The Way to an Automated Storage and Retrieval System – ASRS

What is an Automated Storage and Retrieval System – ASRS?

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems offer the possibility of storing articles space-saving and efficiently in small parts containers such as plastic boxes or trays. This ensures order and fast access to stored goods. ASRS follow the "goods-to-man" or "goods-to-person" principle. The "goods-to-man" principle is used when the storage containers in the ASRS move to the order picker or employee.

Important:

  • Efficient and space-saving storage of small parts
  • Fastest access and order

How are Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems structured?

 

In the area of small parts warehouses, storage and retrieval machines and shuttle warehouses are the dominant variants. Depending on customer requirements, the two storage technologies have different advantages and disadvantages. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems usually consist of a rack system, to which one or more aisles, one or more devices or robots, a picking area and a large number of small parts containers, trays or cartons belong.

Important:

  • Shelving system with several aisles
  • Robot or stacker crane for warehouse management
  • Picking Area
  • Small Part Containers, trays or cartons

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What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System?

One of the biggest rewards of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems is the time savings compared to manual order picking. In addition, it offers many advantages.

Important:

  • Optimal use of the existing storage capacity
  • Efficient picking
  • Optimal material provision for production
  • Access security
  • Highest degree of automation possible
  • Process reliability

Read more about the ASRS of the future. 

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Warehouse Management Systems

The core of every efficient Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) is the warehouse management system. It receives a list of the required small parts from a merchandise management or ERP-system. It then transmits to the control software, which small parts containers have to be transported to the workstation or picking station. Based on the specifications, the control software ensures that the respective storage containers are transported as efficiently as possible to their destination. In this article you will find out what you should pay attention to when selecting Intralogistics software: Intralogistics Software, what you should pay attention to.

Important:

  • Interface to merchandise management or ERP-system
  • Efficient storage strategies

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Intelligent Warehouse Strategies of an ASRS

The intelligent management of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) already begins with the first filling. First and foremost, goods are stored chaotically in the ASRS. However, even if storage is chaotic, the WMS (Warehouse Management System) ensures that the same article is stored evenly distributed across all aisles of the Automated Storage and Retrieval System.

 

Important:

  • By selecting warehouse management systems, it is important to note the ability to dock to every standard ERP-system.
  • Furthermore, you have to take into consideration whether an intelligent MFC is part of the warehouse management system.
  • Lastly, the warehouse management system ought to be self-learning and adaptable to customer’s needs.

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What Role does the Automated Storage and Retrieval System play in Intralogistics?

As already mentioned, the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) is the heart of Intralogistics. In the human body, the heart supplies the brain, arms and legs with the blood they need. In Intralogistics, however, the production halls and picking areas are supplied with the required goods from the Automated Storage and Retrieval System.

Important:

  • Heart of Intralogistics
  • Supplies production fast and efficiently with the required materials
  • Space-efficient

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How to choose the right System

Those who want to automate their warehouse will sooner or later have to deal with the question of whether to automate with shuttles or with storage and retrieval machines.


Basically, shuttles have gained significant market share over the past years. Nevertheless, both approaches are justified.


Which solution best represents the respective processes and frequencies has to be examined on the basis of an individual case and the individual logistics strategies of a user. You can find help with this decision in our blog article:
Shuttles vs. storage and retrieval machines in Intralogistics? Advantages and disadvantages!  


Important:

  • Flexibility of logistic processes
  • Expected average through put
  • Possible extension of the logistic system

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What Aspects do you have to take into Consideration with an ASRS – Key Figures?

When purchasing an Automated Storage and Retrieval System, it is important to keep an eye on a variety of key figures and aspects. For example, it has to be taken into account that entire levels can fail in the case of level-bound shuttles and entire aisles can fail in the case of storage and retrieval machines. On the other hand, shuttles that can travel to any level and leave the warehouse ensure maximum process reliability.

Important:

  • What is the storage density of the respective ASRS system?
  • What output do I need in the present and what output do I expect in the future?
  • Process reliability
  • Can the ASRS system be easily extended?

Our logistics consultants will be happy to help you evaluating: Logistics Consulting.

 

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Planning of an ASRS

When planning a new warehouse, the entire value chain should be included as far as possible. Looking at the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) as an isolated solution can have serious consequences afterwards. It is just as important to consider how the material gets to the warehouse and from the warehouse to the next process steps. Ideally, this should be done using one and the same system without interfaces. In addition, it is particularly important to look at cost efficiency when building new warehouses and production facilities - high and long ASRS are more cost-effective than low and wide ASRS.

Important:

  • Consider the material flow of the entire value chain during planning.
  • Aspects such as process reliability, expandability, and required performance must be taken into account.
  • The Return-on-Invest alone is not meaningful
  • A workshop with experts is eminently important for the best possible solution.

 

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Return on Invest at ASRS

Since Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems usually consist of classic steel constructions, they are very durable. It is often not helpful to compare different suppliers of ASRS on the basis of the return on investment, since ASRS are very different in their characteristics. In addition, an ASRS should be embedded in an overall Intralogistics concept and not represent an isolated solution.

Important:

  • Take soft-facts into consideration
  • Observe material flow before and after the implementation of the ASRS
  • Avoid unnecessary interfaces

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