Mary Ann Falkman, Editor -- Packaging Digest, 5/1/2007 2:00:00 AM
Properly carried out, a warehouse automation project can be a home run that drives a company toward increased profitability. On the other hand, poorly thought-out automation projects have driven companies out of business. Determining the right technology and processes to automate is vital to remaining competitive. Practicing the right methodology for system design, integration, and procurement will ensure that the project will be completed on time, on budget, and will meet expectations. So states a new report from Aberdeen Group, Warehouse Automation—What's Really
Working for Pallet, Case and Piece Pick Operations. Aberdeen benchmark research has uncovered many compelling correlations between the adoption of automated warehouse solutions and their profound effect on labor costs, order turnaround times and pick accuracy. Best in Class companies have moved beyond using barcode scanning and are supplementing it with technologies such as pick-to-light and voice to reduce labor costs and improve accuracy.
Top performers have already built-out their inventory control and order picking processes, and are now turning to innovations in putaway, replenishment and returns processing to stand out above the competition. Those companies that have made large investments in high-dollar technologies such as parcel sortation and AS/RS have consistently reaped benefits through reduced labor costs and improved levels of on-time shipments.
Despite the strong correlation to improved performance, overall adoption rates for warehouse automation remain fairly low. Some technologies still suffer from outdated misconceptions about upfront cost or lack of flexibility. Piece-pick operations are a key sector with tremendous untapped potential to improve their bottom line through utilizing warehouse automation to a greater extent.
The report recommends that companies should evaluate their processes to ensure they effectively accomplish the following:
Case-pick and piece-pick operations that are struggling to reduce labor costs and improve accuracy should consider voice-directed picking or pick-to-light.
Companies seeking to boost pick accuracy should also address the problem from the inbound side, focusing on put-away and replenishment accuracy to reach the 99+ percent level.
High volume case-pick and piece-pick operations should strongly consider parcel sortation, as it correlates strongly with reduced labor costs and on-time and complete shipments.
Companies undertaking large warehouse automation projects should follow Best in Class practices and consider using a system integrator to manage the complexities of combining multiple forms of mechanical equipment and control systems in a single system.
SATO is a pioneer and leading global provider of integrated Automatic Identification and Data Collection solutions that leverage barcode and RFID technologies. SATO manufactures innovative, reliable auto-identification systems and offers complete...
more
ECONOCORP, INC. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of ECONOSEAL cartoning, trayforming, and casepacking caters to moderate volume users and features simplicity in design, operation, and maintenance. ECONOSEALS handle paperboard and corrugated...
more
QuickLabel Systems makes and sells digital color label printers and barcode label printers for use by manufacturers of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and more...
more
Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading suppliers of packaging machinery. Our diverse portfolio of packaging machines, including the well known Doboy brand, includes robotic automation with pick & place robots (delta robots)...
more
Hitachi America Ltd., Industrial Components & Equipment Division, supplies a broad range of industrial products and services. The division supplies sophisticated industrial equipment, components and services for application in pharmaceutical...
more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje...
more
Fogg is a world leader in the design and manufacture of rotary filling, rinsing, capping and enclosure systems for free flowing and viscous liquids. Fogg serves a growing number of dairy, spirits, water, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and...
more
Markem-Imaje is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, print and apply label systems and RFID-based systems. Markem-Imaje...
more
Microscan develops barcode and machine vision products that help manufacturers reduce costs, increase yields, improve product quality, and comply with regulations. Designed for precision applications, Microscan's line of 1D and 2D barcode readers...
more
Thermo Scientific Product Inspection and Processing equipment protects your brands by ensuring the quality, accuracy, efficiency and safety of your products. With more than 50 years of making sure little things don't turn into big problems, we know...
more
DOMINO is one of the world's largest manufacturers of digital printing solutions and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange. Our products are used for date coding, product marking, serialization and variable printing. Among our customers...
more
Teledyne DALSA is a world leader in the design, manufacture and deployment of digital imaging components for the machine vision market. Teledyne DALSA image sensors, cameras, smart cameras, frame grabbers, software and vision solutions are used in...
more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
