Voxware reports that Performance Food Group (PFG), said to be the third-largest foodservice distribution company in the United States, has rolled out voice in five of its broadline distribution centers. The company plans to expand voice with an aggressive schedule that assumes a new broadline site will be rolled out every 3 to 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.
"Many of our workers who struggled to meet and maintain minimum error rate requirements are now able to reach and exceed required levels," says Jeff Williamson, vice president of warehouse operations for PFG. "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."
Performance Food Group Company markets and distributes more than 68,000 national and private label food and food-related products to approximately 41,000 restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, schools, healthcare facilities and other institutions.
