Use Innovative Carton Flow Technology to Reduce Damage, Increase in Efficiency

Selling products is not as simple as making them and handing them off to the customer. They must be manufactured, packaged, stored and shipped to a distributor or retailer before they can be sold to the customer. This movement through the supply chain can sometimes cause damage to goods long before they reach the customer. By using innovative and efficient carton flow methods, products will go from Point A to Point B and beyond more quickly with less damage and minimal confusion.

Space
Adding space to existing storage racks is one way to reduce overcrowding. Rather than stuffing too many cartons into small capacity shelving, more space can be created by adding more racks and extending the frames higher. This prevents dents and damage to merchandise. Using modern designs, racks can drop in to any existing frame, creating more pallet rack space. By properly spacing the boxes on the shelves, the cartons will sustain less damage from overcrowding, while creating a higher number of cartons for order picking. When the existing shelf height is too short, the old shelves can be replaced with new ones that extend higher, making more efficient use of floor to ceiling space. Another option is to create deeper shelves that can be replenished from the back without disrupting the workflow at the front of the shelf.

Rollers
Different types of rollers move cartons in different efficiencies on a gravity conveyor system. Smaller wheels spaced far apart in multiple tracks causes imprinting on heavier cartons. This damages the outer packaging and slows down performance. Smaller products tend to catch in between spaces and cause jamming problems on conveyors. The solution to this type of damage and slow-down is to use a solid, full-width roller that spans the bottom of the carton. It should be sturdy enough to handle the weight from the heaviest items and orders in inventory. This prevents imprinting and jamming. Rollers made of tougher, more innovative materials than the old plastic wheels will reduce machinery breakdown.

Shelving
Flat shelves cause parts picking to be less efficient. The worker may not be able to see what is in the bin. In turn, the pickers take longer to select the proper product. This results in inaccuracy or slower order picking. Using a tilted shelf for the order picking system makes it easier to see what is in the bin. It is also a faster and easier reach for the worker. Tilted shelving also creates a more organized appearance and allows parts and products to move closer to the front of the shelf without any effort from the worker.

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