TECHNOLOGY
56
In today ’ s fast paced world , consumer expectations on receiving products and services is higher than ever as we want it all instantly . Customer demand is one of the clear leading factors driving uptake of automation in manufacturing warehouses today , as customers expect next-day delivery or at the very least ever-shorter delivery lead times . In order to achieve this , manufacturers are under pressure to muster resources at short notice to satisfy demand .
Adding to that pressure is the fact that demand often fluctuates over time , due to seasonality , weather conditions or unexpected events that result in spikes in interest in a particular product line . It is difficult for manufacturers to pull people in for short periods , and train and them up quickly , so that they can respond to these demand spikes in a timely manner .
Given all this , it is not surprising that we are seeing an ever-growing range of automated systems being put to use in warehouses today : from cranes and conveyors to automatic guided vehicles ( AGVs ); automatic sorters ; palletisers and RFID tags .
Automated equipment such as cranes , conveyors and sorters can be used to support better space utilisation , decrease error rates , and deliver faster and more accurate picking – and by enabling task
SEPTEMBER 2019