WEGMANS WILL TEST VOICE-DIRECTED PICKING TECHNOLOGY

LINDA PURPURA

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets here plans to test voice-directed picking technology in the fresh food area at its distribution center here this fall. The test will run through the end of the year.

Voice-directed picking uses radio frequency technology to direct warehouse selectors during order fulfillment. The technology, worn by selectors, resembles a Walkman and headphones. A digitally generated voice directs selectors to the items to be picked.

"This technology is maturing," said Mike Bargmann, director of distribution at Wegmans. "If this is proven at Wal-Mart and H.E. Butt Grocery Co., the industry has the responsibility to test the product."

The test will be done in Wegmans' distribution operations for fresh foods, which includes dairy, deli and home meal replacement items.

"That's the area we're thinking about going into with voice-directed picking, because we think we'd be a lot more efficient with that rather than a piece of paper," Bargmann said.

Wegmans' selectors do not pick from a slot in its perishable distribution operation. As product comes off the dock, the selector puts the product in a slot designated for a particular store. Pick documents allocate what product is destined for each store.

Both supply chain and category managers assign items to stores prior to its arrival at the dock.

Distributors including H-E-B, San Antonio; Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark.; and Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, see the voice technology as useful in frozen food picking, because it allows for hands-free operation.

The system is provided by Vocollect Inc., Pittsburgh.