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 The Concept. The
gravity flow order selection system offers a far greater ROI than
any other picking system. This simple, effective concept uses
inclined shelves equipped with roll track to move cartons by gravity
from the restocking to the picking side of the system. No power
source is required. And because frontage per item is greatly
reduced, restocking and picking can be done much faster. In fact,
one person can do the work of three or four.
The Alternatives. Conventional static shelving is relatively
inexpensive and basically maintenance free. But it is the best
choice only for very slow moving merchandise.
Automated systems work well if you're storing extremely fast-moving
goods in full case quantities. However, these systems are very
expensive to purchase and maintain, and are subject to frequent
breakdowns.
The Solution. Gravity flow picking systems offer many of the
best features of both these other methods. They are far less costly
than automated systems, and much more efficient than static
shelving. They are virtually maintenance free and allow you to
rotate merchandise on a first-in, first-out basis.
In most instances, gravity flow is the most cost-effective order
selection system.
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Static
Shelving:
Pickers spend 15% of their time doing productive work.
Static shelving systems are relatively inexpensive. The big
hidden cost factor is labor -- the amount of time workers
spend restocking and picking.
In the drawing to the right, notice how many wasted steps
are taken between the items being picked. In the typical
static system, pickers actually waste about 85% of their
time walking and searching. That means only 15% of the time
is left for productive work -- picking and marking order
forms.
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Gravity
Flow:
Pickers spend about 85% of their time doing productive work.
A gravity flow system may cost a little more than
conventional shelving, but it cuts labor costs dramatically.
How? By decreasing the walking distance between items being
picked and the time spent looking for them. In fact, about
85% of the picker's time is spent actively picking and
marking order forms, and only 15% walking.
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Restocking
speed is doubled or tripled. Instead of having to remove the
contents of each case and stack them on static shelves,
gravity flow restockers need only slice off the top of the
case and slide it onto the rack. This efficiency often makes
it possible to eliminate three out of four workers.
Gravity flow uses floor space more efficiently. Fewer aisles
are required -- at least 50% more goods can be stocked in
the same amount of floor space.
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Since restocking
and picking take place on opposite sides of the rack,
neither function interferes with the other.
Deep reaching is eliminated. Frontage per item is usually
reduced to a single case except for a few of the fastest
movers. When the empty carton is removed from the lane, the
next carton automatically rolls to the front of the shelf.
FIFO rotation is assured without doubling handling of goods.
And the long straight aisles make inventory control and
worker supervision much easier.
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| Compare
the 2 Systems. |
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Gravity
Flow |
Static
Shelving |
Gain
with Gravity Flow |
| If
total floor space is |
equal |
equal |
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Then
items stored
(each case, 1 cubic foot) |
155 |
120 |
29% |
| Shelves
high |
5 |
3 |
2 |
| Cases
per opening |
15 |
12 |
3 |
| Total
cases |
2325 |
1440 |
61% |
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High
Tech Manufacturing
Computer-controlled
rolling mills produce consistent column
cross-sections
for pallet rack, carton flow,and accessory
products. |
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 Gravity
flow rack is designed and manufactured to the
most rigorous engineering standards.
Roll-formed structural components are the
strongest and most rigid of their type in the
industry. Engineered to withstand heavy use
and abuse, components are made of ASTM
high-strength, low-alloy, certified structural
steel. Their modular design, numbered scales,
and precision slots allow rapid assembly and
rearrangement without tools or measuring.
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Numbered
Scales
With
clearly numbered scales and high-quality
components that easily clip in place, the
system can be assembled or rearranged in a
snap, without tools, by your own maintenance
people.
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Roll
Track
Heavy-duty
roll track permits the movement of heavy cases
at the lowest slope angle in the industry to
maximize space utilization. Tracks and guides
are independently mounted, and snap into
retainer tabs easily. The roll track operates
in any warehouse environment, including
coolers and freezers, and requires no
lubrication.
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Shelf
Hanger Clip
This unique clip fits into a
single slot in the vertical frame. The shelf
frame is then placed securely on the clip.
There are no threaded or moving parts to work
with, and no tools or measuring are required
for installation. |
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