Automated materials handling system

for the manufacturing industrydistributionfor logistics

Typically, when people think automated material handling, they think about conveyors and distribution. However, material handling is extremely prevalent in production too. Yes, there are automated conveyors as well, but processes are engineered to meet the needs of assembly production. Automated manufacturing comes in all types of processes. Products like automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) enable a highly dense storage environment for components. When a component or product is needed, the warehouse management software (WMS) is given an order from the ERP system. The WMS then manages the ASRS solution and components are then delivered where they need to go on time and in sequence. This also works using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated mobile robots (AMRs). Why Automated Material Handling Systems Save Time and Money for Production Systems Anytime that material is needed to move between point A and point B, or even point A to multiple work cells, automated material handling systems easily manage the task. However, when compared to a manual solution, an automated system will typically save in operating costs. Each operation is different, but with the high cost of labor, picking errors, and not getting components to where they need to go on-time, an automated solution will almost always outperform repetitive tasks. It will also remove the high cost associated with labor and streamline processes to run smooth and efficient—without errors. By employing automation to perform the redundant task of moving, storing, and retrieving parts, the high-cost labor are tasked with the more productive functions such as actual manufacturing.