Home Solution About Us News Contact Us
         
 
 


 
  Mobile Fulfillment   System
  Products
  Applications
  DC Tour
  Kiva Compared to
  Other Automation
  The Kiva Approach

Site Map
 

Solution> The Mobile Fulfillment System

Kiva’s automated storage and retrieval system is an AS/RS like no other because it is a truly integrated inventory storage, quality control and order fulfillment system. What if every item in your warehouse could walk and talk on its own? What if your warehouse automation systems were flexible, quick to implement and easy to use? What if your AS/RS could handle products of all shapes and sizes? What if the products could come to the operator exactly when needed? What if your warehouse automation was embraced by all the order pickers in your distribution center because they can pick any item, anywhere, at any time. What if an AS/RS didn’t look or act like a traditional automated storage and retrieval system? What if it was applicable to more operations? What if it was just plain better?

This is the vision that drives the Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System (MFS).

Kiva uses a simple set of equipment and powerful control software to provide a complete order fulfillment solution: storing, moving and sorting inventory. Instead of being stored in static shelving, flow racks or carousels, products are stored in inventory pods in the center of the warehouse while operators stand at inventory stations around the perimeter. When an order is received, robotic drive units retrieve the appropriate pods and bring them to the worker, who picks out the appropriate item and places it in the carton. Completed orders are stored on separate pods, ready to get up and move to the loading dock when the truck arrives.


Why Kiva?

Increase Productivity - Triple the output per worker over other solutions.

Lower Cost - The Kiva MFS has lower installation and operational costs than traditional warehouse automation systems.

Increase Flexibility - The Kiva MFS adapts to changes in product types, product velocities, order prioritization, and other operational realities. This is not possible with traditional AS/RS equipment.

Improve Worker Safety - Work injuries can be costly. Customers tell us the Kiva automated storage and retrieval system reduces worker fatigue and results in less injuries to order selectors because bending and stretching at the pick stations is limited and the amount of walking required is minimal.

Boost Order Accuracy – Pick-to-light, barcode scanning and a quiet work environment combined with a process that enables individual selectors to pick complete orders delivers world-class order accuracy

Add Capacity Quickly - Kiva is based around one simple set of automated storage and retrieval equipment that is completely mobile and not bolted down. Kiva is easy to design and install, which means it takes weeks instead of months to get a new distribution center installed.

Features

The Kiva solution goes beyond traditional automated storage and retrieval systems to deliver breakthrough performance by solving many order fulfillment challenges simultaneously.

Fast Picking The operator is presented with a new pick face location every six seconds, as if they had infinite pick face density with zero walking.
High Volume Order Picking Kiva customers pick 100,000’s of lines per day in a single facility using the Kiva order fulfillment system.
Rapid Installation Starting with blank concrete or mezzanine and a few electrical outlets, installation can take as little as one day.
Real-time Orders Orders drop instantly to the operator without the delay of waves or batches, reducing cycle time to minutes.
High Accuracy Every item is verified by scanning the bar code or comparison to a photo, thereby reducing errors and eliminating the need for a separate QC function.
High Storage Density Configurable pods, trays, and bins, no forklift aisles and complete vertical use of the facility using mezzanines means higher product density than existing solutions.
Modular Expansion Add inventory pods and drive units to increase throughput during peak season or expand an existing facility as the market grows. The complex construction associated with traditional AS/RS installations is not required.
Inline Sortation Products and orders are automatically sorted during processing, enabling "pick to plan-o-gram" within an order and sequential truck loading.
High Reliability With parallel equipment and no single point of failure, the Kiva warehouse automation system supports zero downtime in a 24 by 7 operation.
Simultaneous Picking and Replenishment Replenishment and picking can proceed at the same time with full productivity, allowing reduced days-on-hand of inventory.
Built-in Productivity Monitoring Operators are independent and their output can be measured at any time.
Single Process All items - fast and slow, large and small - are picked with a simple pick to-light-process.
Zero Re-slotting Items are dynamically assigned to the best available location for storage and retrieval, which means that there is no need for profiling or re-slotting.