Performance Food Group Leverages Voxware in Distribution Centers

Food & Beverage Close-Up, June 26, 2008

FOOD AND BEVERAGE CLOSE-UP-26 June 2008-Performance Food Group Leverages Voxware in Distribution Centers(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com

Voxware, a supplier of software for voice-driven warehousing operations, announced that Performance Food Group, the third largest foodservice distribution company in the United States, has rolled out voice in five of its broadline distribution centers.

The company said that it plans to expand voice with an aggressive schedule that assumes a new broadline site will be rolled out every 3-5 weeks. Once the implementations are complete in 2009, PFG will have more than 600 workers across 18 broadline distribution centers nationwide on the system.

Currently PFG is using voice in its picking applications. The integration of pick slot movement data triggers the warehouse management system to generate immediate replenishment for pick slots low on inventory. Since voice has been deployed in several of PFG s distribution centers, the company has seen a 65 percent reduction in mis-picks and a 50 percent decrease in truck shorts. In addition, training time for new workers now takes approximately 25 percent less time than it did prior to voice.

"We implemented voice to reduce mis-picks and truck shorts. But since we began working with Voxware, we ve experienced many additional benefits to using the technology, especially with our workers," said Jeff Williamson, vice president of warehouse operations for PFG. "Many of our workers who struggled to meet and maintain minimum error rate requirements are now able to reach and exceed required levels. Because our incentive system is tied to both productivity and error rates, voice has allowed more workers to earn incentives and bonuses, keeping them happier and more motivated."

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