The only hitch is that manual kitting takes up a lot of room. If you’re hoping to save time during the kitting process, employing minimal fixed storage is counterproductive. It takes up too much room and forces workers to go across many aisles to get the kits they need.
A high-density, low-footprint kitting operation can be accomplished with the help of an Adaptive Kitting System that makes use of an automated retrieval and storage machine, such as Linear Scrollable Modules, Lateral Scrollable Modules, Vertical Lift Modules.
The Functioning of an Automatic Kitting System:
Bins, Totes or separated trays are used to store and arrange individual goods inside an automated retrieval and storage system. Power Pick is an integral part of the system and allows for streamlined picking. Products for the same set are kept together by default by global inventory management software.
When it’s time to put together kits for particular orders, an employee utilises the self-service storage and retrieval system as a handling system, gathering components for many kits at once and placing them in totes at a batch station or conveyor.
After the kits have been assembled by the operator from the specified components, they may be kept in the same storage medium with a new part number or moved to a different location.
The kits are stored in a central place, and when required, an operator simply goes there, grabs the kits they need, and sends them on their way to wherever they need to go (the assembly line, the order consolidation area, the packaging area, etc.).
Kitting’s Two Primary Varieties
Activity Related to Production
The purpose of kitting fulfillment in a factory setting is to safeguard the productive time of the highly trained (and well-compensated) workers on the assembly line. No one would want the defensive line to be distracted from the game by having to refill water bottles. The same holds true for the production line, which should stick to its strengths.
Put low-skilled workers to work sorting, organising, and, if feasible, pre-assembling kits of components before rushing them to the manufacturing point of use. Don’t have your assembly line go through storage for missing components. Because of this, they won’t be able to focus on the tasks that contribute most to your bottom line, which will reduce your total productivity.
Storage and Shipping Center
Kitting, or “product bundling” in the warehousing and distribution set, is a method for streamlining operations with the intention of saving time. The sooner you can choose, fill, and dispatch orders, the better, since the demand for speedier delivery increases daily. When stocking up on supplies, it’s more efficient to store related items together in kits than individually.
Take a look at your numbers and see if you can figure out which SKUs are usually sent together. If you notice that most orders containing pretzels also include beer (because really, who just gets pretzels?) Consider whether or not you can save time by putting these things in kits before putting them away.