Material Handling Equipment - Industrial and Systems Engineering

MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENTEnables fully automatedpiece picking, withmanual replenishment.Popular withinpharmaceuticaldistribution centersInverted A-frame used forflat itemsOther types of fullyautomated piece pickingsystems include roboticbased systems that aresimilar in constructionto robotic pick andplace palletizersParallel Arrays ofVertical ChannelsReplenishCarton FlowRacksTakeaway Conveyor15. Automatic storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS)Consists of integrated computer-controlled system that combines storage medium, transportmechanism, and controls with various levels of automation for fast and accurate randomstorage of products and materialsStorage/retrieval (S/R) machine in an AS/RS operates in narrow aisle, serving rack slots on bothsides of aisle; can travel in horizontal (along the aisle) and vertical (up and down a rack)directions at same timeAdv: Fewer material handlers, better material control (including security), and more efficient useof storage spaceDisadv: Typically, high capital and maintenance costs, and more difficult to modifyAlthough AS/RS were originally developed for warehousing and distribution operations, they arenow also being used for in-process storage as part of an automated job shop. In an automatedjob-shop, an AS/RS can be combined with an automatic identification system and anautomatic transportation system (e.g., automatic conveyors and/or an AGV system) to providereal-time material control capabilities. The material stored in the AS/RS can include bothfinished goods and work in process and even production tools and jigs.Components:Racks: A typical AS/RS utilizes high-rise storage racks, ranging in height between 40 and 80feet or higher, for random storage. High-rise racks require tight rack tolerances and levelfloors, all of which increase the cost of the racks as compared to a basic storage rack. Theracks in an AS/RS can be freestanding or uses to support the building (RSS—rack-supportedstructure).62