Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

Across nearly every industry, automation is becoming more and more relevant. With ever-evolving technology, it is becoming easier to implement machine and computer systems to automatically carry out tasks that would have previously required a person to complete. This is both a good and bad thing; automation definitely allows for greater productivity with increased efficiency and less waste, but also takes jobs away from people and puts them in the hands of a machine. It is inevitable, however, that automation will become more and more common in every setting. So it's definitely something to get excited about. A really cool development in manufacturing and inventory control industries are Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_storage_and_retrieval_system

A basic definition of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System is a computer-controlled system that retrieves or stores materials automatically when prompted by a material requirement planning, inventory control, or other material handling system. Material handling that was once done with people using pallet jacks, fork lifts, or pure manpower can now be done with these automated systems that utilize racks, conveyors, elevators, robots, and computers that control it all. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems are extremely versatile, and can be designed to fit any firm's needs. These systems possess the ability to logically organize and handle a variety of materials, tools, fixtures, components, and any other objects that may have been an extreme hassle to efficiently manage in the past.

The advantages of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems are plentiful. The most obvious advantage is the more efficient inventory control and tracking. With this system in place, the firm knows exactly how much of each item they have, where the item's origin and destination is, and will know exactly when it's time to get more of that item. ASR Systems are also very adaptable. Most systems are composed of modular subsystems that can be swapped out or rearranged to accommodate for varying business demands or material needs. ASR Systems also increase the safety of the material handling department of the firm. There is a much lesser chance of injury due to strain or fatigue to workers, as well as the reduced, if not eliminated, chance of an accident occurring involving a fork lift or other piece of heavy equipment. One of the last big advantages is the large reduction in material handling and storage costs that these systems allow. The chance of human error in inventory control that could cost a lot of money and down time is eliminated. Also, these systems are able to have a great storage density for the amount of floor space they consume. With the use of the elevators and other vertical components of the system, a lot of inventory is able to be stored in a smaller amount of space than would be in a traditional system that uses fork lifts. These are just some of the major advantages that show how beneficial an Automated Storage and Retrieval System could be to a firm.

As with anything, there are some disadvantages about ASR Systems. Like I mentioned earlier, these systems would greatly reduce the amount of labor force needed in the material handling or inventory control department of a firm, taking jobs away from people. Also, these systems require a substantial up-front investment, as a personally designed, automated system of this magnitude is very expensive. Therefore, ASR Systems really only make sense for very large firms with a great amount of inventory control and tracking needed. Maintenance is also a major concern for these systems to ensure they operate without interruption.

Now you know some more about Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems and the incredible efficiency that they can bring to a manufacturing or inventory control firm. These systems are only going to become more prevalent, and it'll be exciting to see what other innovations these systems will be used in conjunction with in the future.


Sources:
http://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/automated-storage-and-retrieval-systems-as-rs.html
http://www.bastiansolutions.com/automation/automated-storage-retrieval-systems-%28asrs%29

Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering is the engineering discipline that deals with the design, implementation, and improvement of complex systems and processes. These systems usually involve people, capital, information, equipment, resources, as well as others. Engineering science, mathematics, and physical sciences are used together to optimize these systems to produce the best or most efficient outcome based on the objective of the system. The implications for the use of industrial engineering are extremely wide spread, as industrial engineering principles can be used on nearly any sort of system that you can think of.

People throughout history have always been looking for a better way to complete processes or tasks. Once larger and more complex systems were starting to be built, it became evident quickly that a conscious effort to increase the efficiency of the system would be extremely beneficial. Industrial engineering as we know it today, however, could be said to have started in the early 20th century. Management started to become a science, and how people operated and completed tasks became standardized. Naturally, efforts were made, and are continually made today, to improve upon these standards and increase efficiency and reduce the wastes of resources, time, and money. A prime example of implementation of industrial engineering principles is the use of the assembly line in Henry Ford's car manufacturing factory. He reduced the time it takes to manufacture a car by an astronomical amount, as well as the cost. With the innovation of technology continuing throughout the rest of the century, Material Requirement Planning systems were built to help integrate many different aspects and departments of the firm. These systems are used to help coordinate production planning, scheduling, and inventory control in many manufacturing factories to create a more seamless and efficient manufacturing process. These systems, and derivatives of them, have been improved so much that today "Just in Time" manufacturing is a familiar practice. Basically, the coordination of the scheduling, production, and inventory is so fine that departments will receive materials and resources "just in time," so that there is little to none work-in-progress or idle time. The future of improvements and innovation in industrial engineering appears to be boundless.

When you hear industrial engineering, you probably immediately visualize manufacturing or heavy industry. But the cool thing about industrial engineering is that it can be applied to nearly any service industry as well as manufacturing! Healthcare, safety, transportation and logistics, supply, entertainment, and communication and IT services are all sectors where more and more industrial engineers are being hired to work on and improve the complex systems involved in these services. The ease at which normal consumers are able to utilize these services would not be possible without the application of industrial engineering principles.

As with any engineering discipline, upholding ethics and integrity are of the utmost importance. We are designing and implementing systems that involve large amounts of capital, and our systems affect individuals within the system and the general public as well. Our first responsibility should always be to the public, and we must not design systems that harm or injure the public.