Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems Anticipatory
Today's Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) - Horizontal Carousels, Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) and Vertical Carousels are well engineered and very robust {and offer|and give|and share|and present|and} service reliability that surpasses most production equipment.
These storage systems are mechanical, however, and {as such|so ,|per se|conditions|consequently} are subject to {wear|be decked out in|apparel|strap on|sport}. If not recognized and repaired, wear {can lead to|can bring about|outcome|might|may result in} unexpected equipment downtime, {and that|which is|as well as|this|understanding that} can create serious disruptions in business operations.
A way to avoid those downtime issues {is through|by means of|by way of|via|is thru} intelligent machine solutions and active management of {the maintenance|the upkeep|taking care|the constant maintenance} function, with the {focus on|concentrate on} a technique of preventative maintenance called anticipatory {maintenance|the cost of maintenance|rrrconfort|care|offering}.
A Reliability/Availability Primer
In order to understand anticipatory maintenance, it's {necessary to|crucial|essential to|essential|vital} understand terms associated with productivity analysis and automated storage and retrieval {performance|signification|function|entire performance|purpose}. The reliability of a system is {a measure|a pace|a step|a stride} of its ability {to do|execute|look at|to attempt|in order to complete} what it is {designed to|made to|in order to} do for a {specified period of time|number of months}. System reliability measurement assumes {that the|how the} equipment is operating {within the|around the|within the|within|for the} conditions and environment {for which|and|for the purpose|which is why|for} its was designed. Availability is a measure {of time|electrical power|in time|of one's time|of your respective} that a system is operational and accessible {when it is|if it's|in case it is|if it is|whether it is} required to be {such|these sort of|many of these|form|kind}.
Two factors influence reliability and availability, Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR). MTBF is the predicted elapsed time between inherent failures of {a system|something|the whole|a head unit|a computer} during operation. It {is a|is really a|is often a|can be a} number, usually stated in hours, calculated by a manufacturer's design engineers {and is|and|and they are|as well as|and is then} available in equipment {specifications|benchmarks|terms|necessities|demands}. MTTR is the average time it takes to fix a failed system, not including lead time for parts.
MTBF influences both reliability and availability. MTTR affects availability. If MTBF {can be|could be} extended and MTTR reduced, (keyword) organizations can {lessen the|lower the|minimize the|limit the|decrease the} impact of costs {associated with|connected with|using|related to|together with} equipment downtime.
There are two {elements of|portions of|elements|the different parts of|aspects of} the costs associated with equipment downtime. The first is the direct {cost|expenses|run you|cost|bill}. That cost includes the cost of labor factored by the {number of|quantity of|associated with|involving|regarding} hours employees are idle waiting for the equipment to be repaired. This labor cost also includes the extra cost of scheduling an additional shift, if necessary, to {make up for|replace|replace with|renew|compensate for} lost time. There {is also|can be|additionally be|one other|likewise} the cost of {parts and labor|materials} required to fix {the system|the computer|this system|the software|this}. Emergency repairs can often be {double or triple|two or three times|exponentially increase} the cost of routine service and parts {replacement|foam|replacing|renewal|replacement foam}. The second cost element is consequential {costs|price tags|fees|expense|overhead}. Consequential costs are more difficult to calculate, but are, nonetheless, {a major factor|a significant component|a significant factor} in equipment downtime. {What are the|Consider some of the|Which are the|Do you know the|What are} cost consequences of not meeting customers' delivery {expectations|expects|expected results|hope|prospects}? In a Just-in-Time operation, what is {the cost of|the sourcing cost of|substantial|the expense of|the value of} being the bottleneck {in an|in|inside|a good|a great} otherwise efficient delivery {operation|business|surgical treatment|establishment|method}? If you provide parts to your own organization, such as a MRO application, what {is the|could be the|may be the|will be the} consequence of not {being able to|having the ability to|having the capacity to} provide repair and maintenance parts in a timely manner?
Being Proactive
The way {to reduce|to cut back|cut down|lower|reduce} costs associated with system downtime {is to|will be|would be to|usually|through using} anticipate stoppage {caused by|as a result of|brought on by|do today to|introduced on by} machine wear {and service|and repair} the system {to extend|to increase|to improve|to enhance|to boost} its effective {lifetime|daily life|life long|life-time|lifestyle}.
One approach to doing this {is through|is thru|via|by way of|by means of} a new program developed by Sapient Automation called Intelligent Machine Health Monitoring (IMHM). The IMHM program is {designed to|in order to|made to} remotely monitor {horizontal and vertical|vertical and horizontal} carousel and VLM systems in real time, allowing {the customer|the buyer|the client|consumer|customer} service group {to respond|react} prior to {failure|letdown|fiasco|malfunction|problem}.
The IMHM system remotely monitors critical maintenance thresholds, actual carousel usage, picks, run time, {and energy|and|as well as} consumption levels {in order to|to be able to|as a way to|for you to|in an effort to} detect variances and anomalies that {could lead to|might lead to|can lead to|may lead to|can result in} failure or performance issues. The moment the IMHM system detects anything {out of the|from|of the|out on|using the} ordinary, a message is sent {to the|on the|to your|towards the|towards} local service technician and to the central service monitoring group for immediate response. Depending {on the|on your|located on the|along at the|concerning the} issue, the facility service coordinator is contacted and {a plan|an approach|a strategy|a scheme|an insurance policy} on how {to correct|to alter|to|to fix|to be able to} the issue is discussed and {executed|run|fulfilled|carried through|produced}.
The IMHM program is free and takes less than three minutes {of it|than it|today|of computer|pc} support for {installation|fitting|construction|setup|system}. It can be implemented on {an existing|a current|footwear|providing|an active} horizontal or vertical carousel or VLM. Program protocol is formatted so {that there are|that you have|that we have|there are|that there presently exists} no firewall or security issues.
Application of {this program|system|this system|entire|provides} allows preventative maintenance to be scheduled at optimal times in the work cycle, such as during slow periods or before anticipated peak operating {times|working days|eras|weeks|stretches}. The result is planned approach to maintenance that anticipates stoppages and virtually eliminates unscheduled system downtime, extending equipment longevity and improving ROI.
Beyond Maintenance
In addition to eliminating machine downtime, anticipatory maintenance {using the|while using|utilizing the|when using the|making use of the} IMHM program offers additional insights into system operation.
By analyzing system operating parameters, managers can better spot anomalies that {can indicate|can often mean|could mean} potentially costly problems such as unsafe operation or poor use of {the system|the computer|the device|the unit|your machine} indicating inexperienced or under trained {operators|captains|companies|travel operators|guys}.
Anticipatory maintenance {also helps|assists} organizations meet lean initiatives and sustainability, or green, {objectives|plans|goals|desires|quests}. The elimination of time wasted in unscheduled maintenance helps meet lean objectives and the added reliability of {the system|the program|this|the device|the equipment} means that inventory can be managed more closely, eliminating the need for hedge inventory. More efficient, reliable operation reduces overall energy requirements and labor requirements for picking operations, lowering an organization's overall carbon footprint.
By proactively managing maintenance functions through remote monitoring, organizations can significantly {improve the|enhance|improve|enhance the|reduce the} efficiency of their picking operations, {and the|along with the|as well as the|and also the} productivity of the workforce, while boosting bottom line {returns|reverts|outcomes|yields|benefits}.