Flow racks increase picking accuracy for hospital supply operations
Healthcare facilities are beginning to utilize this "tried and true" storage and picking method - and getting results!
Gravity flow racks are in use at many major hospitals, doing the job of keeping inventory fresh, reducing order filling time, and saving space. Due to the way flow racking handles inventory, it is considered one of the best ways to help ensure accuracy.
Although flow storage is often thought to be an "industrial" solution, it can serve equally well in healthcare facilities under the right circumstances.
Flow rack solves stock rotation problems
Items such as I.V. and formula cartons, which demand that inventory remain fresh, are ideal candidates for gravity flow storage. Fresh inventory is critical to hospital operations, and flow rack ensures it by providing a first-in, first-out picking setup. Since this is easier and faster for order pickers, the rate of error naturally declines. In terms of saving work, carton flow guarantees that cartons do not have to be moved multiple times to ensure freshness.
Flow rack is used in receiving departments as well as order fulfillment. It can be configured in carton flow tracking configurations, flow rails, and in skatewheel conveyor configurations.
Flow rack also helps maintain inventory correctly, since it makes it easy to count what needs to be ordered from the back of the racking.
High density carton flow storage a boon to many cramped hospital central supply areas
Static shelving systems are relatively inexpensive. The big hidden cost factor is labor -- the amount of time workers spend restocking and picking.
Static Shelving: Pickers spend 15% of their time doing productive work.p
In the drawing above, notice how many wasted steps are taken between the items being picked. In the typical static system, pickers actually waste about 85% of their time walking and searching. That means only 15% of the time is left for productive work -- picking and marking order forms.
Gravity Flow: Pickers spend about 85% of their time doing productive work.
A gravity flow system may cost more than conventional shelving, but it cuts labor costs dramatically by decreasing the walking distance between items being picked and the time spent looking for them. In fact, about 85% of the picker's time is spent actively picking and marking order forms, and only 15% walking.
Restocking speed is doubled or tripled. Instead of having to remove the contents of each case and stack them on static shelves, gravity flow restockers need only slice off the top of the case and slide it onto the rack. This efficiency often makes it possible to eliminate three out of four workers.
Gravity flow uses floor space more efficiently. Fewer aisles are required -- at least 50% more goods can be stocked in the same amount of floor space. If the item and situation are correct, gravity flow saves money over the long term vs. static shelving.
Factor |
Gravity Flow |
Static
|
Gain w/
|
| If total floor space is | equal | equal | - |
| Then items stored (each case, 1 cubic foot) | 155 | 120 | 29% |
| Shelves high | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Cases per opening | 15 | 12 | 3 |
| Total cases | 2325 | 1440 | 61% |
Cisco-Eagle helps hospital supply operations implement flow rack and other storage solutions that save space, improve security, enhance order picking accuracy, and contribute to the optimization of your operations. Contact us today for more information.