New features and capabilities make pick-to-light technology as viable as ever and ready for the challenges of ecommerce fulfillment
Modern Material Handling’s article “The Evolution of Light Systems” in their September 2024 issue reports on the enduring relevance of pick-to-light and the latest advancements enabling the technology enabling the technology to thrive in today’s complex fulfillment environments. Joe Pelej, Director of Marketing for Matthews Automation, makers of Lightning Pick solutions, was interviewed for the article and commented on the following innovations.
New Hardware Features
In the article, Matthews’ Pelej mentions two Lightning Pick hardware innovations that are offered as standalone feature options or can be combined in systems to gain more speed and quality. First, light modules are available that beam infrared light in front of the pick face to provide a ‘button-free’ or ‘touchless’ task confirmation process. The other is a bin illumination feature that uses additional lighting to illuminate the entire pick or put area.
“When an operator breaks the plane of light, the pick is recorded,” he says. “When you couple that with bin illumination from overhead, you get extra visibility and accuracy.”
More Manufacturing Applications
Lightning Pick, having been deployed for decades in many fulfillment centers, is now being adopted more frequently by build-to-order manufacturers seeking to reduce walking and reading time in their factories. The pick-to-light method boosts precision and quality in parts picking, kitting, assembly, line sequencing, and other production tasks.
Sophisticated Software
Light modules are the primary visual interface between pick-to-light systems and employees, but software is the backbone of the technology. “That’s what’s really key,” says Pelej. “Software enables the pick-to-light to expedite orders and integrate with other technology. It’s the differentiator.”
With Lightning Pick software, users have full control to change order priority, add new products and pick locations, and adjust staffing and zones to current volume levels. Dashboards show real-time productivity statistics for individual employees, specific areas or zones, or for the whole facility. In fact, the dashboard can access data from any distribution center in the users’ network using Lightning Pick solutions. Matthews’ pick-to-light software also interfaces with host WMS, ERP, WES, and WCS software to manage fulfillment execution procedures.
Automation Integration
Through this software integration, pick-to-light can work with other warehouse automation technologies for more advanced applications. It’s more common to see light-directed put stations collaborating with automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) for goods-to-person picking operations. Likewise, lights, projection systems, or other customizations can benefit robotic applications like autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Per Pelej, “In some cases, we can engineer specific tops to attach to AMRs. The AMR can come to the employee and project lights that direct them in pick or put tasks.”
Future Outlook
Pick-to-light technology is a valuable modality for improving warehousing and manufacturing processes with more advanced options than ever. We expect that the emergence of AI could mean that even smarter and more adaptable pick-to-light solutions are just down the road.
You can read the full article here or contact Lynn Drewicz, Marketing Manager, Matthews Automation at [email protected] or 262.250.2169 for more information.
ABOUT MATTHEWS AUTOMATION
Global brands partner with Matthews Automation Solutions to increase distribution and order fulfillment speed, accuracy and efficiency. Matthews’ broad portfolio of best-of-breed solutions—including leading material handling automation brands Compass, Lightning Pick and Pyramid—offers warehouse execution software, controls, pick-to-light, put walls, order finishing systems, autonomous mobile robots and more. Combined with 25 years of industry experience and proven integration with other material handling systems, Matthews delivers agile and scalable applications throughout the supply chain. Matthews Automation Solutions is a Matthews International company, servicing customers from two North American locations.
