The use of gen-z technology like upgraded software, sensor-controlled machinery, Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), drones, robotic arms, Warehouse Management System (WMS), Customer Relationship Management software (CRM) and numerous other technologically advanced supply chain management solutions that today’s businesses and logistics companies are implementing in their standard operating procedures. Automation improves the efficiency of logistical processes ranging from procurement to production, inventory management, distribution, customer service, and recovery. But one who conquers the most important part of SCM which is warehouse management always remains at the top of supply chain management.
Key Takeaways:
- What’s warehouse automation?
- Types of Warehouse Automation
- Go-to-person Technology
- What are ASRS and its types?
- What are Automated Mobile Robots (AMRs) and are the best three types?
- How AMRs are changing warehouse operations?
- Conclusion
Warehouse Automation!
The process of storing physical inventory for sale and/or distribution is known as warehousing. Warehouses are used by a wide range of businesses that require bulk storage of products before shipping them to other locations or individually to end users. The six fundamental operations in any warehouse are receiving, putting away, storing, picking, packaging and shipping.
By enhancing human labour or, in some cases, automating tedious, manual tasks, technology is improving the efficiency of many warehouse processes, allowing employees to concentrate on more challenging tasks. Automation in the warehouse can take many different forms, including tools and robots that help staff with operations involving inventory from the time it enters the warehouse until it leaves.
Types Of Warehouse Automation
The technologies used to speed up warehouse processes are equally diverse and the list is long. In this blog, we’ll be specifically discussing the first warehouse automation technology ‘Goods-to-person’ that the most basal technology used in warehousing automation by businesses worldwide and which nowadays has become highly advanced for handling typical warehouse operations.
Goods-to-Person Technologies
Squandered time is eliminated via goods-to-person technologies, which also keeps employees focused on activities that provide value. Robots or other machines that deliver materials to workers for assembly or packing make up many goods-to-person solutions. It also uses vehicles that drive around the warehouse collecting materials or cranes. Conveyor systems and automated storage and retrieval solutions are both included in this method. Workers spend less time travelling and looking for products and more time picking since goods-to-person automatically places the inventory where it is needed when it is needed. This results in higher pick volumes in less time. According to a statistic, an operator may spend up to 65% of their time walking and searching for the right goods.
Verifications (often double verification) procedures are already included in many goods-to-person systems. Using a barcode, QR code, or RFID tag, for instance, while the system verifies the weight is as predicted. Higher accuracy and fewer mistakes are the results of this. Alongside, goods-to-person technologies promote social distancing, improve workers’ ergonomics, and help in reducing the floor space which is ultimately highly beneficial for any warehouse management company or storage provider.
Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)
- Mini-load: Mini-load is an automatic crane that manoeuvres through product-filled tall racks and confined aisles. Cases are retrieved by the crane as needed for picking, and after the pick is finished, they are put back into storage. Applications requiring case-sized selection and storage benefit greatly from the Mini-load. It can also be particularly useful in operations when there isn’t enough room for conventional carton-flow shelving to give pickers a pick-face.
- AS/RS Shuttles: AS/RS shuttles locate the necessary bag or carton that contains the merchandise that must be picked. The picked item is then delivered to a workstation. The following item is then retrieved after the inventory has been put back in storage. Because of the high speeds of the shuttles, they are preferred in warehouses with large spaces. Some shuttles are kept on the same level or track, while others are free to wander across the warehouse.
- Vertical-lift Modules (VLM): The use of vertical cubes that would otherwise go unused can be greatly improved by VLM which is an enclosed variation of AS/RS. Trays are used to store the product, and the system pulls them out as needed before giving them directly to an operator to pick up the order. As soon as a pick is finished, the system immediately puts the tray back and gets the next one.
- Horizontal Carousels: In essence, horizontal carousels are made up of a line of bins that spin around a track. Each bin houses several shelves of goods or stock. When inventory is required, the carousel delivers the appropriate bin right to the worker’s workstation or pod. After the item is selected, the following shelf is automatically lowered into position.
- Vertical Sequencing Module (VSM): The self-contained Vertical Sequencing Module (VSM) has tote positions in the front and back of the device. One or more units may be working in synchronization. Each module of the VSM has a conveyor, pick window or AMR interface, and it can be placed on different levels. Up and down movements are stored and retrieved by controls and software by an inserter/extractor mechanism that instructs on which totes to choose.
- Pouch and Pocket Sorters: Unit sorters of the pocket and pouch sorters give goods-to-person functionality. In pockets or pouches suspended from an overhead trolley conveyor system, items are deposited one at a time. Once there are sufficient units in the system to finish order or a wave of orders, the pockets are then kept in an automated overhead conveyor buffer. The wave of units is automatically retrieved, sorted into distinct orders, and then sequenced to packing stations.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
Collaborative mobile robots support workers during the picking process to increase picking accuracy and productivity. Collaborative mobile robots have many advantages, such as adaptability, dependability, scalability, shorter walking distances, and higher productivity.
- Stacker-Bot: Stacker-Bot was created expressly to pick up goods or inventories and transfer them throughout a facility. Up to five cases or totes can be stored and retrieved by the Stacker-Bot in a single trip. AMR automatically selects a case or tote scans the barcode, and places it on any of the five onboard shelves in the Stacker-Bot. It then talks with the WMS/WCS host software system through its RCS (robot control system).
- Go-Fer Bot: Another AMR is the Go-Fer Bot, which is made to move things about a warehouse for restocking, returns, kitting, or picking. Digital sellers like Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, etc. use this technology the most. The Go-Fer Bot delivers items directly to the workstation and operator for picking and is designed to fetch shelving and racks full of inventory. High productivity batch picking efficiencies are provided by the software, integrated scanning, and pick-to-light. The software automatically configures the system for steadily rising productivity levels.
- Exotec Skypod: AS/RS with an AMR foundation is what Exotec Skypod is. When necessary, the system uses its three-dimensional Skypod robots to scale the storage racks and grab the necessary totes or cases, which are subsequently brought right to the pick station. Exotec Skypod system enables high-density storage in addition to higher accuracy and throughputs, which can be a game-changer for operations with limited space. The Skypod returns the bin to storage once the operator selects the item. In terms of density, throughput, and ease of maintenance, this system can outperform other storage systems which are frequently required for fulfilling same-day delivery e-commerce orders. Exotec Skypad was made with goods-to-person applications in mind explicitly.
Conclusion
No logistical company can deliver products to customers safely and on time without incorporating any smart warehousing services. The core elements of warehousing services are inventory management, storage management and other value-added services. Adapting new technologies and high-tech machinery according to the warehouse operations and space available is an unavoidable demand by any warehousing company or supply chain management operator. Supply chain orchestration is like an impeccable symphony, covering everything from client demand to order receipt, warehousing, storage, cold chain management, picking and despatch, delivery of goods, subsequent invoice clearance, and gathering feedback on our B2B clients’ services. AWL India is committed to offering businesses seamless end-to-end support, managing every aspect of warehousing, supply chain management, and logistics, from packaging and inventory to these areas as well. The company oversees more than 10 million square feet of storage space at numerous locations across the country. The company participates in each step of the order-to-delivery cycle. With technology optimised to ensure clients’ prompt and secure delivery of goods to hubs, the company is the kingpin in warehouse management.
