Features/Benefits Provided: Reduce WIP inventory Increased space utilization Reduced product handling Improved manufacturing process Eliminated temporary off-site WIP storage

This manufacturing center customer needed to find ways to reduce operating expenses and increase product handling quality. They also needed to make these changes without increasing the size of the facility footprint in their very competitively priced real estate market. Finally, this customer needed a solution that could be flexible to handle new product introductions. Through customer collaboration, the supplier was able to deliver a highly automated solution to meet these business objectives.

The manufacturing center's 14 docks receive raw materials and empty containers; these are then stored in the automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The AS/RS consists of 3 aisles of rack supported storage that provide a total of 7,020 locations. Each of the three 90' SRMs are capable of handling over 100 loads per hour.

The AS/RS is fully integrated with 32 inertial guidance automatic guided vehicles (AGVs.) The AGVs travel over 8,000' of path for delivery and pick up of material to the various manufacturing machines. Each AGV is capable of carrying one pallet or up to four stacks of totes, trays or magazines. The AGVs access over 400 different locations throughout the facility. Many of the locations are direct interfaces to automatic molding, assembly or packaging machines.

The software control system was designed, programmed and installed by the supplier. The system manages inventory, AGV traffic and conveyor control. The system hardware uses 2 IBM RS6000 computers with RAID disks to ensure redundancy. Allen-Bradley PLCs using AB DeviceNet provide all discrete communications.

This customer subsequently added three new product lines to this facility because of the benefits of this modern material handling system.

 
is a proud member of the AGVS Manufacturers Association of Material Handling Industry of America

P. O. Box 1512
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1512
Phone: 1.800.HKSystems
Email: hkinfo@hksystems.com
Website: www.hksystems.com