Amazon has found an inventive and futuristic way of revolutionizing inventory-control in their larger than life warehouses. Amazon robots have taken over the way product is organized and delivered to the picker for final packing.
When an order is submitted through the Amazon website, a robot is given a mission to find that product amongst thousands of pods containing several products each. Once that pod is located by the robot, they position themselves underneath the pod and carefully lift the pod slightly off the ground, making for better transport. After the robot has the pod secure, they then move to the “street” between the other pods, and eventually make their way to the “highway”, where they can find their designated picker. The picker can then pick, scan, and package the item off the pod to be shipped to the customer. Upon completion of the mission, the robot must return the pod to a new storage space. This storage space is dependent on the remaining content, empty, or nearly empty pods will make their way to the back of the warehouse. Once the pod is safely back on the ground in its new location, the robot can finally rest at the charging station and allow for another robot to take over. Q-Stock Inventory software has taken the same concept and put it in the hands of your employees. Our hardware and software products make it easier and more efficient for your picker to find the right product, in order to get it to the customer in a timely manner.
Warehouse Design for Automation
Warehouse automation is key to having an efficient and profitable warehouse. Three areas that are benefited by a warehouse designed for automation is; productivity gains, accurate forecasting for the future, and increased safety
When a warehouse automation system is in place, a warehouse has the ability to be active 24/7. Robots are able to perform countless duties and will never tire or need a break. This will also allow for there to be less employees on the floor, which will significantly reduce labor costs and cut shifts.
Knowing where any given item is at any given time, more accurate forecasting for the future is possible. Deliveries to customers are handled more quickly and efficiently, increasing customer service, and increasing business.
Increased safety is the final benefit from having an warehouse designed for automation. Having less employees on the floor will decrease the amount of accidents.
To see how your company can benefit from warehouse design for automation contact Kim at Q-Stock Inventory.
Inventory Control
Knowing where goods are through an automated warehouse will aid in inventory control, allowing for more accurate goods counts, reducing out of stocks, and better planning for future orders.
Through inventory control, you can better control and count for raw products, in-process products, as well as the finished goods. Knowing where everything is throughout the process will allow for less waste and a more profitable product.
Knowing where products are at all times will help reduce the amount of out of stock, theft and even spoilage.
Planning for the future is an important part of inventory control. Knowing how much of one product is sold will help with ordering, making sure you never have an abundance or shortage of any given product. Ideally, knowing the selling cycle of a product will allow for new product to be delivered as soon as the last of that product is sold.
(src: Chonday)
