Now what? The phone is starting to ring for you hopefully. Are you ready to ramp up quickly to meet the new demand? Do you have a warehouse control system in place? Is your inventory control really in control?

Automating your processes and investing in new technology will help to keep you ahead of your competition. A good choice for identifying what is possible for creating a sustainable business model would be hiring a systems integrator to assess your current system(s).

Now is a great time to have an automation systems expert review your business operations and suggest ways for you to meet your requirements without adding labor resources.

By automating your inventory and warehouse control processes you can keep your labor costs flat through the ebb and tide of your product demand.

Areas that are likely suspects in re-engineering your processes are:

• Inventory Storage
• Order Processing
• Kitting operations
• Order Picking
• Replenishment Processes

Most reputable companies will assess your needs for little or no cost. This effort would be a great investment for your company’s well being now, and into the future.

Warehouse automation, whether applied in part or all, delivers a wide range of benefits that Include:
- Improved Productivity
- Better Material Handling Efficiencies
-Increased Accuracy
-Reduced On-Hand Inventory

These benefits are usually achieved utilizing less people and within a smaller footprint. These two benefits can figure heavily in determining the ROI for the automation project(s).

Once your project is defined and designed, the labor savings can be calculated and required floor space can be determined. Effective use of space can reduce building costs and frees up space for the storage of additional products, or for manufacturing activities.

The use of automated storage and retrieval systems make the best use of both the horizontal and vertical warehouse space. ASRS devices have dense storage capabilities and can increase storage capacity to upwards of 350-400%.

Another benefit of automated material movement is the reduced need for forklifts and narrow aisle trucks. Fewer trucks mean a “greener” warehouse creating less of a carbon foot print. The elimination of the trucks also increases safety, reducing operator and pedestrian injuries.

The costs involved in re-fueling and/or the recharging of batteries, mechanical and electrical preventive maintenance and warehouse lighting are also reduced.

Trucks weigh much more that most ASRS devices, this reduces the construction requirements for the warehouse or distribution center floor. More automation allows for “just in time” inventory management which reduces the total amount of inventory required in stock. The accountants love that one!

The increased picking accuracy means the customer gets what that asked for, which reduces returns. Less returns equals less labor and resources that are required for re-stocking activities.

Choose a warehouse automation expert that will not only assist you in your automation design bit also who can help you determine the ROI for the project.

Anthony J. DeSalvo
Software Development Manager-ScottTech, LLC
http://www.scotttechllc.com – http://www.celution.com

mailto:adesalvo@scotttechllc.com

Any new technology should help you gain control over your inventory and the associated business processes. Knowing the status of inventory and orders “real-time” is a huge in managing the operation.

Warehouse control systems offer both hardware and software solutions which should readily connect to existing WMS/ERP/MES software.

Most inventory processes can be automated:

-Receiving
-Stocking
-Product Movement
-Picking
-Consolidation and Verification
-Packing and Shipping

I will briefly describe what technology is available that can be used for each process. A more detailed look at each process will be presented in future posts.

Receiving
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without bar code scanners)
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without voice)
-Conveyor Control

Stocking
-Automated Storage Devices
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without bar code scanners)
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without voice)
-Carton Flow Rack Put to Light
-Bulk Zone Put to Light

Product Movement
-Conveyor Control
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without bar code scanners)
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without voice)

Picking
-Automated Retrieval Devices
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without bar code scanners)
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without voice)
-Pick to Light

Consolidation and Verification
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without bar code scanners)
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without voice)
-Conveyor Control

Packing and Shipping
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without bar code scanners)
-Portable Data Terminals (with or without voice)
-Conveyor Control