iFD Warehouse Management System modernises the warehouse and integrates AutoStore

Since January 2020, iFD GmbH has been able to count a new client from Rhineland-Palatinate among its references. The aim is to modernise the intralogistics at the Herxheim site near Landau.

The new client is planning and constructing a new logistics centre in the industrial park.

For this major project, the introduction of an agile and highly available warehouse management system, including integrated material flow control, was essential.

The warehouse was designed with an AutoStore system – the heart of the logistics centre – a narrow-aisle pallet warehouse and a shuttle warehouse, including integrated conveyor technology.

Features and highlights of the AutoStore add-on:

By continuously monitoring the call-off quantities per item, the container position is optimised throughout. The AutoStore solution therefore provides optimal conditions for medium and slow-moving items, but particularly for fast-moving items.

Communication between the iFD system and AutoStore technology takes place via a task interface, a tried-and-tested, stable, fast and uninterrupted communication method. An integrated online interface to scales integrated into AutoStore enables weight recording and quantity control during the picking process. This exchange is particularly suitable for picking small parts, as it streamlines the counting process. Using Pick-by-Light elements, which are installed at the ports and can be controlled via an iFD add-on, high-volume items can be picked or a multi-order picking process can be integrated.

This eliminates waiting times resulting from the BIN provisioning process.

With the help of item graphics stored in the iFD system, the picking process becomes faster and more efficient.

The AutoStore add-on’s dashboard is responsible for calculating and visually displaying forecasts, system utilisation and availability, as well as key performance indicators. Information such as port throughput (containers per port per hour), system efficiency (average waiting time at the ports) and the average order fulfilment time (when the order starts at the picking port following order allocation) is displayed visually on the dashboard and via the app on mobile devices. The current status of each robot can also be accessed by staff at the port or in the control room.

Using the information provided by the higher-level system, the AutoStore add-on also carries out preliminary work planning. This ensures that picking and putaway processes are completed on time. iFD’s experience shows that, with the AutoStore add-on and AutoStore technology, high-performance systems capable of several thousand put-away and retrieval operations per hour can be implemented.

The WMS system is implemented entirely in Java, is object-oriented and uses a relational database accessed by all system components. It is structured according to client-server architecture, is scalable in all parts and adaptable to extensions. The system implementation optimises and simplifies existing processes and increases transparency within intralogistics.

The system is scheduled to go live in early 2021.

In future, the WMS, including material flow control, will manage the following customer areas:

• Goods reception
• AutoStore
• High-bay warehouse
• Shuttle warehouse
• Packing stations
• Interconnecting conveyor systems

Ms Förster will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the Warehouse Management System, tel. +49 371 53 880 226.

Source: Photo by AutoStore