A challenging environment that required customisation and temperature control, Priority Robotics and Monde-Nissin worked together to design a working solution. With the grid being split between cold and ambient storage, the use of a sequenced pick and AMR controls were key in overcoming the issues.
The sequenced pallet enables the store to destack the pallets and redirect each category to the correct shelf or back-of-house location. As all orders need to be picked in a chiller to maintain these SKUs at 2 degrees, we had to design true multi-function workstations that can all support fast inbound and order picking processes.
In addition to an attribute-based picking sequence, we also needed to develop a unique workstation to suit the limited space available in the Monde-Nissin chiller where the picking was to occur. We addressed this with a true multi-function workstation able to support picking to pallet or trolley as well as both full pallet and fast-inbound. This design means that there will only be four picking workstations in the chiller able to handle all picking and inbound functions. The order picking workstations are particularly unique as these support both picking to pallet and picking to a shelf on a trolley all guided by put-to-light.
This solution incorporates several world first capabilities and these demonstrate how the flexibility of Priority IS and AMR to deliver value beyond what can be offered by other Goods to Person systems.
Monde-Nissin Australia is the owner and distributor for Australia's favourite brands including Nudie Juice, Peckish, Black Swan and Wattle Valley. They also operate a 3PL fulfilling orders for several other brands using their extensive transport network.
Monde-Nissin ships significant volume each day directly to small co-op supermarkets and needed a solution to be able to ship pallets that contain both chilled and ambient goods. These need to be picked in a chilled environment in a specific order based on attributes applied to each item. We were able to achieve this by developing a solution that uses a pod buffer within the chiller to temporarily hold ambient SKUs.
Inventory pods are then presented to the picking workstation in a sequence based on the weight and temperature requirements of the individual SKUs in that order. Heavy Chilled goods are presented first, followed by heavy ambient, light ambient and finally light chilled.