P&G is looking for new approaches and technologies that can help the company to address key business challenges/opportunities.
Business Background:
With increasing customer demand and high frequency of orders, resilient warehouses have become imperative for P&G’s Supply Chain. P&G has several 24m high bay warehouses with a high degree of automation and some manual processes for various warehouse activities. Case picking and palletizing is one of the activities. When a customer order arrives through the order/warehouse management system, the SKUs contained in the order are picked from the origin picking locations (such as pallet, Automatic Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS), multi-shuttle lines with intermediate containers, and conveyor systems), and palletized manually.
Business Challenge / Needs Definition:
P&G would like to explore algorithms/modules which can be integrated with existing systems and automation hardware to solve for mixed SKUs palletizing.
The primary scope is the multi-shuttle picking scenario and the main automation/simulation area is the placing/stacking part of the processes. To calculate the most optimal pattern, a buffer can be considered to provide some flexibility for the algorithm – minimum to achieve 0.9CBM/pallet stability. All the SKUs information, parameters, and constraints of the pallets as well as the buffer recommendation will be given.
The below highlight considerations for evaluating potential technology solutions:
● The provider has an existing algorithm or the ability to rapidly create one, and simulate results with P&G sample data that has infeed case parameters and sequence (which will be shared separately)
● The solution will need to be compatible with P&G’s WMS and robotics
● The solution will need to handle a predetermined number of SKUs with different dimensions and weights
● The solution will need to account for a recommended number of buffer space
● At the destination, the solution will enable picking of cases and stacking them into an optimal and stable pallet, without exceeding the pallet boundary (ability to build with variable pallet sizes)
● The solution will need to visualize the process and each case stack position on the target pallet.
● The solution will need to meet the expected picking speed per warehouse requirement
● The solution will have flexibility within algorithms to accommodate different operating requirements
The regional focus of this brief is China and pilot activations will initially be focused on China. Startups applying must have a presence or the ability to immediately activate in China.
To apply, complete the P&G Innovation Brief Response Form
● All responses will be reviewed, and you will be notified as to whether the response has been accepted for further consideration.
● If accepted, you will be contacted by a Pilot44 Research Analyst to schedule a meeting to present additional detail on your company and solution as well as, where applicable, provide a demonstration of your product.
● If contacted for next steps, additional detail on the client needs will be provided at that time, as well as additional information on the review, selection & reward process.
● You can send any specific questions to our innovation partner, Pilot44
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