Robotic and automated solutions, help increase productivity and lower costs
Published on : Tuesday 24-09-2019
Smart forklifts, AGVs, autonomous mobile robots – what are the new trends in material handling?
The market for Automation is projected to grow by more than ~30% CAGR during the period from 2017 to 2022. Worldwide market is moving towards automation of material handling requiring more smart forklifts, AGVs and mobile automation. While logistics tasks will always be directed by people, this new generation of smart forklifts, AGVs and autonomous robotic trucks can perform repetitive, low added value material handling tasks reliably and independently. This is a collaboration between people and robots and allows both to work and interact together safely.
Robotic and automated solutions help increase productivity and lower costs by reducing damage to goods and putting people at less risk of physical strain by giving uncomfortable tasks to the robotic truck. It also improves the efficiency of material handling flows and ensured fast, efficient and safe material handling operations resulting higher productivity for the customers.
KION India offers most of these technological solutions through its brands Linde and Dematic.
The Linde technology offers a complete logistics solution interfaced with customers’ own logistics management software ensuring real-time supervision. This real time solution comprises with telematics, wireless communication and artificial intelligence. The new robotic solution, the most advanced available solution, provides incredible competitiveness gains and a unique flexibility for the customers.
Dematic is a worldwide trusted brand and solution provider, to design, build, implement, and support automated system solutions for large scale warehouses and distribution centres.
What should be the ideal mix for efficient in-plant material handling?
The governing factors in selection of material handling equipment are versatility and adaptability of the equipment, which ultimately ensures better return on investments. Safe and simple operation is a very important aspect in the design of a material handling system. A material handling system should also integrate all the movements of men and material through a well-designed layout and reduce material backtracking.
Material handling ideal mix depends upon the customer’s application and its requirement for throughput. An effective material handling system depends upon tailoring the layout and equipment to suit specific application requirements.
When a large volume has to be moved from a limited number of sources to a limited number of destinations the fixed path equipment like rollers, belt conveyors, overhead conveyors and gantry cranes are preferred. For increased flexibility varied path equipment are preferred.
The traditional warehouse is being transformed dramatically – what are the implications and lessons here?
Warehouses today are the lynchpin between demanding, connected consumers and suppliers and brands. If distribution centres can’t fill orders quickly, efficiently, and accurately, companies potentially lose sales and market share.
At the same time, Distribution Centers cannot employ large scale manual labour for fulfilment of orders because of uncertain labour market as well as sometimes it is beyond the control of human effort. As the distribution environment continues to evolve along with the dynamic customer demands, the traditional warehouses or distribution centre set ups are not in a position to fulfil the dynamic demand of their customers.
Hence new warehouse facilities that utilise optimum space, can accommodate multiple product range, improve labour usage, safe, and fully leveraging material handling equipment and are helping operations work to be smarter, better and faster is the need of the hour. This is forcing traditional warehouse to be transformed dramatically towards smart warehouse by applying more automation systems.
How is the Supply Chain Process impacted by digital transformation?
Supply chains are traditionally assumed to be linear, but today many supply chains are transforming from a linear sequence to a dynamic, interconnected system that can more readily incorporate ecosystem partners and evolve to a more optimal state.
Digital transformation integrates information from many different sources to drive production and distribution, potentially altering manufacturers’ competitive landscape. Supply chain planning capabilities are now taking advantages of “Big Data,” “Artificial Intelligence,” “Advanced Analytics,” and “Cloud Computing” as competitive advantages.
Is this the right time for enterprises to outsource supply chain management to professional organisations?
Supply chain practitioners are currently involved in transforming more and more business processes to deliver value-added capabilities while lowering costs and ensuring high customer service levels. They generally use an integrated approach to develop holistic and sustainable digital strategies for the organisation. They understand the world of business changes constantly and intelligently handle the demand complexities with adaptive solutions.
Personally I prefer to build in-house capabilities by combining industry, operational and technology skills with relevant proprietary, in order to create tailor made solutions for each individual challenge of each and every client. The adaptive approach is the heart of our culture and we should utilise this dividend in the right way in our business to provide solutions to our customers.
Warehousing in India is still in the early stages of automation barring some e-tailers. What are the barriers here?
Rising problem with space, skilled labour shortages, occupational safety and dynamic demand have opened the possibilities of warehouse automation in India. Industries are in search of implementing innovative technologies which has the potential to improve productivity, safety and quality.
However there are many barriers why companies are not moving towards fully automated solutions, First concern is financial as many still believe that implementing automation to the warehouse will cost more than the benefit derived from the proposed changes. The second is the training of existing manpower to enable them to work in high end sophisticated environment. The other challenge is to integrate existing facility and setup with new facility.
However, today companies have started adopting process of automation by opting for stage wise automation rather than getting into total automation at a stretch, as this approach provides better return on investments.
The KION Group is a worldwide leader in Industrial trucks, related services & supply chain solutions. KION Group is the largest manufacturer of Industrial truck in Europe, the second largest producer of forklifts globally and a leading provider of warehouse automation. KION Group is global no-1 in supply chain solutions with unique & complete material handling offerings.
With its representation in more than 100 countries, more than 1500 sales & service locations and over 33000 employees, KION is a global player and sets the benchmark for quality, innovation and profitability in the premium segment of the industry. With more than 1.4 million industrial trucks and over 6,000 automated warehouse systems are deployed by customers on six continents, KION stands for sustainable & profitable growth through focus on a clearly defined business segment.
About KION India
KION group is represented in India by its six brands – OM, OM Voltas, Linde, Baoli, STILL and Dematic. We are one stop solutions for all the customer segments for their MHE requirements through our extensive product range and diversified solutions. Our vast sales and service network with 100+ customer touch points across India makes sure our products and services are within customer’s reach.
OM Voltas and OM has catered to the economy and value segment of Indian material handling market and has been the dominant player through the years. Linde, STILL and Baoli are prominent import brands. Linde and STILL brands are well established in the premium segment while Baoli is a key player of entry level economy segment of Indian MHE industry. We are offering automated ware house systems & solutions through our brand Dematic.
We have a state of the art production facility at Pune, which is well prepared to cater to the long term projected market growth. We have in-house production of IC forklifts ranging from 1.5T to 16T, E forklifts from 1.5T to 3.5 T, Stackers with mast height up to 6.5 m, Battery operated pallet trucks, and reach trucks with mast height up to 11.5m.