Automated Distribution Solutions

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Automated Distribution Solutions

Experience to help you analyze and specify

Advancements in technology, combined with a lowered cost of ownership, many organizations are considering initiatives that include automation to overcome talent shortages, with investments in robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS).

We help you excel to protect and increase market share, improve ROI and over all performance in your industry by making the most of floor space and workforce multiplier tools.

Automated Warehouse Rautomation & Distribution Solutions
Evaluate Automation Opportunities
Automated routing to maximize throughput, minimize cost
Tote routing decision table development for automated management and consolidation
  • Operator directed picking from floor and order picker to optimize path
  • Order release timing based on zone pick rates avoid congestion and bottle necks
  • Order consolidation to optimize carton/content balance to minimize shipping costs
Multi-pod Carousels with sortation conveyor control
Establish, SRD using existing operations policies or improve with best practices
  • Review configuration options reflect user needs
  • Conduct ROI assessment
Dimension and Weight Capture
In-line conveyor dimensioning and weighing - integrated to WMS or rate shop module
  • Automated and Consistent dimension and weight capture -- on the move
  • Dim and weigh data linked to shipper label generation
Print-and-Apply
Integrate rate data, label formatting, conveyor control and downstream validations
  • Rate shopping data integration with upstream capture
  • Label formatting
  • Staging control
  • Downstream validation and accept/reject control
Match inventory replenish rates to solution considerations
Fast movers, slow movers, piece pick or bulk -- match solution to improvement opportunity
  • Minimize footprint with vertical storage, gain point of use advantage:  VLMs and verticals
  • Minimize walking and batch pick with horizontal carousels
  • Minimize costs of floor space and storage system with mobile shelving
Automation engineering to overcome talent shortages, with  investments in robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS)

Automation Project Expertise

Consolidation, Carousel Control and Paperless

IIS implemented each of these projects by first working with our customer to understand their requirements, to develop an SRD (specification requirements document) then complete the project successfully.

  • NAVSEA Staging Facility:  Receiving and shipping, conveyor PLC interface, carousel control - three pods of three carousels with PTL (pick to light).
  • Patapsco Design:  Carousel control - with host interface for kitting circuit board build components. Conversion to Carousels from static shelving - reduced work load to one person working 30 hours / week from two people working 50 hours a week.
  • Langley Airforce Base Hospital Supply:  RF scanner integration for receiving station, carousel control with inventory management and reporting capability.  High density carousel and mobile shelving systems enabled the customer to move to a facility 50% the size of the original warehouse space.
  • Hollingsworth Logistics:  3PL for General Motors and Ford.  WMS including multiple carousel pods with pick / pass, multiple zone control with inventory management, pick to light, order consolidation, pack/ship station.
  • Thomson Reuters - CentralDistribution Facility:  Integrated one SAP network node to 16 Kardex VLMs.  Implemented a pick and pass system of operation for stocking, picking and inventory management. Worked with in-house SAP specialists to specify and implement the host interface for downloads and status records for upload.  Reverse engineered communication protocol and developed device driver interfaces to each of three VLM models and ages - ranging from 4 to 25 years.  Developed and furnished a complete user guide.
Consolidation, Carousel Control and Paperless
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