KiSoft Vision, KNAPP’s vision-directed order picking system, has been presented in operation for the first time at the distribution centre of Magnum Medical in Tallinn, Estonia.

The groundbreaking system, which was demonstrated as part of the annual GIRP conference of the European Association of Pharmaceutical Full-line Wholesalers, guides pickers by superimposing symbols in their field of vision and optically highlighting goods to be picked.

Manual picking in both Magnum’s high-bay racking area and at the goods-to-person workstations of the OSR Shuttle™ system have been equipped with KiSoft Vision and the technology has achieved a quality level of 6 from Six Sigma, ensuring 100% error-free order picking. This level of accuracy is possible because KiSoft Vision supports picking staff through an optimal combination of optical user guidance, image recognition, barcode and serial number tracking, and audio feedback.

Explains Craig Rollason, Head of Sales and Marketing for KNAPP UK Ltd, “The system uses augmented reality technology, which visualizes information at the exact time and location the operator needs it, through a head-mounted display. An integrated navigation system calculates the picker’s optimal route through the warehouse.”

At the workstation of the OSR Shuttle™, the system checks that the correct products are retrieved from storage. Then cameras read the product barcodes – without any action necessary from the picking staff – to make sure that the products are placed in the correct target containers. KNAPP put special emphasis on ergonomics during the system’s integration into the work process.

Logistics Innovation Award

Even before KiSoft Vision was installed, the KNAPP solution at Magnum Medical’s Tallinn warehouse received Estonia’s prestigious Logistics Innovation Award. The automated handling solution features an automatic high-bay pallet store and an OSR Shuttle™ System, guided by the warehouse management system KiSoft WMS. Fully automatic interchange of goods between the stacker cranes and the OSR Shuttle™ ensures that products are always stored in the ideal location and avoids time-consuming manual relocation. Lot tracking is implemented throughout the warehouse and the system also handles separate storage of various product groups and management of consignment products.

Products are picked using handheld terminals from flow racks that are automatically replenished by the stacker crane system. The target containers for the pharmacies are transported to the workstations of the OSR Shuttle™, where products are supplied from more than 8,000 storage locations according to the goods-to-person principle. After orders are completed and pass the final check station, containers are automatically provided with an invoice and are then lidded, strapped, addressed and sorted according to route on ramps in the dispatch area.

KNAPP UK Ltd

Mr Craig Rollason, Head

of Sales & Marketing

Tel:  01844 202149

E-mail: craig.rollason@knapp.com

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