Warehouse

Warehouse in Bangalore/India different from international market

 The difference is Automation

 The inclusion of IT and Trained or Skilled manpower
 The absences of standardized operating process
 Lack of expertise in warehousing technologies
 Cautious about investing in an expensive System

So will discuss on type of Automation in International market already implemented

and barriers in India
1.WMS (Warehouse Management System )

 A warehouse management system is software that manages daily warehouse

tasks. Managers use a WMS to get detailed data on stock levels and define or
standardize picking, packing and shipping activities. The solution tracks goods
from the warehouse through customer delivery.

https://youtu.be/Q3SVPobcmhA
2.Goods-to-person technologies

•Goods-to-person (GTP) solutions usually involve robots or machines that bring materials to workers
for assembly or packing. It may use cranes or vehicles that travel around the warehouse picking up
materials. GTP includes automated storage and retrieval solutions and conveyor systems.

 Automated storage and retrieval systems: Automated storage and retrieval solutions (AS/RS)
make up the bulk of what most people imagine when they think about warehouse automation.
AS/RS is a form of GTP technology, using vehicles, cranes and carousels to move items
throughout the warehouse and store items in warehouse storage locations.

• Conveyor systems: Conveyor systems are one of the oldest warehouse automation technologies.

Conveyors move materials around or along assembly lines to move inventory to work areas such as
packaging and shipping areas or to sorting areas. Conveyor systems are also a type of GTP
technology.

https://youtu.be/YT2ME0iiCv8
 Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) – Automated storage and retrieval
systems (AS/RS) are one type of GTP technology. This warehouse technology
automatically brings goods out of and then places them back into storage. Typically,
warehouses leveraging AS/RS systems pair them with a warehouse software system that
manages the process and assists warehouse workers in processing orders.
 Pick-to-light systems – In pick-to-light systems, operators scan barcodes as LED
displays illuminate to guide them to the correct storage location and to indicate how
many items should be picked. The operator then places the picked items in containers
and confirms task completion by pressing a button near the display. The displays
continue to illuminate in each operator’s work zone and direct them to the next picking
location.
 Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) – Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) especially
are being used in e-commerce fulfillment situations to address their high-volume, high-
labor requirements. Some AMRs work with warehouse workers by moving through the
warehouse floor and meeting up with manual pickers until their totes are full and then
transporting it to the pack station. Other AMRs use vacuums and trays to pick boxes and
totes from warehouse shelves onto a mobile robotic cart
 Benefits the company have using Automation

 Increasing speed – Because automated systems nearly instantaneously identify the locations of all items in a
particular order, warehouse automation increases speed. Better yet, warehouse automation systems optimize
routes and maximize productivity during the product retrieval process. Warehouse automation also speeds up
order fulfillment when warehouses leverage robots and conveyors; as a result, these companies can offer free
overnight shipping. Finally, warehouse automation speeds up inventory management processes by leveraging
the technology to automatically count items.
 Maximizing space – Warehouse automation systems maximize warehouse space by utilizing robots and other
automated guided vehicles that complete product retrieval and storage tasks and reduce the need for wide aisles
that accommodate large pallets and pallet jacks and workers. AS/RS systems also use conveyors and lifters that
reduce the amount of space used for aisles.
 Better inventory counts – By reducing human error, warehouse automation can streamline inventory
management, allowing for more accurate inventory counts and related inventory data.
 Enhanced safety – Many warehouse automation systems bring the products to the worker, rather than the worker
going to the products. As a result, foot and equipment traffic throughout the facility is decreased, enhancing
overall warehouse safety. This can also reduce product damage by reducing the need for warehouse staff to
manually move products from location to location.
Why India is behind in Automation in Warehouse
• • Lack of integration with complete supply chain: Though warehousing is an integral component of the
supply chain, currently warehouses are structured on a standalone basis. Warehousing service providers
often struggle with other supply chain stakeholders for integration of information and visibility. This
disintegration in the upstream, downstream or both ends of warehousing leads to unpredictability of usage
of space and facilities. In addition, this impacts the value-added service performance level expected from
warehousing service providers.

• • Lack of trained manpower: The lack of training institutes adds to the woes of the warehousing sector.
Evolving warehouse management processes and operations with more demanding customers, lack of
attraction for new recruits arising from poor working conditions, relatively less attractive incentives and
benefits, and the emergence of attractive alternate career options are reasons that contribute to the skill
shortage in the Indian warehousing sector.
• Lack of IT penetration: The warehousing sector in India, with some exceptions, is
characterised by low technology levels, that act as a handicap in the emerging Indian and
global market. Limited real-time visibility with manual inventory management,
warehousing management, documentation, billing and reporting has raised doubts on
the sustainability of a large number of warehousing players. The existence of these will
be in jeopardy in the face of international competition from 3PL and 4PL service
providers.
• Lack of expertise in warehousing technologies: A majority of the Indian warehousing
players today have inefficient methods of storing, handling and monitoring of goods.
They also suffer from stock visibility issues, stock traceability, higher pilferages and
damages.
• Process inefficiencies: There is an absence of standardised operating processes and
procedures at warehouses. The material unloading, handling, storing and loading are
more often carried out in an ad-hoc manner. This not only builds in inefficiency but also
leads to many mishandling problems including damages and subsequent increases in
cost