11 point calibri font, if available. it's not, so here is arial instead.
To: Kassi W_, UIN1 lead.
From: Arbitrary Aardvark, T1 white badge.
Re: Ergonometrics of the produce aisle.
Re: Loss prevention in perishables.
Thesis:
we could pick faster if the produce for picking is put on shelves A B and C, with shelf D reserved for extra stock, so we don't have to climb up and down the ladder all the time to get one item.
this would be faster, safer, fairer, and help our covid 19 response.
abstract:
the algorithm for picking produce fails to account for ergonometrics. by playing hide and seek with the produce to be picked, it slows us down, creates a bottleneck that is resulting in social distancing fails, puts us in unnecessary danger of falls from the ladder or injuries from awkward handling of items while on the ladder. produce should be stocked for ease of selection, with the frequent or heavy items on row b, the lighter or less common items on rows a and c, and only overstock on row d.
it's an easy fix, but requires cooperation from management, and is not something we can fix ourselves. if we try to fix it ourselves this disrupts inventory.
the main problem is picking items on shelf d, too high to reach for most of us, especially women, especially an old cripple like me. it is not a problem that can be solved by my asking for a reasonable accomodation. it requires an overall fixsoi'm a position where i have to disagree and commit, and find out f this principle is more than just an empty buzzoword..
a related problem is the algorithm will have use get one item, say a lime, from one box, and then have us get the next lime from a different box. this slows us way down. there should be one box at a time per ASIN being selected, not multiple. this is not just faster, but is consistent with first in first out FIFO princples, and would help reduce waste and shrinkage. on the other hand it could worsen the social distancing problem.
star format, what is star again?
situation task something result
situation task action result
5 of the 14 key values:
learn
disagree and commit.
invent and simplify.
frugality
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the situation was that after a week or so of training to be able to pick ambient, bigs, produce, chilled and frozen, i found myself gravitating to the produce aisle most of the day most days.
the task was to fill bags of produce one at a time as directed by a handheld zebra computer.
this was on the one hand very simple, and very complex. just scan the bin, scan the item, scan the bag, go on to the next. do this 1000 times a day, or more dictated by the rate. 140 items per hour x 8 hours. sometimes it was that easy. however, every step was its own bottleneck; until you accomplished that step, you could not move forward to do any more work. bins were poorly labeled and hard to find, or the labels didnt scan, or the item wasn't there, or the bag wouldn't scan, or the bag would fall over. with social distancing, the most common obstacle was that someone was in the way, and you arent allowed to get within 6 feet. meanwhile there's a crowd of people behind you waiting for you to get out ofthe way.
this didnt work, especially after the door broke and was never repaired, so what ended up happening is that social distancing gets ignored in the produce aisle, and 20 times a day people are in my space, and i'm upset by that, but not usually wanting to be openly confrontational. meanwhile i'm trying to follow social distancing so that often means it takes an hour to get from c110-220 to c110-100, because there's someone new with a large order in front of me.
to improve on this situation, there's one major change needed, and a few minor ones.
to be continued at laundromat 3:55 sunday 6/28/20
minor:
fix the door.
written warning cards when they come inside 6 feet e.g. lama, keep one lama between you and your coworker.
put up a sign " no thru traffic in produce aisle [while people are working] [unless empty]
major: stop picking produce from row d.
issues: slow. dangerous. sexist. ageist - over 40.
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aside:
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