As we’ve discussed automating anything as complex as a large scale material handling process has risks, but there are ways understand the outcome better in advance and reduce any risks. It’s always good to have more data, and simulation plays into that scenario by giving you a view of what key systems, technology and process will interact in your system, with your loads.
Tags: data, simulation, Factory Automation, ROI
Posted in ROI, Order Picking & Fulfillment, Automation, Warehousing| No Comments »
A medium-sized chain of convenience stores once asked me to take a look at their Warehouse Management System (WMS) to see if it was time for an upgrade. After documenting all the functions it performed, we discovered that none of them could be described as serving warehouse activities. The system had lots of good purchasing functions—but offered nothing to support the actual warehouse.
Tags: WMS, Factory Automation, Warehouse Management
Posted in Automation, Warehousing, Supply Chain| No Comments »
Conveyors are an optimal way to enhance warehouse productivity, but, in order to maximize their benefit, it’s important to specify the right conveyor system to your application. In an effort to assist our clients with material transport operations in distribution, warehousing, military logistics, and manufacturing, we’ve created this collection of Cisco-Eagle’s best conveyor system resources.
The following guide to conveyor systems is intended to help you determine how you can increase your operation’s efficiency, boost its productivity, reduce errors, and increase throughput – all while you reduce costs and overhead burden.
Tags: automated systems, Conveyor, Factory Automation, conveyor system, Order Picking & Fulfillment
Posted in Conveyor, Material Handling| No Comments »
Manufacturing Automation has taken huge steps forward in recent years, helping companies become safer and more efficient. Technology such as robotics for picking, packing, or welding is constantly advancing, making systems better, and smarter, each year. Vision systems alone are undergoing a revolution in terms of effectiveness. This type of automation is also more affordable every year, while the cost of just about everything else – labor, energy, raw materials, and insurance – is rising.
Tags: Manufacturing, Robotics, Factory Automation
Posted in Warehousing, Manufacturing, Robotics, Automation| No Comments »
President Obama’s State of the Union address focused on manufacturing in the United States – which everyone, no matter their political persuasion, can agree is a vital part of our economy. Countries that don’t make things aren’t world powers, period. And the numbers, on the surface, can look dire. According to Forbes Magazine, 22 million manufacturing jobs were lost globally between 1995 and 2002. The U.S. lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs in that timeframe.
Tags: Factory Automation, Manufacturing, China
Posted in News, Automation, Manufacturing, Robotics| No Comments »
Sortation systems in distribution is application driven – typically we are talking about order fulfillment (retail, wave pre-sorting, inbound putaway sorts), shipping (end of line carrier sortation, ship to stores), and returns. Traditional sweep sorters, cross-belt, narrow slat & shoe, or belt sorters are often thought of as “for the big guys” in large operations. SpanTech’s new TranSorter is different, and it’s rolling out at Modex 2012. A sneak peek video below:
The TranSorter is built for hard to sort items, such as fragile items that require different handling. It’s good for ultra-lightweight items, poly bags, etc. It’s scalable, flexible, and affordable due to truly modular design, a world of layout possibilities, and competitive pricing. It can also deploy quickly, with 6-8 week delivery times and a couple days installation time. If you’re planning to attend Modex, check it out.
Tags: Factory Automation, Automation, Material Handling, conveyor systems, sortation conveyor
Posted in Pallet and Industrial Racks, Order Picking & Fulfillment, Automation, Warehousing, Material Handling, Cross Docking, Conveyor, News, Docks & Shipping| No Comments »
In the not-too-distant past, most companies that weren’t running immense distribution operations, who didn’t have multiple facilities, who didn’t run 24-hour shifts, didn’t even consider automation. Too expensive, they’d say. Too much risk. Too little upside if things go wrong. All valid in context, if it was 1998. But the reality is this: While most costs—personnel, land, energy— have increased, automation costs have remained steady or declined across the board. The reality today is that the four guys stacking pallets at the end of a line, even for a single shift, even at low wages, are more expensive than a well configured palletizing system.
Those costs aren’t going to do anything but escalate, either. Listed are ten ways automation has become more relevant, even to mid-size operations:
Tags: warehouse technology, Factory Automation, ergonomics, Cost Reduction
Posted in Conveyor, Automation, ROI, Order Picking & Fulfillment, Robotics| No Comments »
We’re compiling a great deal of conveyor-related information, tips and articles into a series of downloadable conveyor white papers. The first focuses on the basics of conveyor maintenance – what to do, when to do it, and how, in general terms. As the paper says, most conveyors ship with detailed maintenance manuals that will help your staff keep them running at top efficiency. The good news is that conveyors are very tough, reliable machinery. They require maintenance, but for the hours of service and stress put on them, they are remarkably reliable.
Tags: Conveyor, Factory Automation, Material Handling, facility maintenance
Posted in Conveyor, News, Warehousing, Manufacturing, Material Handling| No Comments »
With the growing popularity of automating the palletizing function, we arranged an interview with vonGAL, a leading manufacturer who has the largest installed base of palletizers in the country. Bobby Edmond is vonGAL’s Director of Applications, and has been in the business for 25 years. He has seen applications in a wide range of industries, and in companies large and small. I asked him if he would take time to share his thoughts, and answer a few questions of interest to those that might be considering palletizing for the first time.
Tags: Factory Automation, warehousing, Material Handling, shipping, order fulfillment, Palletizers, palletizing
Posted in Automation, Palletizers, Warehousing, Supply Chain, Material Handling, Conveyor| No Comments »
As interest continues to grow in automated palletizing, let’s take a brief look at a few of the issues surrounding these applications.
Over the next couple of months, I’ll be providing a handful of blog postings relative to palletizers. We will begin with what is driving the growth in the use of these products, then a look at basic systems, cost estimates, what you can expect from a properly applied palletizer system, and then share specifics from a couple of actual implementations in distribution centers. If you are experienced in palletizer systems, you will likely be familiar with much of what is covered here. If you are new to palletizing, or considering your first system, hopefully, this information will help you understand what the issues are and how you can navigate them.
Tags: shipping, order fulfillment, Palletizers, Factory Automation, palletizing, warehousing, Material Handling
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics, Warehousing, Supply Chain, Material Handling, Space Optimization & Planning, Automation, Palletizers| No Comments »
