Access Business Group

ABG ships cosmetics and personal care products to independent business organizations around North America. A customer typically receives one shipment a week, on an assigned schedule. The volume is quite seasonal and the busiest time is at the first of each month. This reflects monthly incentives for sales, a result of which is that orders peak at the end of each month, with shipping the following week.

There are multiple picking areas within the warehouse, including separate areas for picking full-cartons (both fast-pick and slow-pick areas); and for picking less-than-carton quantities (both fast-pick and slow-pick areas).

ABG distribution center This DC picks cartons and eaches. The mezzanine, from which this photo was taken, is where shipping boxes are built.	Boxes ready to be filled An automated box builder queues three sizes of box upstairs.	Boxes with license plates After the WMS assigns orders to boxes, a printer produces the license plates, which are attached to boxes and sent to the pick area.
Fast-pick area The flow rack is shallow on the conveyor side and deeper on the opposite side.	Pick-to-light The zone control panel says "Pick tote 02287" and lights up the appropriate storage locations.	Restocking Full pallets are brought to restock the fast-pick area. Any excess cartons are staged behind the flow rack.
To shipping Completed orders flow to check-pack-ship stations.	Fast-pick area for cartons	Fast-pick area for cartons Popular skus that are light and bulky sit on rollers near the conveyor.
Carton-picking area Includes both pallet and carton flow rack	Slow-pick area for eaches Workers pick according to the shipping list in each box: There is no pick-to-light in this area.	Slow-pick area for eaches Note the shallow flow rack.