Jennifer VoicePlus Perfect Picking for Perkins Paper Per AS411.com

Aug. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Since 1998, Lucas Systems has delivered more voice-directed distribution center solutions on a wider variety of mobile computers than any other company in the business. Customers like Cardinal Health, C&S Wholesale Grocers, CVS/pharmacy, Do it Best Corp., Kraft Nabisco, and OfficeMax trust Lucas to deliver solutions that greatly improve worker productivity and accuracy because Lucas truly understands warehouse operations. Jennifer, the Lucas voice solution, creates a conversation with warehouse workers that frees their hands and eyes to focus on the job at hand. Jennifer also provides managers and supervisors with reporting and management tools that help them better manage their operations. Tens of thousands of associates at hundreds of distribution centers work with Jennifer every day.

Lucas Systems, Inc., (www.lucasware.com) the leading provider of voice-directed warehouse applications for open, mobile computers, was recently profiled by Manufacturing Journalist TR Cutler in the current issue of AS411.com.  According to Cutler’s article, “Voice Picking Automation Proves Perfect for Perkins Paper”, Perkins Paper is New England’s largest independent wholesale distributor of foodservice and sanitary maintenance supplies. The company was founded in 1915 and has grown through a number of acquisitions, as well as internal product category expansion.

At Perkins Paper, the number one priority is shipping the right product, on time, every time. This commitment to service spurred managers at the broadline food-service distributor to implement voice automation technology to improve order selection and delivery accuracy.


“Like other companies, we’re always trying to improve service to our customers,” noted Walter Harrigan, Senior Vice President. “So our main goal for voice automation was to reduce shorts and wrongs, which improves customer service and also reduces our costs. If you don’t send the right item to a customer, you have to taxi it out to them, and that costs a lot, probably $50-$60 per error”.

Perkins installed the Jennifer VoicePlus picking, QC/Audit, and loading system from Lucas Systems to meet the objective of error-free automation processes.  The nature voice of this automation solution had appeal according to Harrigan who also required the flexibility to adapt to unique aspects of the operations. In addition to traditional automated case picking to pallet, Perkins had unique requirements for small-item picking, and for picking slower-moving items in very narrow aisles (VNA).

While moving to the automated voice-picking solution Jennifer, Perkins also began using double pallet jacks rather than single jacks, to allow selectors to pick more orders each pass through the warehouse. The result from this automation was a significant productivity gain moving to double pallets, in addition to the 4-5% gains in productivity that were specific to the voice system.


Downstream from picking, Perkins uses the Jennifer QC/Audit system to double-check the accuracy of picking. The QC/Audit system utilizes an automated touch screen tablet PC. It allows checkers to compare pallet contents to the actual voice-pick results, and to fill shorts and correct any errors prior to releasing the route for loading.

50 Percent Fewer Errors With Higher Shipping Volumes
Since implementing Jennifer, Perkins reduced shipping errors every year while increasing shipping volumes. The company eliminated thirty-six percent of its shorts and wrongs compared the previous year, and for the first four months of this year it experience a further eighteen percent reduction, even though they shipped 350,000 more cases this year compared to last year.


Lucas Systems, Inc.
www.lucasware.com
John H. Schriefer
PR@lucasware.com
724-940-7000