Employee shortages and increasing demands from e-commerce shoppers have forced many facilities to introduce new technology to remain efficient. Warehouses and distribution centers worldwide are moving toward automating more tasks and processes. For operations looking to start replacing manual processes or reducing the time and effort it takes to perform manual tasks, dimensioning technology is an effective and straightforward way to get started. Continue reading this blog to learn more about how dimensioning eliminates or assists with manual processes.
Pallet Building
Load instability can lead to substantial loss and safety issues. If you’re stacking smaller items onto a pallet without knowing the dimensions of the items, the risk of a pallet falling apart while moving increases.
Using dimensioning systems to collect data and then transfer that data to the warehouse management system, determining how items should be arranged on the pallet is a quick and painless process. Employees can clearly see which larger and heavier items should be placed on the bottom and which smaller and lighter items should be on top.
Inspections
Manual order inspections increase time and labor costs. Costly human error is also more likely if inspections are performed manually. This process can be fully automated or partially automated with dimensioning solutions, depending on the system’s capabilities.
Dimensioning systems can help detect anomalies, support compliance, and prevent loss. After an SKU’s weight has is calculated by a dimensioning system and uploaded to the warehouse management system, the data can be used to verify picking. The warehouse management system calculates how much each carton should weigh based on its size and the items it contains.
Loading Trucks and Trailers
Inaccurate data reduces load efficiency. With dimensional data, you can plan your logistics better. You’ll be able to precisely know how many trailers or trucks you need and also be able to use the space of a trailer more economically. You may find that you can use smaller boxes, which will lead to fewer trailers being necessary and reduced transportation and packaging costs.
When a dimensioning system such as the Cubiscan 325 collects product data about items in an order, the warehouse management system can more effectively help generate load setups for trailers. All the data is in one place, making planning a faster, less frustrating process.
Conclusion
Some dimensioners need to be operated by an employee. There will always be tasks and processes that employees will need to do manually. Not every operation has the budget to automate fully. However, dimensioning technology is consistent whether it’s fully automated or not. Using tools such as tape measures leads to inconsistent measurements, and it’s not nearly as fast as a dimensioning system. Dimensioning systems make employees more precise and efficient, which helps your operation as a whole, whether you’re using static systems or if they’re a part of a larger automated workflow.
About Cubiscan
For over 30 years, Cubiscan has led the automated dimensioning industry. In the 1980s, it became clear that accurate dimensions and weight were essential for warehousing, distribution, right-size packaging, and freight-manifesting applications. By the mid-1990s, the company had established itself as an innovative supplier of static and in-motion dimensioning systems. Today, Cubiscan continues to innovate and guide its customers to effective material handling solutions by offering the broadest range of dimension-scanning technology available.
Cubiscan Media Contact: Aaron Taylor, Marketing Manager – [email protected]