Dematic gives Americold a voice for the future

Headquartered in Atlanta, USA, Americold owns and operates over 185 temperature-controlled warehouses in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina and Canada, offering warehousing, transportation and logistics solutions to the food industry.

In Australia, Americold’s network of cold storage warehouses connects food producers, processors, distributors and retailers to the end consumer. With demand increasing, the company’s management recognises the need to constantly improve standards, practices and technology.

Americold’s picking systems have evolved significantly over the years. In the past, the company’s cold and frozen storage DC in Arndell Park, NSW relied on paper-based picking systems. This was then upgraded to a label-pick solution, which delivered higher levels of picking accuracy. Now, the facility has implemented a fully automated advanced voice picking system from Dematic.

The voice picking solution has transformed the Arndell Park DC into a paperless facility, where operators no longer need to look away from what they are doing or waste time retrieving new pick slips. When an order is processed, the operator will go to the location and confirm with the check digit that they are at the right location by speaking into a wireless headset. The voice system will then instruct the operator to pick a certain number of crates or units and ask the worker to confirm they picked the right amount. The system will repeat this process until the order is finished.

“I’ve worked in logistics a long time and in the past have used paper-based picking processes or an RF solution. When I came to Americold I used voice picking for the first time, and it’s dramatically improved my picking productivity because it is automated and hands-free. The hands-free aspect allows me to concentrate on the environment around me and look at the locations I am picking from. Because the system is fully automated and tells me the locations and number of goods I have to pick, and confirms these, there is no possibility of human error,” said Dean, DC operator for Americold.

The voice-directed picking solution also facilitates a real-time, two-way data flow between workers on the distribution floor and the WMS. This flow of information makes it easy for managers to generate reports and to provide comprehensive and accurate real-time insights. 

Given the challenging operating environments of cold storage DCs, the equipment and technology must function for extended periods in colder temperatures, as well as accommodating the needs of pickers themselves.

“As Americold operates in chilled environments, users are frequently moving in and out of cold storage areas. Carrying technology, having to take off gloves to key in information, putting equipment down and picking up the product becomes a real problem. Voice is a hands-free, eyes-free solution where users don’t face these problems,” said Brian Lang, director of Real Time Logistics for Dematic.

Voice technology has also enhanced the overall safety of Americold’s Arndell Park DC, explains David Gardner, operations manager for Americold, as the hands-free, eyes-free operational benefits of voice makes workers much more aware of their environment and allows them to anticipate the actions of others for increased safety in the warehouse.

Voice picking technology has also provided productivity improvements. Order fulfilment accuracy has increased and labour costs can be more effectively managed by enabling appropriate staffing levels throughout the working day.

“Real-time data in the DC allows managers to manipulate staffing levels to respond to customer volume fluctuations throughout the day. It also helps us to better manage our labour by ensuring we are putting staff to work in the areas of the business where they are needed most,” said Gardner.