Lineage, Inc., the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, celebrated the issuance of its 100th patent, marking a pivotal achievement in the company’s innovation journey. This milestone underscores Lineage’s commitment to advancing the food supply chain through cutting-edge technology to enhance operational efficiency and safety.
“Our patent philosophy is rooted in a relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence,” said Sudarsan Thattai, Chief Information and Transformation Officer at Lineage. “Our 100 patents highlight the solution-oriented mindset and dedication our team exhibits daily. Our commitment to innovation propels us to continually develop technologies that improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of our supply chain operations.”
Optimizing Operations with the 100th Patent
Lineage’s 100th patent introduces a proprietary solution named “Lego” for optimizing pick pallet build operations and sequencing. This innovation addresses the inefficiencies of deciding which outbound order lines go on which pallets and in what sequence. Traditional warehouse management systems often lead to unnecessary driving and excessive pallet usage.
Lego minimizes labor, energy, and time by determining the shortest route to collect outbound goods, whether by human operators or robots. It optimizes multi-SKU outbound pallets, increasing the average number of cases per pallet, akin to a real-world game of Tetris. This efficiency reduces the number of pallets and trucks needed, benefiting both customers and the environment.
Lego integrates with Lineage’s other technologies to streamline operations and is part of the LinOS system. This system receives real-time customer and carrier information to prioritize and coordinate daily tasks.
Each of Lineage’s patents, including Lego, represents solutions to unique, complex challenges within the cold chain. From advanced automation to cutting-edge algorithms, these innovations enhance Lineage’s operational efficiency and support the company’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Lineage continues to transform the food supply chain, contributing to global food security.
