MHD MATERIALS HANDLING
DREAM TEAM: HOW AUTOMATION AND MANUAL OPERATIONS CAN WORK TOGETHER Crown Equipment explains the unique cost-effectiveness and flexibility of automated technologies that can be reconfigured for manual handling.
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hen it comes to supply chain automation, there are very few questions about whether this technology is a viable option. Numerous successful projects and applications across the industry have shown there can be benefits to incorporating certain types of automation into warehouses and distribution centres. As supply chain managers begin to research automation solutions, they are often presented with case studies showing new, fully automated facilities that can sometimes make it feel like the technology is still somewhat out of reach. For many companies, building a new, completely automated facility may not be possible in the short term. While technology is evolving quickly to make automation more practical for use in warehouse and distribution environments, the significant upfront
Crown provides a materials handling solution specific to a business’s requirement, need, or circumstance.
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investment and infrastructure requirements of an all-or-nothing approach typically involves long-term strategic planning and preparation. So, if you’re one of the supply chain managers trying to determine which automation strategy and technologies are right for your operation, what should you do? You can start by identifying the tasks and equipment that are ideal candidates for automation. Next, prioritise those opportunities based on metrics that make sense for your business and begin with a project of a size and scope that fits your comfort level and business case.
STRATEGIC AND SCALABLE SOLUTIONS Any effort to introduce automation to your facility should ideally be guided by a realistic plan with achievable expectations that can also be scalable based on success and growth. Develop a clear path for tangible return on investment (ROI) and determine a process and mechanism for building upon your success. This will help you strategically grow and evolve your automation efforts. Given its prominent role in enabling product movement across the supply chain, the forklift provides an ideal starting point for a scalable automation initiative. One approach to forklift automation that is gaining a lot of attention is ‘dual mode’ technology that enables both automated and manual operation. Dual mode automation can be an ideal approach for companies that may
not have a warehouse management system but would still like to realise the benefits provided by automation technology. Operations that do utilise a warehouse management system may contain a small percentage of exceptions that seem ill-suited for automation. Dual mode functionality can also help manage these exceptions without requiring a separate solution.
IMPLEMENTING DUAL MODE AUTOMATION So, what is meant by ‘dual mode automation’? Forklifts with dual mode automation technology can switch between manual and automated operations, depending on the needs of the facility. Dual mode automation enables warehouses to take an incremental approach to deploying automation solutions with minimal or no supporting systems or infrastructure. The important thing to understand about dual mode technology is that it is based on automated equipment that can be operated manually – it is not a piece of manual equipment that has been engineered to operate autonomously. The equipment’s automation features are fully integrated into the vehicle as they typically are in a fully autonomous vehicle. The difference is that the dual mode technology allows the equipment to be used as any other manual equipment would be used when a particular application calls for it. For instance, consider a tow tractor used to pull carts from point A to point B in a facility, with material being loaded and unloaded at each point. With a dual mode tow tractor, travel
