What are the necessary elements to automate your DC?

Thanks to all the technology we have today, the automation of processes within your distribution center is one of the most important goals to increase your KPIs. This task becomes easier every day and using traditional processes represents a delay when it comes to productivity.

If you are looking for the necessary elements to automate your distribution center, in this blog we give you some examples so you know where to start. 

WMS inventory control system. It provides the distribution center with everything that is receipt, shipping and storage. In this way, the WMS becomes the global storage administrator, since it is capable of giving information about everything that has to do with processed orders, orders to be processed and in progress. Likewise, it can provide information on inventories, its rotation, characteristics of the distribution center and, finally, it coordinates the picking processes in global terms.

WES-WCS automation. These are focused on intralogistics automation, so the response times and algorithms used by the system must be according to the demand that is currently available. The automatisms allow to have precise control of each one of the orders in real time.

Parts picking systems. This type of system is for products with a very high part-level rotation, such as:

• Pick to Light. The Pick to Light works through a luminous display and a scanner that guides the operation. Normally the Pick to Light is characterized in that the number of SKUs are fixed, but the number of orders to fill can be infinite.
• It is generally used for assortment lines in beauty industries, where many orders are required for vendors or associates.
• Pick to Voice. The Pick to Voice system is operated by a radio frequency terminal that has headphones that receive instructions through voice.

Assorted box handling systems. Sorters or classifiers are a special type of solution that combines transportation, diversion mechanisms, controls and software, thus allowing the classification of medium and high product flows under different criteria as required by the customer's processes.

Full pallet assortment. It is mainly used with uniload systems that allow storage and assortment at the pallet level.

Shipping systems. These are directly interconnected to the WES or WCS and are automatically loaded at the pallet or box level, depending on what is required. It is important to contemplate the consolidation of the different areas from which they come to be able to board the truck in the most efficient way.

In this way, automation and its types are highly beneficial for the processes you require. Don't wait any longer, at GIEICOM we have all the necessary equipment to help you automate in the best way, contact us.