A variety of current technologies are showing their worth in warehouse operations as part of the ongoing digitization of the supply chain. Robotics is one such technology that is improving the value of human labor and changing the flow of goods through the supply chain. Important best practices have surfaced from early adopter installations to assist in directing businesses who are now contemplating the technology.
Robotics Deployment in the Warehouse is Growing
Recent developments in 3D visual autonomy, sensor technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a considerable expansion of robotics applications in the logistics sector. Businesses in every sector are now evaluating robotic solutions to see which ones work best for their logistical operations.
There are two categories of robotics-related activities in warehouses. Affixed to the floor, ceiling, or other surfaces, stationary robots carry out value-added operations from a fixed position and often resemble robotic arms. Without direct human operator input, mobile robots carry out tasks by either moving more freely via real-time route planning or by following preset visible or invisible tracks.
Many logistics organizations are understanding the tremendous economic potential of using robots for repetitive, physically demanding job procedures, especially in light of the personnel shortages in warehouses and the instability of demand. In addition to helping to allay worries about worker safety, automating these procedures may free up skilled workers for strategic, value-added work in other parts of the warehouse.
Four main sectors are exhibiting a growing number of robots in logistics, which is further encouraging human-machine cooperation and work sharing.
1. Shipment sorting using automation
Even though sorting shipments is a tedious, repetitive operation, it nevertheless needs high-quality results. Employees that must carry out this duty for extended periods of time in the warehouse eventually lose focus, which increases the likelihood of errors in their work and raises the expense of rework. Thus, sorting is a perfect use case for robotic sorting. In order to distinguish things for shipping and to categorize and sort them based on pre-defined qualities, the technology often makes use of cameras and AI capabilities.
2. Order fulfillment and robotic picking
It takes a lot of effort to manually separate and align packages, letters, cartons, and flyers in order to get them ready for processing later on. Given its broad use, robotic induction—which involves selecting an object, positioning it on a conveyer belt with a precise orientation, and determining its attributes—is a particularly scalable approach. By decreasing the distance people must travel and the interval between picks, aided picking robots may also increase overall order fulfillment process efficiency.
3. Organizing and disassembling pallets
Robotics has a lot of promise for automating the palletizing and depalletizing process in hub or incoming warehouse operations. This covers both mixed and homogeneous (de)palletizing. Mixed (de)palletizing refers to managing pallets containing items of different sizes and weights, while uniform (de)palletizing is the transportation of same-shaped, unvarying objects from and onto a pallet.
4. Filling and emptying
One of the most taxing jobs in logistics is loading and unloading trucks and containers with loose cargo. In order to maintain continuous downstream operations, workers often transfer heavy cargo through cramped places while enduring adverse weather conditions. Pallets and cartons are the usual applications for the implemented technologies of today. But soon, robotic software and computer vision skills will increase, enabling robots to do further independent tasks like mobile case selection.
The Best Methods for Including Robotics
Here are a few of the most important best practices that are currently being developed to assist businesses in guiding their robot deployments in warehouse settings.
- Choose reputable technology providers who comprehend the warehouse environment, are able to handle the scope and requirements of your implementation, and will be able to provide ongoing support after the deployment is operational. Utilize their technological expertise and deployment experience to guarantee that the technology is implemented with the least amount of operational disturbance and that it will fulfill your operational goals for return on investment.
- Take into account the size, weight, and form of the objects to be picked up or handled, making sure they match the robotic technology’s capabilities. As you choose and arrange the things, take note of the most often bought items, specific packaging and handling needs, and the kinds of containers that may be utilized. To make sure the technology is effortlessly integrated to maintain the required throughput without adversely affecting your ROI timeframe, identify the workflow patterns that operate best with the technology and your application.
- Select the most readily scalable robotic technology. Make sure you and your group are aware of the time, money, and resources required to scale as demand rises or your business needs change. Determine your goals for employing the technology, concentrating on the operational obstacles you must surmount, the goals you want to accomplish, and the personnel and resources required to go forward.
- Take into account your personnel and identify areas where productivity may be increased and/or help could be provided to your warehouse staff. Determine whether low-value jobs may be delegated to staff members so they can concentrate on more important and strategic duties that improve operational effectiveness. To ensure that standards are upheld and that any safety problems are promptly recognized and handled, update training and safety programs as necessary.
- Consider the area that the robots will use for their workstation. Take into account any obstacles, provide enough space for the robots to function properly, and set aside the required amount of space in your current warehouse. Assess if and how your employees could interact with the robot, as well as whether traffic patterns in the workplace need to be changed.
- Prioritize safety above all else. Select technology that upholds ergonomic principles. Update your safety and training materials. Ensure that workers and robots interact safely. Ensure that a procedure is in place for recognizing, resolving, and mitigating risks and concerns related to safety.
- Choose the data and metrics you’ll use to gauge the effectiveness of the technology and the installation, and make sure you have a strategy in place to discuss the results internally and make any necessary revisions. Establish the procedures, materials, commitment, and internal and external support systems to guarantee that choices are made and actions are performed in accordance with the data.
The increasing number of productive pilot and proof-of-concept projects using mobile and stationary robots in the warehouse setting is opening the door for more extensive deployments across the whole supply chain. By using these best practices, you can be sure that the robots you utilize will contribute significantly to your warehouse operations and provide the necessary flexibility, productivity, and efficiency.