Using voice, Globus has increased its picking productivity by 70%.
In the logistics centre of Globus ČR, k.s. in Jirny, approximately 60 workers of five nationalities pick goods with language technology from Vocollect. Quality and productivity have increased by up to 70%.
SITUATION BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE VOICE SOLUTION
Voice picking in the Globus warehouse would have been unsuccessful. The previous solution was a "no-learn system" and even after two years of testing and development, it was ready for use only sporadically. Most of the then 40 warehouse operators on each shift therefore continued to work with paper lists.
Seamless change
It wasn't until 2007 that Honeywell's Vocollect Voice Solution technology brought change. At that time, Globus implemented a rehearsed voice solution - together with the Wamas warehouse management system. "The current transformation was precise and seamless. Since then, our warehouse staff have been picking paperless and have their hands and eyes free to concentrate on their own work," informs Lenka Kamešová, who is responsible for the dry assortment throughout the warehouse at Globus' logistics centre in Jirny.
Instead of a list of items or a handheld scanner, warehouse workers in Jirny are now equipped with a headset and a Talkman attached to it. This voice-activated device receives picking commands via WLAN from the Wamas system, converts them into voice commands and transmits them to the worker's headset. The positive effects include, in particular, an increase in productivity of around 70%. "Output has increased from 130 to an average of 220 cartons per hour," confirms Lenka Kamešová.
Answers in the mother tongue
The key to success lies in the individual language profiles, which can be created in just about 30 minutes thanks to Vocollect technology. In doing so, the pronunciation, accent and dialect of the workers are taken into account, so that the voice system is perfectly adapted to the individual person - and not the other way around. "In our country, almost every worker who picks up goods comes from abroad. For example, from Bulgaria, Romania or Ukraine," explains Lenka Kamešová. The Honeywell Vocollect Voice Solution technology is so flexible that each worker can continue to communicate with the computer in his or her native language if necessary. "Every colleague can simply set the appropriate option when setting up his or her language profile," emphasises the warehouse manager.
No deviations
In this context, quality, which is under strict control at Globus, has also grown rapidly. In Jirny, 80,000 picked packaging units are checked every month, with a minimum of 300 cartons per worker. As a result, there has been a significant drop in the error rate, which has been drastically reduced thanks to Vocollect technology. "Instead of the original 0.2%, we are now at a very good 0.14%," confirms Ondřej Zíka, Director of Logistics.
This jump was due to several reasons. The warehousemen receive unambiguous instructions via the headset and the specified process does not allow for any deviations. Within this structure, when a warehouseman finds one desired item, he must first read the last two numbers of the barcode of the carton stored at the corresponding location. This single check ensures that the warehouseman is at the correct shelf.
The indispensable management system
Quality control is not only proof of extremely high reliability, but also the basis of the first-class system used by Globus. Those who pick with zero errors receive a 5% pay increase at the end of the month. For this reason, workers sometimes ask whether the computer should not be responsible for its own errors.
In these cases, the Vocollect 5.0 voice consoles, which Globus, with the support of our Czech sister company KODYS, spol. s r.o., implemented back in 2013, can play to their strengths.
Improved language identification
Another upgrade of the voice solution took place in 2015. After seven years of intensive use in two-shift operation, five out of a total of 30 Talkmans showed the first signs of fatigue, so these devices had to be replaced. That's when Globus opted for the newer A700 model with Bluetooth connectivity to the headset. KODYS, Ltd. first provided the devices for two weeks for a test run. And it was a success. "Our staff are delighted with the A700", confirms warehouse manager Lenka Kamešová.
The cable-free connection to the SRX2 headset ensures greater freedom of movement and the improved language identification makes the process even faster. In the future, it could also simplify the onboarding process for the eight to ten hired workers needed once a year during the Christmas period. Not surprisingly, Globus also wants to gradually replace the remaining 25 T2X Talkmans with the A700 model. Even then, however, the voice project for Globus will be far from over. Already in 2016, the fresh goods area in the logistics centre in Jirny is to be equipped with voice technology as well.
HARDWARE USED
- 25 headsets of the SR-20 series
- 25 T2X Talkmans
- 5 SRX2 series headsets
- 5 Talkman A700
- Vocollect 5.0 console
Results
Better ergonomics, higher productivity, 70% higher picking quality, higher chance of reward for every worker.