Jan 4, 2012 10:13 AM

Glanbia Consumer Products, a major branded food supplier to the Irish grocery sector and part of Glanbia plc, has transformed its warehouse distribution after implementing a Heavey RF Group automated mobile voice technology in a 1 million Euro contract.

Producing brands such as Yoplait, Avonmore, Premier, Kilmeaden, Snowcream, Petits Filous, and CMP, Glanbia Consumer Products employs about 650 people at eight locations in Ireland. It processes almost 300 million liters of milk annually. The business unit supplies more than 4,000 customers with almost two million consumer packs each day.

Glanbia has implemented the Heavey RF VocalPoint automated voice system across five of its Consumer Products sites including two milk manufacturing facilities and three food and milk/cream warehouses. Heavey RF also worked closely with Glanbia’s IT team to implement an interface to Glanbia’s SAP ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software.

The installation has boosted productivity in one warehouse by up to 95%. Stock-picking accuracy improved in that same warehouse by 600%, resulting in a reduction of credit claims by 45%. Pick speed improved from 160 to 260 cases per hour.

“Improving the accuracy of warehouse stock selection and delivery is vital for all distributors and manufacturers but especially in the case of perishable goods with sell by dates as in the case of Glanbia,” said Ronan Clinton, chief executive officer of Heavey RF.

The Heavey RF VocalPoint system replaced a paper-based manual system with resulting benefits in accuracy and productivity. Instead of managing and processing unwieldy paper, the warehouse and manufacturing system provides automated voice directions to users, leaving their hands and eyes free to concentrate on the task at hand.

Irish-owned Heavey RF is an international total systems provider delivering mobile data technology and integration software for clients in a range of markets. It manages the supply, installation, integration, and complete 24/7 support of handheld and vehicle-mounted mobile terminals, wireless infrastructure, wireless security, and voice-directed applications. The firm has been working with mobile systems for more than 12 years and employs 25 people in Dublin and London.