FSR May 2023

SPONSORED BY SSI SCHAEFER

Leveraging Automation for Mixed SKU Case Palletizing and Route Sequencing

How restaurants can get the right mix of products on every pallet.

pallet for each storefront makes sense. Since automation saves on la bor and eliminates picking errors, it will also increase profits, too. An automated case picking sys tem can be integrated with a high bay warehouse system or can be leveraged as a complete standalone solution. Cases of each SKU are de palletized and loaded into a robotic shuttle system. The software knows which product is needed for the cus tomer order and will retrieve cases from the shuttle system for palletiz ing. Each case is then picked and pal letized robotically. It does this case by case and uses a sophisticated pal letization software to build the per fect pallet. It only must know the dimensions, weights, and whether, when, or where to place the exact products on the pallet. It can even handle sensitive products such as glass bottles. Product is also opti mized to get the most on each pal let to increase the cube utilization within a trailer. This intelligent so lution enables a faster way to build pallets, but it also enables a route se quencing order for distribution. For distribution routes that are mapped out via distance, traffic routes, and more, the software un derstands which pallet should be built first so that it is loaded onto the truck for distribution first, sec

Given the ever-increasing array of brands and beverage flavors that cater to consumer preferences today, getting the right product mix to the customer at the right time is getting more and more dif ficult. This is especially true in manual applications that were orig inally set up to handle the more traditional fulfillment types, like full pallet and layer quantities. This is where automating an expen sive process such as building a mixed SKU order pallet and leverag ing a warehouse management software (wms) or warehouse control system (wcs) solution to pull the right product and build the right pallet in the right order comes into play. This saves on labor, opera tional costs, and helps to boost bottom-line profits. For distribution of beverages, a pallet full of soda can easily be picked and shipped. While this may be true for one or two brands or flavors, this certainly isn’t the case when adding in water, raspberry lemonade, Frappuccinos, and more. Things quickly start to go awry when figuring out the correct mix and sequencing for these com plex orders. This is when using automation to help build the perfect

Since automation saves on labor and eliminates picking errors, it will also increase profits, too.

ond, last, and so on. This helps speed up distribution delivery. The same can also work with any chilled or frozen goods as well depend ing on the type of truck. ◗

To learn more, visit ssi-schaefer.com .

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