Assessing and Applying the Proper Level of Material Handling Solutions

Once viewed as a cost center and a necessary evil, warehousing and fulfillment are now being seen as aMaterial Handling Solutions potential competitive advantage. The enhanced overall view of the supply chain is placing increased emphasis on the importance on the warehouse and operations.

A well thought out material handling solutions plan can improve the bottom line of many businesses, but a poorly thought out or implemented project can put the entire business at risk. We see many cases where warehouses are misapplying the available technology to their specific problems or issues.

READ: 38 Fulfillment Cost Reduction and Productivity Improvement Ideas

Consideration has to be given to the reason for considering the technology or material handling solutions to determine what desired results or objectives are needed. This information will help determine if the proposed solution is appropriate and will deliver the results needed.

Conducting a warehouse assessment will help you consider technology or automation options when you face issues related to increased volume, accuracy and overall productivity performance. Usually the most labor intensive areas and those processes sensitive to accuracy are the areas to consider for automation.

There are innumerable reasons to consider material handling solutions in the warehouse. Among the most frequently heard are:

  • Lack of space in the warehouse
  • High cost of skilled labor
  • Requirement for faster customer service or fulfillment processing times
  • Changes to business models or product lines
  • Demand for perfect order accuracy
  • Competitive pressures
  • Desire to lower costs to customers to increase sales
  • Shorter lead times
  • Reduced damages
  • Lower number of lost time accidents
  • Reduce or eliminate paperwork
  • Increase the speed of information and file transfers
  • Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN)

Many warehouses face fairly common issues, but the solutions can be dramatically different. One size rarely fits all, and most likely there are no two warehouses that will have exactly the same automation plan. The level and types of automation will vary widely based on your particular business model, operating characteristics and metrics. In most cases, a combination of automation or technology applications should be considered.

Before you decide upon some type of automated or technology solution to your stated problem, one key piece of information should be researched. The first question that should be asked is whether your current operation is being maximized in the area you seek to improve. If you can’t state that your present conventional operation is being maximized, then it is premature to reach out for a more sophisticated solution.

As you move ahead with the analysis, you will most likely be asked to discuss the Return on Investment (ROI) for your recommendation. Most people today look for a 12 to 18 month payback. If you have not optimized the current operation you run the risk of calculating the ROI on a sub-optimized process that will yield inflated ROI information. You should always attempt to get the most out of what you have before looking for alternate solutions. Even lower volume operations can consider some level of justified automation or technology if the right level is selected.

As we discuss automation and technology solutions, the following examples of potential types of automation options are included in this discussion. As you can imagine, there are many possibilities and this list is presented as an illustration only:

  • Basic bar code scanning
  • Pick to light
  • Put to light
  • Voice enabled technology
  • Conveyors
  • Palletizers
  • Robotics
  • AS/RS
  • Warehouse Management Systems
  • Package sorters
  • Unit sorters
  • Carton erectors
  • Diverters
  • Wire guide equipment
  • Carousels
  • Man up picking modules

Although material handling solutions are justified, and a valuable part of many warehouse operations, some of the following characteristics of automation should be considered in the evaluation:

  • Expensive to implement
  • Difficult to move or modify – flexibility and scalability issues
  • Often takes time to perfect the implementation
  • Usually takes whole process down when it fails – critical path issues
  • Difficult to have good backup plans
  • Initial cost can be daunting
  • The impact of automation on peripheral operations has to be considered
  • This is not to say that automated solutions are a bad thing. You simply need to consider all aspects of this major decision.

DOWNLOAD: Key Principles to Assessing Your Warehouse Operations

As you consider material handling solutions, the following simple outline of steps in the process should be considered:

  • Establish objectives or goals
  • Conduct assessment and develop baseline of measurements
  • Define future requirements
  • Develop alternatives
  • Evaluate alternatives
  • Select and implement solution
  • Document process and procedures
  • Conduct a post implementation audit

Many times a phased in approach to automation installs makes better sense than the “Big Bang” approach. Risk assessment has to be part of the implementation planning.

In conclusion, there are many justified options available for automation or technology applications. Make sure you do your homework and establish the current baseline and future objectives you are trying to attain. Be open to new ideas and make sure your current operation is being optimized. Utilize a systematic process that defines and evaluates options. If you do this, you will increase the likelihood that your recommended solution meets the objectives in a cost justified manner.