Solution> Material Handling Automation Systems
Kiva automated material handling systems consist of several components. The material handling equipment, storage shelves and software are unique to Kiva Systems. The complete material handling system includes work stations customized to fit customer requirements, a wireless network and a server-based back end system. All of these are deployed within a distribution center and the final pieces are the human operators who pick orders using the automated system. The components are combined and configured to support critical distribution center operations. From replenishment to picking, QC auditing, order sortation and shipping preparation, Kiva’s approach to material handling automation is truly innovative.
The Four Walls Solution
- One automated material handling system for the entire DC
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Split-Case
Picking
The Kiva ItemFetch™ material handling system enables
operators to pick items from cases into totes or cartons.
Mobile robotic drive units bring inventory pods to workers
who use a simple pick-to-light/put-to-light interface to fill
each order — the operator completes the entire order
without moving. In addition, you control the sequence in which
items are retrieved, allowing heavy-to-light box loading or
pick-to-plan-o-gram for store restocking.
Shipping Sortation
The Kiva OrderFetch™
material handling system allows completed split-case orders to move directly to the
shipping area at the right time, in the right sequence. Split-case
orders are picked into cartons or totes on shipping pods.
When the orders are complete, the pod is either temporarily
stored or travels directly to the dock door, where it is combined
with other split-case and full-case orders to fill a particular
truck.
Case Picking
The Kiva CaseFetch™
material handling system gives operators random access to any pallet in the DC, allowing
them to pick full cases as well as individual items. When
a pallet enters the building, it is placed onto a pod base
that is moved to storage by a mobile robotic drive unit. This
system also allows for
dock-to-stock of mixed-pallet receipts, where cases are stored
in smaller case-reserve locations.
Split-Case
Replenishment
The Kiva CaseFetch™
material handling system automatically delivers cases to stockers for replenishment
of the forward picking area. This real-time replenishment
process dramatically reduces forward stockouts, while improving
storage efficiency. |
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