Food Logistics

JAN-FEB 2015

Food Logistics serves the entire food supply chain industry with targeted content for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.

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54 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 • FOOD LOGISTICS www.foodlogistics.com F L 1 0 0 + V E N D O R S H O W C A S E Most everyone on the demand side of retail understands that today's customers are pretty darned demanding; not only are consumers empowered by their ability to research products and services, but they aren't afraid to let the CEO know about their pleasure – or their pain! Driven by these changes, we've all been immersed in the consumer revolution, the increasing shift to eCommerce and same-day shipment. So, how do we address rapidly changing needs with not- so-rapidly changing automation? Our approach has been to invest in R & D, resulting in the invention of the Shuttle, leading edge vision solutions, leadership in track, trace and serialization – and leadership in the deployment of broken case robotic order picking cells! Along the way we've also developed some tips for leveraging technology and dealing with the changes in consumer power. Tip 1: Simplify Automation Reconsider strategies that utilize a wide array of traditional technologies for handling pallets, cases and each picking. Simplifying technology across the enterprise is a lean strategy that can result in lower labor costs, faster cycle times and lower overall costs. A great example of this technology is to combine AS/RS cranes and OSR shuttles; seamlessly handling pallets, cases and high-speed order picking of eCommerce orders, and creating mixed load pallets in store-aisle sequence. Tip #2: Inventory Control and Order Management Should be a Distributed Strategy We've come to the conclusion that best-of-breed inven- tory management should be a distributed application. Why? Because history has proven again and again that the ability to allocate inventory, orders and other warehouse resources is signifcantly empowered when it's done in real time, and within microseconds or milliseconds. Why is it more powerful? Because we can reduce equipment content, increase labor and other DC resource perfor- mance while also reducing distribution center footprint and the cost to process, ship and return orders. Tip #3: Leverage New Developments in Vision, Robotics & Software Let's face it, the effects of regulation in the U.S. is driving a renewed interest in track and trace, and the need to quickly identify, purge or suspend orders at any time – if you identify health threats in your supply chain. At Knapp, our leadership in the Pharma & HBA supply chains has given us unique perspec- tives – and solutions. Whether you need automated dispens- ing technologies for HBA items or Pharma-related goods, the addition of vision and robotic automation is providing a competitive advantage to leading retailers. And software, real- time controls and ultra-fast software and controls modules are central to the successful implementation of these technologies. Tip #4: Bigger is Not Better We've all come to understand that sustainability is very im- portant to the U.S. consumer. At Knapp we've also studied this problem and engineered a strategy that employs intelligent design, software and automation to maximize building space utilization and carbon footprint – to reduce the size of a facility and the consumption of resources. For example, when you can use intelligent software design to signifcantly reduce conveyor systems size, minimize electrical consumption and operating costs – that's a winner! Interested in discovering how Knapp can deliver a competitive advantage for your business? Visit us at Promat, March 23-26 in Chicago, or contact Kevin Reader, kevin.reader@knapp.com to schedule a meeting. Four Top Tips for Distribution Center Automation

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