Industrial Automation

Automate Yourself a Higher ROI

To meet the needs of the high velocity world of e-commerce, conveyors and sorters must be a smart, fast, and efficient component of a production or order fulfilment engine. Driven by the need for flexibility, speed, and maximum uptime, customers are turning to a new generation of technologies—and new ways to minimize and optimize conveyor and sortation solutions—that enable nimbleness while cutting costs.

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Automated Warehouse Systems

Why You Should Automate Your Warehouse

Automated warehousing applied to part or all of a distribution center can provide a wide range of benefits including space savings, lower building costs, improved productivity, more efficient material flow, less people, safer operations, reductions in inventory, increased reliability, reduced running costs, better ROI and lowest lifecycle cost.

Automated warehousing systems provide the maximum possible usage of available floor space and building height. In some cases, this enables companies to increase storage capacity by up to 400% compared to conventional forklift operations. Where space is limited, switching to an automated warehousing solution can free up additional space for other activities, such as manufacturing.

Improved Productivity

Automated warehousing systems offer tremendous performance in terms of productivity. Not only do they work faster than forklifts and narrow aisle trucks, they can also operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, keeping product on the move.

Automated warehousing systems can also enhance the efficient flow of materials through a manufacturing facility or distribution center. By integrating the system with production materials handling systems, raw materials, tools, parts, work-in-process, and finished goods can all be efficiently delivered to where they are required.

The systems can be set up to provide a buffer storage function on assembly lines, and can service multi-floor applications. By using automated storage and retrieval machines the need for drivers/operators is eliminated. Compared with conventional methods, and calculated over the life of the machine, savings can be substantial and the ROI can be highly attractive.

Reduced Inventory

With integrated location and inventory control software combined with faster throughput, it is possible to reduce stock levels. Inventory can be accurately tracked at all stages, maximizing stock availability. Stock control can also be improved, with the software enabling goods to be automatically picked on a First In First Out basis , or by ‘use-by’ date etc.

Once the automated warehouse has been set up, ongoing operating costs are minimized. Typical warehousing costs involving refueling or recharging of batteries, regular mechanical and electrical maintenance, and staffing, lighting are also minimized.

KMH offers a free Operational Audit which can give you the most efficient and cost effective evaluation of your operation. We provide you with all the available ways to automate your facility and get the most out of your current budget while still optimizing your ROI.

    Warehouse Resolutions

    6 Warehouse New Year’s Resolutions

    When you’re thinking about what you’d like to do in 2016, here are 5 resolutions KMH can help you keep and profit from for the whole year. When it comes to your warehouse operation, since you work on it all day, every day, the New Year is a good time to look at improvements you can make.

    Work Safer

    Accidents happen often enough, since there are tens of thousands of these types of collisions–and serious injuries–every year. Have a plan, it should be enforced by clear rules, and by training. Accidents are costly in too many ways and are truly worth an ounce of prevention for a smooth day and year.

    Analyze & Consolidate

    From an order picking standpoint, if you aren’t automated, the reality is that you should look to reduce steps more than eliminating them. To do this, logical inventory slotting is critical. Can items that are often shipped together be stored together in flow storage, shelves, or racks? Can items that are very high volume be stored at the most convenient place? Can items that are required in terms of an assembly or manufacturing process be slotted beside each other in storage positions? One common method is to replace static storage with carton flow, since gravity flow uses floor space more efficiently. Be sure to plan for flexibility and scalability so you can adjust as you grow.

    Consider Automation

    You can leverage a tremendous amount of time savings by implementing carousels, conveyors, or other automated solutions that let people work. KMH can perform a free Operational Audit to show you ways to save by implementing simple and even dynamic conveyor and automation systems that lower your cost per unit shipped.

    Increase your ROI

    You can lower your operational costs by letting us help you review and understand your investment into every stick of equipment, every piece of software, and every person working in your facility. You can stop making decisions on initial purchase price, and work toward making decisions on the full cost of ownership.

    Leverage Your Operational Costs

    Electrical usage & pneumatics usage are going to factor heavily in your up time. Utilizing the right drives, motors, and reducers can significantly reduce cost over time. Turning off the lights is a simple “no brainer” to lowering your electric bill over the course of the year as well. Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems if you have them—including changing filters regularly—is important for good operation and to avoid wasting energy.

    Upgrade To More Efficient Lighting

    Lighting is typically one of the largest consumers of energy in a warehouse; accordingly, it often can represent the best opportunities for savings. KMH can help you find lighting savings by installing the most appropriate lighting technology and showing you how to control it effectively. If you are planning to install new lighting technology, our reps can perform a lighting survey and present you with all the options you need for saving and the money you will save on the change.

    Call 888-564-7978 for your free operational audit so we can help you keep everyone safe.

    Request Your FREE Operational Audit…