What comes to mind when you think of ‘automation’?
Is it car assembly lines, with clever machines conducting their choreographed precision artistry? Or perhaps it’s a humanoid machine that will take care of all the things we’d rather not have to do – maybe along the lines of the ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) robot, which was created by Honda and has travelled the world to demonstrate its capabilities.
It’s tempting to think of bigger concepts when we think of automation because we take mechanisation and computerisation very much for granted in our everyday lives. The term covers many things, from the thermostat on the boiler to the functionality of a washing machine to those disc-shaped vacuum cleaners that cats like to ride around on. Automation is everywhere, and it saves both time and effort for the people it serves.
When it comes to manufacturing, warehousing, supply and distribution, automated storage and retrieval systems can not only save time and effort, they can boost accuracy, security and safety. Such systems can handle anything from picking the required components and delivering them to the user to complete warehouse automation, with robots that control stock movement and computers that keep track of everything.
Automation and storage and retrieval
Automated storage and retrieval is a key that unlocks many business benefits.
There are physical advantages, such as the easier movement or assembly of goods and the need for less floorspace to be assigned to storage, as the height of a building can be better utilised using storage carousels and shuttles.
There are increases in efficiency gained from computer-controlled stock and live ‘real time’ data that can be fed back to the business.
There are security benefits, as the stock is carefully controlled and safely stored.
And there are financial benefits, as automation reduces over-stocking, meaning business capital isn’t locked up due to holding an excess. Damages and breakages are also reduced.
The pressure is on
Companies are under pressure to deliver goods as quickly as possible. In manufacturing companies the pressure is two-fold, as components first need to be delivered to the right department, then goods assembled ready for delivery to the customer. As well as speed, accuracy and quality need to be factored into the equation.
Not only are machines faster and more accurate, but they don’t suffer from fatigue – they can operate 24/7, if needs be, with no dip in the quality of the service they provide or the amount of work they do.
What does the future hold?
Automation has already changed the landscape for warehousing and distribution companies, and that is set not only to continue but to increase. There are benefits for companies up and down the supply chain and across the spectrum of business sectors.
If your business hasn’t already taken advantage of the benefits offered by automated storage and retrieval systems, now is the time to investigate the opportunities. Linpic offers some of the most robust solutions on the market; get in touch to find out more about how your business can reap the benefits of automation.