Companies focusing on a leaner supply chain are using gravity conveyors because of their sleek, modular and portable construction. Gravity conveyors cost less than automated ones, therefore are often used for more applications besides transport, from the manufacturing floor to the retail store. Gravity conveyors are generally designed without heavy, mechanical parts that can often break down, which can lead to added cost and wasted time when not operating properly.
Reducing travel time by using conveyors to bring goods to the picker is another lean goal. As travel time takes away from picking orders, the less touches and travel workers have to complete an order, the better. With smaller, singular online orders, combining them into a single travel instance can greatly reduce the time it takes to fulfill each order.