Bastian Solutions Helps Third-Party Logistics Provider Bloom with Warehouse Automation

April 10, 2012 - PRLog -- RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif., April 4, 2012 – Bastian Solutions has released a new case study showcasing the company’s work with Westcoast Warehousing, a third-party logistics provider offering warehousing, trucking, and storage solutions to retail stores.

“Westcoast Warehousing was looking for a solution that would improve its throughput by at least 50 percent,” said Anshul Singh, logistics consultant at Bastian Solutions. “We introduced them to pick to light (http://www.bastiansolutions.com/automation/picking-technologies/pick_to_light_ptl.asp) at that point, and said why not increase your throughput by 100 percent or 200 percent.”

After working closely with Westcoast to analyze the company’s system, Bastian introduced the company to pick to light, a hands-free, light-directed picking system.  By utilizing this technology, Westcoast Warehousing was able to greatly increase productivity because employees could use both hands when picking and packing.  The solution also decreased picking errors and operator training time by providing visual, light-based cues as opposed to employees reading small, handheld scanner screens that were typically not bilingual.

“It’s a very simple solution when you look at it,” explained Singh. “We download orders from their ERP system into our Exacta warehouse control system (http://www.bastiansolutions.com/automation/software/wareh...). Then we print the shipping labels, and the label has the information on what shipping container the operators are going to use. They look at it, pick the appropriate shipping container, scan the label, and the pick to light devices within that sub-zone light up. The
operator fulfills all the picks, finishes packing the order, and it’s shipped.”

The case study includes a video featuring an interview with Jay Patel, President of Westcoast Warehousing, and highlights the key improvements and benefits of the pick to light system.

To read the full case study or watch the short video, visit the Bastian Solutions website at: http://www.bastiansolutions.com/bastian-material-handling...

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Bastian Software Solutions uses advanced automation technologies and supply chain software to help businesses accomplish their logistics strategies. Based in Louisville, Ky., Bastian Software is a private company with operations in the U.S. and India.