Enhanced storage efficiency is guaranteed, with productivity also rising significantly
Rapyuta ASRS, a flexible automated warehouse with a unique modular design,allows for customizable installations and relocation to other sites. It significantly enhances storage efficiency and productivity,maintaining consistently high productivity through various innovative features.
In this article, we will delve into the key driver of productivity for the Rapyuta ASRS: its uniquely designed picking station.
The Real Threat of Labor Shortages is More Than Just the Numbers
Many customers cite labor shortages as a reason for introducing not only automated warehouses and other automation solutions. However, there are instances where upper management views labor shortages as merely an issue within warehouse operations, leading to lower prioritization of internal focus and investment. But is that really the case?
When listening to those struggling with labor shortages, we often hear about the emergence of a vicious cycle. For example, despite the constant recruiting efforts, there are few applicants, leading to chronic labor shortages that result in understaffed operations unable to meet daily demands or handle peak periods. These challenges are easily imaginable
But what happens when this situation persists? While the company may be desperate for workers, nearby warehouses and factories are also continuously recruiting. When applications are scarce, there’s no choice but to lower hiring standards to fill positions. It’s a situation of “desperate times call for desperate measures.” As individuals who previously wouldn’t have met the company’s standards are hired, the quality of work inevitably declines, especially for tasks that heavily rely on individual skills.
Layout at HobThe real issue with labor shortages is the “decline in quality.” Ensuring quality through process standardization is an urgent task.byLink Japan
When the site falls into such a state, it becomes difficult for a few managers to address the problems occurring on-site. As a result, mistakes cannot be contained. A decline in work quality, frequent errors, and the normalization of these issues will directly lead to a loss of trust from customers. Today, all companies face intense competition from numerous rivals, and a loss of trust inevitably results in losing customers. In other words, the real danger of labor shortages lies not only in the lack of “numbers” but also in the lack of “quality,” which can cause serious damage to the business. Therefore, labor shortages are not merely an operational issue, but a challenge at the businessand management levels.
Therefore, when selecting automation equipment, it’s essential to consider not only the “efficiency” gained from labor-saving and automation but also how much it can contribute to “standardization,”ensuring thath any worker can maintain the same level of quality, speed, and accuracy.
U-shaped Intuitive Task Station
In Rapyuta ASRS, the productivity standard for the picking station is set at processing 400 bins (specialized containers) per hour. To achieve this, it is essential to enhance the productivity of the robots through multi-robot control and coordination, alongside improving the efficiency of human workers performing the picking tasks. As a Goods-To-Person (GTP) warehouse automation solution, where goods move toward the worker instead of the worker moving toward the goods, the system eliminates the need for walking during picking tasks. However, this alone is not enough to ensure maximum efficiency.
A U-shaped Picking Station Where Bins Surround the Picking Associate
In typical automated warehouse picking stations, as shown in these image search results, robots transport items to the picking station, where workers often line up side by side, similar to an assembly line. However, this approach presents a challenge: when robots wait to unload in front of the picking station, operational efficiency decreases. In contrast, with the U-shaped station design of Rapyuta ASRS allows robots to enter and exit from any direction, preventing bottlenecks. Once a robot delivers a bin to the station, it immediately moves on to the next task, maximizing its operational efficiency.
Additionally, in a straight-line picking station layout, a single worker is physically limited to handling 2-3 bins at once. However, with Rapyuta ASRS’s unique design, where workers are surrounded by bins, up to 8 bins can be processed simultaneously, thanks to the U-shaped intuitive task station. This not only enhances robot productivity through AI-driven multi-robot coordination, but also significantly enhances human productivity at the picking station.
Supports not only distribution center (DC) applications but also cross-docking terminal (TC) warehouse operations.
The Key to Productivity in Manual Tasks is “Error Prevention”
In the manufacturing industry, the term “error-proofing” has become widely recognized. Errors can significantly hinder productivity and, in some cases, even threaten safety. When aiming to improve productivity, many focus on “efficiency,” but there are cases where preventing errors is just as important, if not more so, than efficiency.
The white paper available for download below provides a detailed explanation of the picking station and error-proofing features, as well as how these contribute to both “efficiency” and “standardization” on-site.
Download White Paper
Meet Our Expert
At Rapyuta Robotics, we offer free individual consultations for the implementation of automated warehouses and related warehouse automation solutions. We offer support in selecting the right automation solution based on its features and suitability for your specific operational needs. Please feel free to reach out to us for assistance with implementing automated warehouses or choosing the best warehouse automation solutions.
