Nehemiah Manufacturing:
Building Brands, Creating Jobs, Changing Lives
How a second-chance employer in Cincinnati deployed 80 wireless pick-to-light devices to modernize fulfillment — and saw marked improvements in accuracy, efficiency, and employee confidence.
At a Glance
80
Cloud Display Devices deployed
115
SKUs managed with pick-to-light
3
Turbos (wireless routers)
80–85%
of staff are second-chance hires
About Nehemiah Manufacturing
Nehemiah Manufacturing Company is a for-profit consumer packaged goods company based in the West End / Over-The-Rhine area of Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2009 by CEO Dan Meyer and a team of seasoned CPG executives, Nehemiah was built on three pillars: building brands, creating jobs, and changing lives.
Nehemiah owns brands like Kandoo and manufactures products for Procter & Gamble, including Tide, Downy, Dreft, and Febreze. But what makes the company exceptional is its commitment to "second chance" hiring. Today, Nehemiah employs 180 to 220 people, with 80 to 85 percent being second-chance hires — individuals who were formerly incarcerated or hard to hire through traditional channels.
"Nehemiah is a special place. It's a company that was founded to do three things: building brands, creating jobs, and changing lives," said Eric Wellinghoff, Chief Marketing Officer. "The mission of our company is providing job opportunities for those who need a second chance. One in six people in the United States currently has a felony on their record and we found that by giving them a second chance, we could change their lives and in turn, they would change our lives and we could change the lives of consumers."
The Challenge
As Nehemiah's direct-to-consumer fulfillment volume grew, the warehouse team needed to move from manual, paper-based processes to a modern system that could keep pace — without creating a steep learning curve for new hires.
"We are a small but growing pick and pack facility and we needed to move from 1980s technology to the 21st century," said Ian Huskey, Director of eCommerce Fulfillment.
This was especially critical given Nehemiah's workforce model. Many employees arrive with no prior warehouse experience. A system that demanded weeks of training or complex software navigation would undermine the company's mission. They needed something intuitive — something a new hire could use productively on their first day.
The Solution
Nehemiah turned to Voodoo Robotics and deployed 80 Cloud Display Devices with three Turbos (wireless routers) in its Cincinnati fulfillment center. The devices guide pickers with illuminated displays showing item details, quantities, and slot locations — eliminating guesswork.
Nehemiah contracted with Scott Jessup of Whitfield Consulting LLC to integrate their SkuVault IMS and ShipWorks software with Voodoo Robotics, ensuring seamless data flow from order to pick confirmation.
"Voodoo Robotics let us add a strong but flexible pick-to-light system quickly," said Huskey. "The real key to success is flexibility compared to regular pick-to-light devices, which are much more rigid. The Voodoo Robotics devices are adaptable and reconfigurable as our needs change."
Today Nehemiah manages 115 SKUs with pick-to-light, using the devices for pick faces with plans to expand into pick-to-cart and put-to-wall scenarios.
Results
Improved Accuracy
Marked reduction in mispicks through visual guidance and closed-loop confirmation.
Higher Efficiency
Optimized workflows and reduced search time per pick across the fulfillment floor.
Better Accountability & Traceability
Every pick is tracked and confirmed, providing full operational visibility.
Rapid Onboarding
New hires — many with no prior warehouse experience — become productive on their first shift.
"We have seen a marked increase in our accuracy and our efficiency, as the devices have helped us optimize our workflows. We have also experienced improvements in accountability, traceability, and total operational throughput."
— Ian Huskey, Director of eCommerce Fulfillment, Nehemiah Manufacturing
Voices from the Floor
"I had no experience with any pick-to-light system before this job. I found the devices easy to interact with and a great way to increase my accuracy. I appreciate the instant feedback I get if I make a mistake, and knowing how to fix it without involving a supervisor."
— Bridget Johnson, Warehouse Picker
"I am a two-time felon who was struggling to find a job until I came across Nehemiah. As I started moving up in the company, I started to believe in myself. Fast forward nine years, I am the director of operations here in charge of about one hundred people who report to me. I needed the helping hand when I needed it, but now that I got to this point, I got to start being the helping hand for somebody else."
— Michael Taylor, Director of Operations
Why It Matters
Nehemiah's deployment demonstrates something important about wireless pick-to-light: it doesn't just improve metrics — it empowers people. For a workforce where many employees are learning warehouse skills for the first time, visual guidance removes the anxiety of "getting it wrong" and replaces it with confidence.
The system's flexibility was critical. Unlike rigid, hard-wired pick-to-light installations, Voodoo Robotics devices can be reconfigured as SKU mixes change and operations evolve — exactly what a growing company needs. No rewiring, no infrastructure changes, no downtime.
Nehemiah looks forward to evolving and expanding its Voodoo Robotics implementation as the company continues to grow its fulfillment capabilities.
Learn more about Nehemiah Manufacturing at nehemiahmfg.com.
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Whether you're a 3PL, manufacturer, or eCommerce operation, wireless pick-to-light can improve accuracy and speed from day one.