indicators) when we start the process as base line reference.

      Then we select the slot moves every time, based on the highest penalty cost

8.   Once we reach our slotting goals, we keep fine-tuning your DC, for new items, for dead items.

9.   Don't be surprised, if you obtain anywhere between 12 to 25 % improvement in your order picking labor productivity based on your initial conditions.  If we slot items for efficient picking, it will also make it easier to 'put away' the same top movers.  And we may ask you to install a form of batch picking in the slow item areas.

Get the most of your picking process

Are you ready? For more details - contact Karma Logistics Inc - Minnesota USA and Bangalore India
ram.krishnan@karma-logistics-inc.com