Three Ways Robotic Solutions Are Addressing COVID-19 Supply Chain Challenges
Although there have been concerns over the years that robots will ultimately replace humans — and take their jobs — in manufacturing, distribution and order fulfillment, their availability during the shutdowns associated with COVID-19 has helped numerous facilities maintain productivity. ...
Resource Shares Details On Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Applications
Because they represent a small segment of the conveyor industry, vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) are not universally known. That’s why the members of the VRC Subcommittee of the Conveyors and Sortation Systems (CSS) Industry Group of MHI have released a ...
Converting Equipment From Manual To Autonomous Operation? Ensure All Affected ...
To increase throughput without adding more labor or square footage, many facilities are retrofitting manual equipment to provide automated operation. Post-retrofit, it might be tempting to only test one updated unit in a fleet of multiple upgraded systems in an ...
Goods-To-Person ASRS Technologies Address Multiple Labor Challenges
Pre-pandemic, e-commerce fulfillment centers and distribution centers serving a variety of sectors struggled to attract, hire, and retain qualified labor. Even among full-time hires, attendance could be spotty. And, in spite of the unprecedented job losses and furloughs over the ...
Switching To Automated, Goods-To-Person Fulfillment? Gather Company-Wide Input On Material ...
As more and more retailers seek to expand their e-commerce offerings, many in supply chains are looking to supplement their back-of-store fulfillment operations with more centralized, regional distribution center (DC) fulfillment. Goods-to-person (GTP) automated solutions located in the DC offer ...
Calculating The Potential ROI For A Robotic Installation
When determining the potential return on investment (ROI) in an automated material handling solution such as robotics, most projects are evaluated based on net present value (NPV), minimum acceptable rate of return (ROR), the payback period, and other methods. Yet, ...
Taking Over A “New-To-You” Facility? Know The Capacities Of The ...
Existing warehouses change ownership all the time. Sometimes it’s through a merger or acquisition that expands a network; other times a customer may buy a facility previously run by their third-party logistics (3PL) service provider. Regardless of how a building ...
Exploring The Differences Between Vertical Lift Modules And Vertical Carousels
Vertical lift modules (VLMs) and vertical carousels are both computer-controlled, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) that maximize cubic footprint by storing items vertically. Their internal components include trays (also called pans, shelves, or carriers) that are moved up and ...
Upgrading A Vehicle From Manual To Autonomous Operation? Consider All ...
With more operations evaluating a shift from manual to automated equipment, one option may be the possibility of converting existing investments to autonomous function. When discussing such a change with a supplier, however, it’s important to be clear about the ...
Safety, Ease Of Use Features Characterize AS/RS Equipment
Offered in a broad range of types and styles to accommodate diverse handling needs, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) provide robotic, automated storage and retrieval of products with minimal human intervention. Regardless of their form factor, these advanced systems ...