Industrial Automation Magazine India

Warehouses are facing challenges due to lack of quality manpower

Published on : Tuesday 30-11--0001

Smart forklifts, AGVs, autonomous mobile robots – what are the new trends in material handling?
When we compare trends, it is worthwhile noting that India is far behind the curve when compared to the global trends currently, as far as adoption of automation in material handling is concerned. AGVs, robots, drones, autonomous handlers and many such automated material handling equipment have already become the norm in the western world. We are too slow catching up with technologies being adopted in the developed nations including China. The trend today is moving away from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles or better still automated electric equipment.        
 
What should be the ideal mix for efficient in-plant material handling?
Though there is a need to have efficient material handling equipment as well as practices, there is no ready-made solution or an ideal mix. The mix would vary across industry segments as well as organisations within each segment depending upon their business needs. For example, companies requiring faster throughputs with lesser manual intervention would require a mix which would be different from companies which is more focussed on cost effective safe handling. Likewise the solution required for a white goods company would be different from that required for a pharmaceutical company. I feel that the ideal mix needs to be worked out after careful application study taking in to consideration the business needs of the organisation not only immediately but in the long term.
 
The traditional warehouse is being transformed dramatically – what are the implications and lessons here?
It is true that the traditional warehouses are getting transformed. The main reasons for this being the challenges faced by warehouses in terms of dearth of quality manpower or sometimes even non-availability of manpower. To add to this, manpower today is not cheap anymore. This has forced warehouses to become mechanised leading to changes in the warehouse structures, flooring, equipment and also storage methods. With the advent of modern warehouses and handling methods, the cost of storage too has gone up. The costs of initial acquisition may be higher sometimes but if you look at the overall cost of ownership mechanised or automated warehouses provide better returns on investment provided most of the needs of the organisation are addressed.  
 
How is the Supply Chain Process impacted by digital transformation?
No longer do the various units of organisation work in silos. They are well connected with each other and strive to fulfil the overall objectives of the organisation. This has become possible due to digital transformation in this space. Real time data capturing coupled with big data crunching helps supply chain professionals take informed decisions and implement changes across various industries with much lesser efforts.
 
Is this the right time for enterprises to outsource supply chain management to professional organisations?
In fact, most of the enterprises requiring trouble free handling of their goods are already outsourcing their supply chain activities to professional organisations such as 3PL. Apart from the best storage and handling methods followed by such organisations, enterprises can benefit immensely from the knowledge base of such organisation on issues such as current tax laws, interstate goods movement, mandatory documentation and other such issues.
 
Warehousing in India is still in the early stages of automation barring some e-tailers. What are the barriers here?
I agree partly to this statement. Apart from e-tailers some manufacturing companies requiring high throughput or lesser manual intervention have also adopted automation. The main reason which prevents organisations from adoption apart from the higher initial investment is the lack of knowledge and apprehensions about its performance. Take for example forklift attachments. We at KAUP find that many leading companies too are least informed about forklift attachments and how they can improve handling specific cargos like paper rolls, white goods, FMCG cartons and other goods which are not palletised. Forklift attachments not only prevent goods damage but also facilitates safer and speedier handling.  

Dharmesh Salian is Managing Director, KAUP India Material Handling Pvt Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Kaup GmbH & Co. KG, Germany. Independent material handling experts estimate KAUP as one of the leading European manufacturer of Attachments for Forklift Trucks where more than 700 employees manufacture over 45,000 attachments per year. Kaup attachment is a modular build system and is deemed to be the most versatile range of attachments existing in the market. It allows any combination of the functions such as side shifting, clamping, and/or rotating with minimum modifications.

Major products in the KAUP range are sideshifters, fork positioners, rotators, bale clamps, paper roll clamps, multi pallet handlers, telescopic forks, pantographs, push-pulls, pallet pushers, tyre handlers, carton clamp, attachment clamp, block and brick clamps, pallet turnover clamp, carrying rams, crane jibs, loading buckets, slip on arms, foundry version attachments, explosion proof attachments and a variety of stationery equipment and container spreaders.