Scott Stone | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 8
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The Anatomy of a Pick Module

April 12, 2022
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Pick module with carton flow on two levels in an apparel distribution center.

Pick modules support a range of warehouse activities, but their primary role is to increase the speed and space efficiency of order fulfillment operations. Configured with racks (which are usually the support structure), conveyors, flow storage, shelves and modular storage, they let you design the storage, fulfillment and picking strategy that fits your needs. Some pick modules are simple — really, just a shelf-supported mezzanine. Others combine automation and WMS systems for full systems integration.

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Are AGVs Right for You?

March 17, 2022
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driverless forklift AGV.

AGVs–automated guided vehicles–are mainstream. You see them in increasingly diverse applications and functioning in areas of the supply chain that may have seemed impossible a few years ago. Especially as e-commerce continues to accelerate and consumers demand more and faster shipments, companies must innovate to meet demand. AGV technology is ready for real-world use and can provide the answer, but is it a good fit for you?

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Ergonomics and Pallet Handling

March 10, 2022
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Workers with various loaded pallets on a warehouse dock staging area

Palletized loads are one of the most common—and most difficult—areas of concern for ergonomic warehouse operations. In an era of labor shortages and increased safety concerns, dealing with pallets and palletized loads should be a higher-priority target for warehouse operations.

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

Pallet Racks and Warehouse Slab Specification

February 22, 2022
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Photo of a warehouse floor, with a mezzanine installed on the left and a pallet rack system installed on the right.

Because high-bay warehouses with narrow aisles and heights of 30 feet or more have become common, it’s critical to understand your facility floor if you intend to add racks, change layouts or otherwise alter the operation. If you’re adding or changing an existing facility, and the design has changed so that higher density, taller or heavier racks are in play, what factors should you consider?

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Conveying Fruits and Produce

February 1, 2022
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cherries being sorted and packed in a processing facility.
Conveyors used to transport, sort and deliver produce such as fruits and vegetables must be precise, sanitary and capable of carefully handling delicate foods. Production and packaging machinery should integrate with conveyor systems to ensure seamless operation. What are some produce conveying factors?

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Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

How to Specify Pallet Rack Safety Netting

January 13, 2022
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Pallet rack safety net catches cartons to prevent falling items from landing below.

Any aisle that overlooks an area where people work, shop or walk should be protected against falling items, and rack netting is one of the most common ways to do that. It’s relatively inexpensive, full-time protection that can also help you maintain NFPA flue space requirements.

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

New Rules for Industrial Automation ROI

January 4, 2022
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Automated palletizing system with robotic arm.

In October 2019, I wrote this article on ROI factors for automation projects.

That was just over two years ago, but the world is, to understate the case, a different place now. We endured a relentless Covid-19 pandemic that still persists. The “great resignation” has accelerated. Ecommerce demand was already ascendant, but is on an even faster track. The labor pool got shallower and continues to contract. What should we consider when we look at these projects in 2022 and beyond?

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Security Cages and Partitions: Choosing the Right Wall Type

December 14, 2021
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Warehouse wire security cage with a mixture of solid and welded wire panels beneath a mezzanine.

Above: wire security cage installed beneath a mezzanine using both wire mesh and solid sides

Wire security partitions are a great way to make your warehouse more secure. They’re used in tool cribs, for high-value inventory and to control access to restricted areas. You can specify a partition of almost any shape, almost any size and with a world of locks, windows and other options to create a versatile, secure storage area. You can also specify the wall type: woven wire, welded wire and solid. What wall type should you use?

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Posted in Security|

Pallet Rack Safety Standards: What You Need to Know

December 7, 2021
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Warehouse pallet rack system

In some countries, pallet rack safety standards are much more rigorous and defined than in the United States. The U.S. lives in more of a gray zone, with overlap from multiple organizations and building code standards. However, safety is always a concern for warehouses or other facilities that use pallet racks, and a lack of standards hardly means a lack of accountability.

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

When is an AS/RS System a Good Fit?

November 18, 2021
by

asrs with incline conveyor

Automated storage and retrieval systems are becoming more commonly deployed in today’s modern distribution, manufacturing and warehousing facilities because they make more sense than ever in an age of escalating demand and declining labor availability. Is space tight? What are the error rates throughout fulfillment? Are there space issues do you see moving forward? What are the safety and ergonomic concerns?

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

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