Introduction

Navigator WMS 2014 includes enhanced support for Vocollect Voice transactions. Voice direction involves directing the worker through a series of steps through spoken instructions. Operators confirm they have performed the correct task by speaking check digits. From an efficiency point of view, Voice Direction represents the current industry best practice. Operators do not get distracted by having to interact with a mobile computer keyboard or a paper pickslip, instead they remain focused on the task. Pick instructions can be delivered to the operator while they are walking or driving between locations resulting in a faster, more streamlined warehouse.

Navigator includes an advanced suite of tools to support voice directed applications for the entire warehouse, including:

• Order picking:

• • Order at a time picking.

  • Zone picking of a single order into cartons. This process involves splitting an order across multiple people and areas, with each section picked concurrently.

  • Pick by product (put to order). This process involves distributing a single stock item across multiple customer orders item at a time.

  • Batch picking of smaller orders into cartons. This process involves a single walk through the warehouse to complete multiple orders.

• Replenishment - This process assists Order Picking by ensuring that picking locations are always full, and that stock items are put away into the correct picking location.

• Container Movements - This process allows the warehouse to move lot numbered pallets around the warehouse.

• Cycle Counting - This process allows voice users to check that the inventory records are consistent with physical inventory. It can be run stand-alone, or as part of a picking, replenishment or put away process.

• Putaway - This process allows voice users to transfer stock from a receiving area directly to a picking location, or to a user-specified bulk location.

• Receiving - This process allows containers to be unloaded with items checked off the purchase order by speaking a product checkdigit (or scanning a product barcode). Items received are placed into a lot numbered 'container'. The container can then be transferred using a 'container movement' function or a 'putaway' function.

• Container despatch - This process allows cartons of stock to be despatched by scanning a barcode, then speaking the carton size and weight. The module then prints despatch labels and interfaces to the accounting system to produce an invoice.

Signing On to Navigator

Signing on the Talkman

• Take a Talkman device from the charger and connect your personal headset.
• When you power on the Talkman, you should select your operator name.
• To select your operator, press the Operator button, and use the + or - keys to scroll through the options until you hear 'Change Operator'.
• Press the Operator button to confirm.
• Cycle through the menu options until you hear 'All unassigned operators'.
• Press the Operator button.
• Cycle through the operator names until you hear you own name.
• Press the Operator button to confirm.
• The Talkman will say 'Current operator is John Smith. Good night.'
• To start Navigator, press the 'Play/Pause' button.

Noise Sample

The Talkman will perform a noise sample, and will say: "Please keep quiet for a few seconds. Please say.... Zero....One....Two", at which time you should repeat back the numbers at your normal volume level. This process is important as it ensures the voice computer will be able to understand you when you speak. You can repeat this process at any time by saying "Talkman, noise sample."

Signing On

• Navigator Voice will say "To sign on as operator John, say ready."
• Say 'ready'.
• Navigator Voice will say: 'Password?'
• Speak your password. (This is a series of numbers.)
• If the password spoken is incorrect, Navigator will say 'Password is incorrect.' and re-prompt you for the password.
• Once the correct password has been spoken, Navigator runs a menu, allowing you to select the function for your role in the warehouse.

Selecting a Function

The voice operator signs on to the Talkman unit by selecting their operator name, and speaking a password. Once signed in, the voice system will ask: 'function?'

The operator speaks the number of the function they wish to run:

Functions may be enabled or disabled depending on customer requirements. If there is only one function enabled for this user, Navigator will automatically run this function.

Note: It is possible to disable individual functions by changing the 'enabled' property of the task in the Mobile_Applications_Voice table to '0'.