German retailer REWE is optimising the entire supply chain process of large-volume items with low sales frequency at its logistics centre in Neu-Isenburg, in association with WITRON.
More than 5,000 different, slow-moving items, such as canned vegetables or wine packages, will be picked in an ergonomic and store-friendly manner from the storage tote onto store pallets or roll containers.
The cost-effective process will offer logistical advantages as well as ecological benefits, as REWE will transport 30% fewer totes.
In this respect, the 'goods-to-person' solution OPS (Order Picking System) will be connected to the already existing tote picking system DPS (Dynamic Picking System).
Both modules interact intelligently with each other in inventory management and picking, allowing all items to be picked both in OPS and DPS.
A WITRON warehouse management system dynamically determines the most suitable picking system, according to priority and depending on the 'most cost-efficient pick', 'fastest pick', daily volume, season, or the respective product group.
The existing DPS repack is also in use for repacking into the OPS totes.
Storage into the OPS system can be either single-stage and direct from the repack area into the OPS, or two-stage with interim buffering in the DPS.
Since the beginning of 2015, REWE has been supplying more than 6,500 customers throughout Germany with 17,500 different dry goods from its logistics centre in Neu-Isenburg.
WITRON modules for the efficient case, piece, half, and full pallet picking ensure a cost-efficient supply to all stores with the highest customer service.
WITRON and REWE have already developed the overall system layout in a way that allows flexible and sustainable adaptation to new requirements.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Sponsored content. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
