Canadas largest supply chain company focused exclusively on the handling of temperature sensitive product was looking for a way to integrate product information in their remote cold storage facilities. The handling of food is both time and temperature sensitive and the information pertaining to the food shipments is critical for both storage and transportation. Remote facilities are small transfer stations that are designed to temporarily store product from the main distribution centers for delivery to local grocery and restaurant business.

At the remote facilities multiple products are combined on a skid to comprise the end destination order. A typical order may be a total of up to 50 boxes of multiple products, different weights and sizes. The skidded shipment needs to be identified in the main ERP system for the purposes of inventory as well as weight for the purpose of shipping cost relayed to the LTL carrier.

Working with the local dealer we were contacted about a basic scale to capture the weight of the skid once it was complete. Prior to weighing the contents would be entered into their business system and a lot number would be produced and a barcode printed in the office. Looking to eliminate steps in the process questions were asked about the output of data. What if a pick sheet with the contents on it were presented to the driver and once complete the driver could close the file with a barcode sticker printed right as the skid is weighed. This would satisfy the main business system for the purposes of delivery and invoicing as well as complete the shipper for the selected transportation company. Eliminating two steps would also reduce the chance of error.

The system selected was the SkidWeigh Plus ED3 with a BlueTooth label printer to print out weight and a barcode. Once the skid is weighed the operator presses P and the barcode is automatically produced for application to the top right-hand side of the skid. Also available on the ED3 is the USB data extraction which provides a record back up to match the outgoing stickers. Cold storage is often tough on accessories especially those which function electronically. Built for the toughest environments SkidWeigh technology surpasses most if not all tough applications as these systems have been functioning now for 4 years and counting without any interuptions due to equipment malfunction.