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Automated Handling System

Name

Institutional Affiliation
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Automated Handling System

Introduction

Technology has in the last three decades changed the manner in which business is carried

out across different sectors. In the past, fabrication, delivery, and manufacturing were manually

done by the workers. With the penetration of technology, automated handling systems have been

incorporated in almost all departments to allow companies mass transport and produce

commodities at unprecedented speeds and with higher quality and repeatability. This paper

provides a comprehensive overview of the automated handling system, their application,

industries that are highly reliant on the technology and the benefits.

Detailed information

Automated handling system is also referred to as automated material handling. To a

large extent, the concept characterizes the automation process that eliminates or decreases the

need for workers or customers to sort materials, check out or move products. These tasks are

handled by the automated handling systems that comprise of conveyors, stackers, bins, tote

carriers, trolleys unstackers, check-in machine, sortation system and loading systems

(Mahadevan, 2009). These systems links different technologies and processes to deliver some

repeatable automated solution.

In the automated handling systems, the components arrive in the line either in bulk or

palletized in some trays. More often than not, the entry acts as a starting point for processing and

design. The pulleys, chutes, pulleys, laser beams and slides are meant to ensure that the bin used

in the handling of products do not overflow, get each of the teams’ to the right place and carry
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them into the correct bin or tote (Ackerman, 1990). The figures below show the automated

handling system is utilized in various industries.

Diagram no.1

Diagram no. 2
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Diagram no.3

Diagram no.4

The reliability and efficiency of the automated handling systems usually determine a

distribution center, warehouse or a corporation’s profitability and productivity. As such, for

increased quality, speed and affordability, automated handling systems have been recommended

to replace manual handling.

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As the diagrams above shows, automated handling systems have been integrated into

numerous industries. The industries comprise of aeronautic, car manufacturing, drinks and food,

constructions, biochemical, consumer goods, E-Commerce, hospitals, foods and beverage, paper,

retail, distribution and warehousing, and pharmaceutical.

Applications

Automated handling systems cover a remarkably wide range of end-user sectors and

applications. The systems are used widely for pallet loading, machine loading, deburring,

welding, bin picking, x-ray control, assemblage, drilling, milling, washings, airport baggage

handling, parcel delivery, bulk landing, manufacturing, distribution, sorting, and warehousing.

Benefits

The automated handling system provides a myriad of benefits both from a managerial

and worker point of view. As far as the latter group of people is concerned, the automated

handling systems normally get rids of the danger of some heavy, repetitive and dangerous. As

such, workers enjoy the benefit of increased safety as having the automated systems means that

the number of workers who carry out a given task that can be considered prone to injury or

dangerous is reduced or eliminated completely.

For the management, the automated handling systems decrease the production while at

the same increasing accuracy as well as repeatability. The automated aspect of the system speeds

up the process of production and delivery as there is logical repeatability, as well as less human

error. Once an automated handling system is programmed to conduct a particular task for more

than one time, then the repeatability and accuracy in comparison to the worker are elevated
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(Pang, 2004). Moreover, the system ensures that there is minimal human error. Workers are

prone to make some errors in their day to day as nobody is perfect machines on the other hand

once programmed cannot make the simple mistakes that human makes and end up having a huge

impact on the company’s well-being.

Automated handling systems also makes the place of work safe and save the company the

money it could be charged in courts in the form of suits by the injured workers and non-

compliance to some set safety guidelines. The company saves money reduced labor costs as the

automated handling system do not require salaries. The only money spent on such system is for

maintenance. With the less workers, there are countless costs that are reduced or eliminates like

payroll, sick days and other employee benefits.

Lastly, automated systems ensure there is an increase in production. Investment towards

the purchase of the automated handling system crates the valuable resources necessary for

bulkier production volume, in return amplifying the profit margins. The production is also

increased by the 24/7 operation of the system with minimal breaks.

Conclusion

Automation is a major determinant of whether a company or business thrive or stay

competitive in an industry. As this paper has shown, the automated handling systems have

particularly revolutionized the way different sectors produce, operate and transport their products

from one place to another. They have achieved these objective while at the same maximizing

accuracy, throughput and decreasing the incidents of accidents, consumable cost and time. The
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reliability, productivity, availability, cost reduction and performance are a compelling argument

for the adoption of the automated handling system.

References

Ackerman, K. B. (1990). Practical Handbook of Warehousing. Boston, MA: Springer US.

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Mahadevan, B. (2009). Operations management: Theory and practice. New Delhi: Published by

Dorling Kindersley (India), licensees of Pearson Education in South Asia.

Pang, P. N. T. (2004). Essentials of manufacturing engineering management. New York:

iUniverse.

Hazlett, D,R. (2015). “Automated Material handling”. Libraries unbound. Retrieved on 25

March 2017 from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/04/technology/automated-materials-

handling-product-spotlight/