According to a report by EL PAÍS, the logistics sector is one of the most important, reporting an annual growth of 4.4% in 2022 and it is expected that it will continue to increase by 2023.
However, it also has its complex side, since It is an industry with many challenges, especially to develop effective, technological and sustainable solutions.
Another of the challenges that the logistics sector is experiencing is the handling of materials, especially when we talk about companies with high flows of products. And this is the point of pain for hundreds of businesses, as they debate between integrating specialized engineering that guarantees results, or maintaining manual processes, which do not generate excellent results either, but which are at least known.
Currently, what are the problems in material handling?
The operation of a warehouse is complex, so much so that a bad decision and execution will determine or not the success of the company. However, it is not about pointing out the error and not doing something, here we seek to find solutions that help to solve it, and of course, prevent it for future occasions.
Below we list the most common errors that prevent effective material handling. Check if any
relate to your operation:
● Chaos derived from manual processes. In more than 35 years that we have served the sector, we have identified that there are 2 main reasons why companies maintain manual processes:
1.- Fear of integrating technology because they believe they will lose control over the operation.
2.- False belief that it is excessively expensive. The reality is that the imprecision, the rework, the time invested and the number of operators involved make the operation much more expensive.
● Bottleneck. Due to the mismanagement and distribution of space in the plant, we generate break points, thus accelerating unnecessary bottlenecks. This chaos contaminates various variables such as precision, ergonomics, quality, agility, and visibility, which leads to unhealthy operations that affect the entire flow.
● Low visibility. The information and knowledge of the operation increases the possibility of dealing with any situation in crisis. However, it is common to have bad results when trailing bugs. Having correct and real-time information helps to optimize time and resources.
They say that "information is power", and we couldn´t agree more.
¿What benefits material handling solutions provide?
Talking about and pointing out the mistakes we face in material handling can be overwhelming, but it is necessary to optimize processes within the warehouse.
According to a study conducted by Gartner, 61% of experts believe that technology provides a competitive advantage. Technological tools are allies that generate effective solutions in material handling processes.
Here we list 2 benefits that technological solutions in material flow management will provide
you and that solve hundreds of problems in the operation:
1. Tasks automation. This 2023 integrate robotic solutions will help automate transfer tasks, search, organization. Robotics will drastically transform intralogistics, with solutions from AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) and Mobile Robots 3D.
2. Optimal distribution with an intelligent layout. Material flow solutions carry out a detailed analysis of the characteristics of your product and specific space, with which we will obtain a layout that optimizes operations. The conveyors or Sorters help in an integral and automatic way allowing your operation to get the most out of it.
The automation of each company requires different approaches according to its characteristics and needs, therefore, we recommend you evaluate the pros and cons with the guidance of an expert who will help you maximize your productivity.
At G.I.Eicom we are experts in the development of smart logistics solutions to automate material handling. We will help you develop your project. Contact us!
