Recall first. Then the matrix drill against the reference tables. Then the two scenarios, then your Riverside deliverable. Read the matrix against your mix, not your majority.
Short answers. Pull them from the lesson.
1. Name the three selection filters in the order you run them, and say what each one screens for.
2. Why do you select on the peak rate and not the average, and why does the effective rate sit below the sorter's published maximum?
3. There's no single industry-standard scale that sorts every sorter into slow, medium, and high by fixed numbers. So when you quote a rate, what do you compare against and what do you cite?
Use the two reference tables below, copied from the module. Read down a column for a product, across a row for a technology. There's no fixed pieces-per-hour scale here on purpose: the ranges are a source-anchored guide, not a universal scale, so confirm against the manufacturer's chart for the specific model.
| Sorter technology | Corr. carton | Plastic tote | Bagged apparel | Parcel | Large parcel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pusher (N-Line) | Excellent | Excellent | Poor | Poor | N/A |
| Narrow Belt 90 Deg (N-Line) | Good | Good | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Belted Pivot Wheel (M-Line) | Good | Good | Poor | Good | N/A |
| Narrow Belt 30 Deg (M-Line) | Good | Good | Poor | Poor | N/A |
| High Density Sliding Shoe | Fair | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | N/A |
| Sliding Shoe (M-Line) | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor |
| Sliding Shoe Very Large (M-Line) | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| Tilt Tray (Loop) | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Poor |
| Cross Belt (Loop) | Excellent | Fair | Excellent | Excellent | Poor |
Source: Hytrol Sortation Technology white paper, as summarized in the module. The matrix is a starting point for selection, not a final answer; it gets applied against the specific application inputs.
| Band | Rough rate | Representative technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level automated | ~3,000 to 6,000 pph | Pushers, MDR diverts, strip-belt transfers |
| Mid-range | ~5,000 to 10,000 pph | Pop-up wheel and sweeper sorters |
| High-throughput | ~7,000-8,000 up to 27,000-30,000+ pph | Sliding shoe, tilt-tray, cross-belt; highest multi-tray configs exceed 30,000 |
Source: Honeywell Intelligrated, "Sorting Out Your Sortation Options," 2020. Boundaries overlap and vary by vendor; treat this as a guide, then confirm against the manufacturer's chart for the specific model.
| Product | Share of volume | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Corrugated cartons | 60% | Corr. carton |
| Plastic totes | 25% | Plastic tote |
| Bagged apparel | 15% | Bagged apparel |
Run filter one against the mix above. Cross out every technology that scores poor on any product in it. List the technologies that survive, then say in one line why the 15 percent bagged apparel governs the cut even though it's the minority of the volume.
Read each one and write your answer, then defend it.
A regional fulfillment center runs a mix of 60 percent corrugated cartons, 25 percent plastic totes, and 15 percent bagged apparel. Peak throughput is 4,200 pieces per hour. There's 8,000 square feet available and 12 destinations to serve. Walk the three filters in order using the product handling matrix, and explain why the 15 percent bagged apparel still governs part of the selection even though it's a minority of the volume.
A sorter is being selected on the customer's stated average rate, and no recirculation path is drawn on the diagram. Explain what's wrong with sizing to the average, and describe what happens over a full shift to a line-sorter system that has no designed recirculation and no hospital lane.