What is pick-to-light?
A short definition of pick-to-light, an example from manual assembly, and how Arkite handles it.
What is pick-to-light?
Pick-to-light is a picking method in which a light at each bin shows the operator which part to take, and the operator usually confirms the pick by pressing a button.
- A light at the bin shows what to pick
- Confirmation usually by button
- Confirms the bin, not how the part is assembled
Pick-to-light in manual assembly
Pick-to-light is widely used in kitting and assembly to reduce wrong picks. It confirms which bin was used, but not whether the right quantity was taken, nor how the part was assembled afterwards.
Projection-based guidance and sensor validation extend the idea: the right bin is highlighted by projection or DMX lights, a 3D sensor confirms the pick and the quantity, and the next assembly step is guided and checked on the product itself.
Example: in kitting, the bin for the next part lights up, the 3D sensor confirms the pick, and the kit is only complete when every part has been confirmed.
How Arkite handles it
- The right bin shown by projection or DMX lights
- Every pick checked by the 3D sensor, without pressing a button
- The assembly step after the pick guided and checked as well
- Every pick logged per order or unit
Questions about pick-to-light
What are the limits of pick-to-light?
Pick-to-light confirms which bin was used. It does not guide the assembly itself or verify placement, orientation or tool use.
Can Arkite use existing lights at the bins?
Arkite supports DMX lights as well as projection to highlight bins. The exact setup is defined per workstation.
Is Arkite a pick-to-light system?
No. Arkite is an operator guidance platform: picking is one of the steps it guides and checks, alongside assembly, tightening and inspection.
See it on your own product.
A live demo shows how Arkite guides, checks and records manual work.