A global supplier of analytical instruments engaged LPC to review one of their sites that was experiencing significant challenges within their operation from receipt of materials, increasing inbound marshalling, inefficient material flows leading to breaks in the cold chain, reducing double handling, increasing storage capacity and safer and more efficient despatch loading and marshalling.
The approach was to firstly determine the footprint required for increased storage capacity. The preferred concept was to extend the existing temperature controlled chamber and proposing a mezzanine over for additional storage capacity. The proposed storage solution was to layout mobile shelving transported by AMR’s (Automated Mobile Robots).
The break in the cold chain was removed by then providing a link corridor from production to the mezzanine transported via AGV’s (Automated Guided Vehicles) or AMR’s via goods lifts.
The extended temperature controlled chamber enabled temperature controlled despatch marshalling to be significantly increased and maintain the cold chain to the outbound dock(s).
A number of concepts were developed to improve the location and load marshalling area for goods out. Each concept was a new structure that enabled the number of goods out docks to be doubled and facilitate increased load marshalling area and reducing the transit distance to the docks. For each loading concept vehicle articulations were undertaken to ensure that the goods vehicles could manoeuvre on and off dock without impeding other yard operations.
