Order Packing Workflow for Customer-Preference Fulfillment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated inventory management systems lack the capability to pack ordered fungible and non-fungible goods according to customer preferences, which is essential for efficient and customer-centric order fulfillment.
Innovation Solution
An automated service model that includes an integrated system of order processing, goods fulfillment, and delivery fulfillment, utilizing automated mobile robots and a centralized computing system with specialized software to manage inventory and direct robots for picking and packing goods based on customer-preferred locations and item attributes, ensuring items are packed and delivered in a manner that matches customer specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated mobile robots are used for inventory management, then productivity and automation extent are improved, but the capability to pack goods according to customer preferences is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fulfillment process into distinct phases: order reception, robot-based inventory retrieval, human operator packing, and delivery. This segmentation allows automated robots to handle efficient inventory retrieval while human operators handle the customization and packing according to customer preferences, resolving the contradiction between automation efficiency and customer-specific adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a human operator as an intermediary between the automated robot system and the final customer delivery. The robot retrieves goods efficiently from storage racks, then transfers them to human operators who pack the goods according to customer preferences. This intermediary role bridges the gap between automated efficiency and customized service
2Adaptability or versatility
If human operators manually pack goods, then customer preferences are satisfied, but productivity and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having automated robots retrieve and stage the required goods in advance before human operators begin packing. This preliminary automated retrieval reduces the time human operators spend on inventory search and handling, allowing them to focus solely on the value-added packing task while maintaining overall productivity
3Productivity
If a combination of forklifts and mobile robots is used, then inventory management capability is improved, but the ability to provide customized packing service deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by designing the automated robot fleet to autonomously navigate storage racks, locate inventory, retrieve goods, and deliver them to packing stations without human intervention. This self-service capability maintains high productivity while freeing human operators to focus exclusively on customized packing services
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are disclosed relating to an automated store or system including an automated fulfillment section having a storage structure for storing fungible and/or non-fungible goods. The fungible and/or non-fungible goods may be retrieved from storage in response to a customer order. The system and method of the present technology allows retrieved fungible and/or non-fungible goods to be sorted and packed in accordance with stored customer preferences.