Distribution Center Sorting & Manifesting

Expedite Sorting and Manifesting

Tension’s Sorting and Manifesting System (SMS) expedites the weighing, labeling and manifesting of your customers’ orders. By automating this portion of your order fulfillment process, you may find opportunities to reduce or redistribute your distribution center’s staffing resources.

How It Works

While a Tension-designed system is developed specifically for your operation, typical operations follow the following process. Packages enter the SMS on an induction belt and move onto a scale for weighing. Using information from the package’s barcode, the system weighs the package and allows for rate shopping via your shipping software. The SMS then prints and applies carrier-compliant labels on demand using a print n’ apply labeling system.

Next, an overhead omni-directional barcode scanner reads the customer-specific LPN or shipping label for verification. This ensures that the correct labels have been applied. Non-conforming packages are diverted.

Once the package arrives at the sorter, the system again scans the shipping label or barcode. The package is then assigned to one of the sorter’s lanes. It travels down the conveyor and a paddle pushes the package into the designated Gaylord or bin for shipping. Packages with no read or “errors” get dropped off the end of the conveyor into a designated Gaylord.

Customization

Print N’ Apply systems, number of lanes, weigh scales – your SMS is developed for your direct-to-consumer order fulfillment center’s needs. Customization can occur with:

• The intelligent fill pad allowing a wide variation of package heights and sizes.
• Real-time modifications, where operators control the sort locations, which are available as dual- or single-side dispense.

The dynamic variable induction Samson SMS allows for wave distribution. It provides a wider breadth of sort locations than static-only sortation systems, minimizing capital costs and space requirements.

Downstream Flexibility

The SMS records a package log, or manifest, of all outgoing packages. Tension’s tracking system allows post-packaging monitoring of packages through the system for easy access to canceled or modified orders that have already been packed or closed out. This frees your staff to move on to other value-added activities after quickly addressing issues.

Product Specifications:

• Actual throughput/output varies by operation. Factors including, but not limited to, staffing levels and productivity, workflow presentation, data/scanning interfaces, product availability and order/product mix impact results. Contact Tension for details.