Modern Materials Handling - November 2012

modern productivity solutionAutomation improvesprocess flowAiming to reduce manual tasks, companyreaps unexpected productivity improvements.By Josh Bond, Associate Editormajor automotive manufacturer wanted toA minimize manual traffic in its aisles throughincreased automation. After deploying automaticguided carts (AGCs), the customer also improvedthe overall flow of material movement, optimizedorder management, and reduced risk of damage—all while minimizing disruptions duringimplementation with a design platform for futureexpansion.The goal was to provide a safe working environmentthrough automation while increasing efficiencyand keeping costs low. The company wanted tomove its carts of shocks and trim parts within theplant, but without lift trucks. The company selecteda series of AGC tuggers (Transbotics, transbotics.com) to carry the loads securely and reduce costs.“Some of the most important benefits of this systemhave been the reduced walking time and overallreduction in manual tasks,” says the facility's plantengineer. “Our biggest concern at the outset wasthe possibility of a collision with a lift truck. Oncethe drivers became familiar with the carts' safetyfeatures and accustomed to having them around,we've had no problems.”The system consists of one tape-guided jackpin tugger AGC that transports three of the cartsthroughout the layout. The AGC tows carts withshocks and trim parts from the picking area to thepre-assembly line. There’s a turnaround and a workstationat each end of the guide path.The system also includes another dedicatedAGC to pick up shocks from the unloading docksto the shock picking area. This design provides anexpandable platform that meets current and future46 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 / Modern Materials Handling mmh.com