Figuring out automation 

With over 20 years of experience in the warehouse automation and order fulfillment industry, we’ve identified three key areas where subtle variations in concepts and phrases can result in major impacts on a solution’s performance.

01. Workstation Capacity vs Overall Throughput

High workstation capacity means high throughput, right? Not quite. They do work together, but high workstation capacity does not necessarily mean a system will have a high sustained throughput. Think of the workstation capacity as running a sprint and the overall throughput rate as a marathon. The workstation capacity is the ultimate goal the machine or solution can achieve.

Typically, the workstation capacity is determined through a pick test, usually done with a member of the solution vendor’s team with honed picking skills running the system. Meanwhile, throughput provides a picture of the system over an extended period. It considers the real world such as the picking speed of human workers, the machine, the surrounding material handling equipment, and human workers.

Looking at the throughput also brings the workstation capacity into the real world by possibly identifying bottlenecks in the system such as variations in handling time, backup on conveyance, system reliability, or fatigue.

It is also important to keep in mind human capabilities. While workstation capacities presented by bin presentations per hour or pick rates may be sexy figures, be sure to ask yourself what is humanly possible for your employees.

One way to do this is through a workstation capacity calculation. This takes the number of seconds in an hour (3,600 seconds) and divides it by the average time it takes an employee to complete a single pick (in seconds) plus the time it takes a given workstation to present the next bin (in seconds).

The calculations would look like this: Lines/h per workstation = 3,600 sec / (Employee Pick (sec) + Workstation Exchange (sec))

For a real-world example, one of our clients added our workstation, the RelayPort, to their system. This port has a bin presentation of 600 bins per hour and has a bin exchange rate of every 3 seconds. This is a great number to share during the sales process, but what did it really mean for the employees when the RelayPort goes in?

Our client reported that the picker assigned to the RelayPort on the first shift it went live was breaking out in a sweat just to keep up with the system at the rate it was presenting and exchanging bins.

Using the RelayPort as an example in the calculation above, it would convert to this: 600 lines per hour = 3,600 / (X + 3 seconds). X equals 3 seconds.

This means, to sustain this rate, the operator must complete a pick every 3 seconds. No wonder the picker was breaking a sweat!

You can also use the workstation capacity formula to calculate the number of workstations you need to hit your overall throughput:

Total workstations needed = Overall throughput (lines per hour) / Lines per hour per workstation.

So, while workstation capacity is important, overall throughput is still the final target for an implementation.

02. Redundancy vs System Reliability

Redundancy can help lead to system reliability, but it is important to understand how redundancy is used in a solution. For example, redundancy can impact storage density when there is a need for stock redundancy within a solution.

Start by asking for clarification around assertions or recommendations for the need of SKU redundancy throughout the system.

If the vendor recommends intentionally putting bread in multiple areas of the system, ask why. If the vendor recommends a low number of overall SKUs in the system, ask why.

SKU redundancy may be a strategy the vendor utilises to help offset reliability and system downtime. Meaning, vendors recommend the placement of SKUs in multiple places to protect your operation’s ability to have access to a SKU should a robot go down.

This is because if a robot goes down, that section or aisle covered by that robot is now inaccessible to your team. Imagine a store where bread is located on a section of shelving on aisle 2, 5, and 12. A customer or your employee can always get to the bread on aisle 5 even if aisle 2 and 12 are completely closed for an issue.

And while you can still access the bread on a different aisle, everything else stocked on aisle 2 and 12 is also unavailable to you.

This process also reduces the space available to store other items; the shelves on aisle 2 and 12 with bread cannot be used for other stock.

You want to find a vendor offering you 100% access to your inventory as close to 100% of the time as possible.

When considering reliability, ask for data around the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). This, especially when taking into consideration the system’s availability, performance, and quality, will give you a better picture of a solution’s reliability.

Sites like OEE.com can provide you with the resources and formulas to calculate the data.

03. Theoretical Data vs Simulation

Understanding how the solution will work for you is imperative. This is a huge investment. One meant to offer support now and for the future. The last thing you need is to invest heavily in automation, only to find out in 3 months that it constantly breaks down or is not robust enough for your operational needs.

The best and final way to determine a solution is right for you is with a simulation of the system after its design.

Ask the vendor how they are confirming the solution will meet your performance demands. Did you provide operational data to them such as warehouse size, inventory, product lines, historical order data, shift structure? How did the vendor use that data?

A vendor designing a system and guaranteeing its performance using theoretical numbers is not looking at your operations. The vendor is looking at averages across multiple sites.

A vendor offering you a simulation of the final design is confident its solution will meet your operational demands. This is because, if the design is based on your numbers (input, output, product lines, warehouse processes), the simulation will show how the system will react in a real-world environment with external factors at play.

Simulating the solution using your data provides a much clearer picture of what to expect. It may mean the results are higher or lower than using theoretical numbers, but you will know how the solution will perform before it is even installed in your building.

A simulation can show the system’s performance during typical operations as well as unexpected peak demand such as Black Friday.

And requesting a simulation of your system should not mean an extra fee. What is the vendor afraid you will see that it works to discourage simulations through an additional fee?

The number of warehouse automation solutions available is promising and means there is a perfect fit for your operations. However, any number of pieces that come with making this decision can appear intimidating. It doesn’t have to be.

Understanding some basic concepts provides a foundation to equip you with the tools to make the right decision. These areas, apart or together, can play a huge part in your goals for the solution. It’s important to understand the nuances and what it can mean for your ultimate selection.

James Smith, managing director UK and Ireland, AutoStore System

01157 080235

For more information, visit www.autostoresystem.com

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