Warehouse automation with Robotics
Warehousing operations being a critical factor for the success of any supply chain centric business process with the growing need to reduce costs, improve efficiency and streamline warehousing operations, more and more businesses are embracing automated warehouse systems.
Warehouse automation refers to the set of technologies (ranging from ERP "SAP, Blue Yonder & Manhattan", Robots to Operational processes) that offer the promise of automating warehouse operations to drive much higher levels of productivity. Advancements in technology are paving the way for a number of trends in warehouse automation that support warehouse efficiency, improve accuracy and enhance safety.
I feel the warehouse automation fall into three major categories:
- Operational process
- ERP & Techinical process
- Physical automation.
Latest innovations in the warehouse automation :
Majority of the companies uses the following the following equipments to run the warehouse operations in a optimized way.
- Automatic Storage and retrieval system
- Product to pick system
- Sorters
- Forklifts
- Coveyor systems
These technologies improve productivity and efficiency, they are designed for simple, repetitive, labor-intensive tasks that can be reasonably automated. Fortunately, technologies are being developed to facilitate better logistics and warehouse automation.
Let’s explore some of the current trends in warehouse automation.
AGVs/AMRs
Major vendors who offer warehouse robotic solutions (Listed as per my knowledge)
- Grey Orange
- Rethink Robotics
- Fetch Robotics
- Locus Robotics
- 6 River Robotics
- Righthand Robotics
- Attabotics
- Invia Robotics