Process layout
Process Overview
L&S Engineers, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of spare parts and consumables, implemented HIK’s logistics robot solution to enhance logistics efficiency in its large-scale warehouse. This project focused on automating the order picking process using mobile robots, increasing logistics precision, and reducing the physical burden on workers.
Project Background & Objectives
Background
L&S Engineers operates a massive logistics center that handles thousands of spare parts and consumables, processing a high volume of orders daily. However, the existing manual methods faced several challenges:
High worker fatigue due to long walking distances.
Low operational efficiency and slow order processing speeds.
Concerns over decreased customer satisfaction due to high error rates.
Objectives
Enhance Operational Efficiency: Reduce worker travel distances and improve productivity through mobile robots.
Improve Accuracy: Decrease error rates in the order picking process.
Reduce Operational Costs: Lower labor and operating expenses through automation.
Components
| Robot | Components
|
|---|
Workflow
| STEP 1. | Order Receipt: The central management system collects customer order information. |
|---|---|
| STEP 2. | Work Instruction Dispatch: Mobile robots receive information regarding part locations and workstation destinations from the central system. |
| STEP 3. | Part Pickup: Robots retrieve specified parts from the warehouse shelving. |
| STEP 4. | Transport & Delivery: Robots transport the parts to the workstation and deliver them to the worker. |
| STEP 5. | Task Completion: The worker packs the items, performs a final check, and dispatches the order. |
| STEP 6. | Robot Return: Once the task is finished, the robot moves to a standby area for its next assignment. |
Features
Automation & Efficiency
Continuous Operations: 40 robots work non-stop for 8 hours, maintaining consistently high throughput.
Precision
Error Reduction: Advanced sensors have reduced picking error rates by 50%.
Flexibility
Scalable Design: A flexible system architecture capable of processing diverse and multiple order lines simultaneously.
Worker Convenience
Fatigue Relief: Reduced worker travel distances by 20 miles, significantly alleviating physical strain and exhaustion.
Results
| Key Benefits | Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Work efficiency has doubled, enabling the picking of over 1,100+ order lines per day.
Improved Accuracy: Error rates decreased by 50% compared to previous manual methods, leading to higher customer satisfaction.
Better Work Environment: Reduced walking distances have lowered worker fatigue and increased overall job satisfaction.
Operational Cost Savings: Automation has secured long-term cost efficiency and reduced labor expenditures.
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|---|---|
| Client Feedback | "HIKβs logistics robots have done more than just increase efficiency they have innovatively transformed our entire work environment. Thanks to the reduction in walking distances and the automated picking system, both our employees and our customers are seeing massive benefits."
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