Press Releases / Lucas Introduces Dynamic Work Optimization

April 4, 2016

Lucas Introduces Dynamic Work Optimization Software That Sharply Improves Labor Productivity In E-Commerce Fulfillment and B2B Distribution Centers

New Optimization Tool Included In Lucas Engage Cuts Travel Up To 50 Percent Compared to WMS-Directed Processes.

Lucas Systems, the leading provider of solutions for intelligent mobile work execution for warehouses and distribution centers, today introduced Dynamic Work Optimization, an advanced modeling tool that dynamically maximizes pick density and minimizes travel in picking and other tasks. Dynamic Work Optimization can reduce travel up to fifty percent compared to WMS-directed batch picking. Lucas will be demonstrating Dynamic Work Optimization in its booth, Number 4547, at Modex.

Dynamic Work Optimization is a component of Lucas Engage, the Lucas work execution software. It was recently installed as part of a Lucas Mobile Work Execution system delivered this year to a leading equipment parts distribution company. In an initial test, the customer reported that Dynamic Work Optimization reduced travel more than 20 percent. In a complete test spanning thousands of multi-line orders, Dynamic Work Optimization reduced total travel time by 48 percent.

“DCs that rely on their WMS to direct picking are creating more work and travel than is necessary, increasing labor costs and making it harder to meet their customers’ delivery expectations,” says Ron Kubera, Executive VP and CMO of Lucas. “With Dynamic Work Optimization we use advanced modeling techniques to generate sizable reductions in travel time without making any changes to an existing picking process, warehouse layout, product slotting, or WMS. This can be game-changing for any DC struggling to get products picked, packed and shipped faster and at lower cost.”

Dynamic Work Optimization is available today. It uses order, inventory and location information from WMS and other systems to create optimal pick assignments. The underlying parameters guiding the pick optimization algorithms can be configured to any DC, and to different batch picking processes. The optimizations are run in real-time as Lucas Engage receives new orders from a WMS, ERP or other system.

Lucas Engage is a key component of the Lucas Mobile Work Execution solutions, which also includes Lucas Move, featuring Jennifer:

• Lucas Engage uses order, inventory, product, customer and location information to optimize and orchestrate the execution of work on the warehouse floor by employees using Lucas Move, or by other picking systems. Engage also includes a web-based management dashboard that provides real-time management reporting and system configuration tools. Engage gives supervisors and managers real-time visibility into their operations, exceptions, associate productivity, and workflow, as well as powerful tools to manage mobile work execution.

• Lucas Move is the leading multi-modal mobile application for voice picking and other warehouse tasks. It is designed for ease of use and a better user experience, and features Jennifer, an intelligent voice agent who guides employees through their tasks. Move also includes Serenade, the Lucas speech recognition platform designed for the warehouse. Serenade is the first and only speech recognition platform for the DC that uses dual-recognition technology. Move can be used on a range of traditional RF devices used in a warehouse or on an expanding number of ruggedized smartphones, tablets and other android-based wearable devices.

About Lucas Systems, Inc.
Since 1998, Lucas Systems has pioneered warehouse productivity solutions for mobile workers and distribution center managers. Customers like Cardinal Health, The Container Store, C&S Wholesale Grocers, HD Supply, OfficeMax, Mondelez, Kraft and Rust-Oleum trust Lucas to deliver solutions that greatly improve worker productivity and accuracy because Lucas truly understands warehouse operations. Lucas Mobile Work Execution solutions optimize hands-on processes and seamlessly combine voice, barcode scanning, and other mobile technologies to improve worker productivity, eliminate errors, and boost end-to-end DC efficiency. The solutions also provide managers and supervisors with real-time reporting and management tools that help them better manage their operations.

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