BROKEN CASE PICKING SYSTEMS

Chapter seven RightStore Pieces: Piece Picking Principles, Systems, and Best Practices

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Modular Storage Drawers/Cabinets Modular storage drawers/cabinets (Figures 7.9 through 7.13) are called modular because each storage cabinet houses modular storage drawers that are subdivided into modular storage compartments. Drawer heights range from 3 to 24 inches, and each drawer may hold up to 400 pounds of material. The primary advantage of storage drawers/cabinets over bin shelving is the large number of stock-keeping units (SKUs) that can be stored and presented to the order picker in a small footprint. A single drawer can hold from 1 to 100 SKUs (depending on the size, shape, and inventory levels of the items), and a typical storage cabinet can store the equivalent of two to four shelving units of material. The excellent storage density accrues from the ability to create item housing configurations within a drawer/cabinet that very closely match the cubic storage requirements of each SKU. Also, because the drawers are pulled out into the aisle for picking, space does not have to be provided above each SKU to allow room for the order picker’s hand and forearm. This reach space must be provided in bin shelving stor age; otherwise, items deep in the unit could not be accessed. By housing more material in less floor space, the overall space require ment for storage drawers is substantially less than that required for bin Figure 7.9 Storage drawers in an automotive plant storage crib with a person-aboard ASRS

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