How much do ASRS systems cost?

Although AS / RS has been widely used in warehouses in various industries, many people have almost no idea about this complex-sounding term. What is the purpose of ASRS? Does choosing an Automatic Storage and Retrieval System cost a lot of money?

• Purposes and applications of   AS / RS

• Factors affecting the cost of ASRS

• ASRS' bottom line and ROI

Purposes and applications of AS / RS

Pick-up and packing personnel arrive. Picking, packing, and processing orders is one of the most time-consuming tasks in order fulfillment. In fact, the process of walking and manually picking orders can account for more than 50% of the time associated with picking. AS / RS offers an alternative method of picking goods by using cargo-to-person (GTP or G2P) orders. In a goods-to-person order picking system, workers do not actually move from a product location to a product location to pick an order. Instead, micro-loaded Automatic Storage and Retrieval System cranes, shuttles, AMRs, conveyors or VLMs are able to retrieve the necessary inventory from storage and deliver it directly to workers working at the sorting / packing station. Once the appropriate number of products has been picked, the inventory is returned to the warehouse and the next item required for the order is delivered to the worker for picking. Depending on the operation, it can be done on a case-by-case or whole-case basis. In both cases, ASRS can sort the products so that they have the most reasonable logistical significance-for example, allowing heavy product situations to be placed at the bottom of a pallet, or organizing products to place similar products Put together or sequentially to match the layout of the store, shipping areas and deadlines, just to name a few.

Stocking order for shipment. The impact of e-commerce and omni-channel delivery on the order fulfillment process cannot be overstated. Customers can now shop and place orders around the clock, and they want their products delivered quickly and on time. However, even if a company accepts and processes 24/7 orders, it often limits shipping windows: for example, due to shifts in worker shifts or excessive night and weekend delivery fees. To remedy these limitations, the operation can continuously pick and process orders and use AS / RS to place them in buffer memory to temporarily store them until the shipping window is opened. This saves time and allows continuous production even if the order cannot physically leave the factory.

Manage buffer storage. In a typical warehouse, different processes take different time to complete. If these discrepancies are not properly managed, the poor timing of the equipment or area deceleration at any stage can bring the entire operation to a standstill or degrade quality. Buffering is designed to prevent such failures by ensuring that there are always sufficient supplies / products at different stages to keep operations up and running. But while buffering is meaningful, poor management can be a logistical nightmare, requiring miles of conveyor belts to properly buffer and grade. AS / RS has the potential to replace these conveyor buffer systems, enabling operations to efficiently store buffer products and retrieve them if necessary. Depending on the specifics of the operation, this buffer management can be performed in multiple areas of the operational workflow, whether it is a phased delivery of products / original materials ("inbound receiving buffer") or the exact storage of the inventory where it is to be stored The locations need to be kept along the production line ("assembly line use point buffer") or (order consolidation) multiple parts of an order picked in different areas and then merge them for final packaging and shipping.

Store and use point storage. One of the main advantages of ASRS is its ability to store products in a way that makes the most efficient use of available space, especially in the long run. By implementing AS / RS, operations can automate the long-term storage of raw materials or products and retrieve what is needed when needed. By integrating Automatic Storage and Retrieval System with their warehouse execution software (WES), they can also intelligently utilize and optimize inventory time through FIFO (First In First Out), LIFO (Last In First Out), batch numbers, expiration dates, and order deadlines, Packaging requirements and specific requirements for many organizations and industries.

Factors affecting the cost of ASRS

1.Available net height.

The clear height available in the equipment has the potential to greatly affect the cost of implementing ASRS. This is mainly due to the fact that the higher the ability to build the system, the cheaper each additional vertical leg is. From each location, this means that shorter ASRS systems will cost more than higher systems. why? Because the most expensive component of any AS / RS is the retrieval / storage component-the moving part. This means that adding more storage space vertically is cheaper than adding AS / RS aisles. The clearer your Automatic Storage and Retrieval System job is, the better your budget will be. It's also worth noting that vertical space is wasted space for many operations. Recycling some of these spaces and using them via AS / RS can make your operations more efficient and efficient, while taking up less actual floor space, which is a victory for operations!

2. surroundings. 

It is expected that the type of environment on which AS / RS will operate may affect the final cost of the system and may even make it unavailable as an option for your operation. ASRS operating in a warehouse or distribution center with a moderate ambient temperature is usually at the lower end of the cost range, while ASRS operating in a cooler or freezer is usually at the higher end of the cost range. This cost difference is due to the material and installation costs associated with building ASRS that can withstand low temperatures. AS / RS technology may be suitable for many hazardous environments (dusty, chemical, explosive, etc.), but needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

3. Distribution system. 

The method by which you plan to ship your products to and away from the automated storage and retrieval system will have an impact on the total cost of the project, although this will be an indirect cost. Generally speaking, the upfront investment required to deliver products by trolley or forklift is very small, and the implementation of conveyors, shuttles or AGV systems will require more upfront investment.

4. Steel structure building and rack support building. 

If you are considering implementing AS / RS as part of a new warehouse or distribution center project, it is important to note that the type of building you already own or choose to build can have a huge impact on the final cost of the system. For example, choosing to build a frame-supported building (up to 120 'tall) instead of a more traditional steel-frame building (40' tall) with a larger footprint can save a lot of money.

Bottom line and ROI of the ASRS system

Because cost is a major consideration for such large purchases, it is important for you to understand some of the major factors that can affect the final cost of a new storage and retrieval system. The cost of AS / RS can vary from operation to operation and industry to industry, after all the details are in the devil. When you know what factors might affect the final cost, budgeting for any large project is always easier. When ASRS is implemented in your order fulfillment or distribution center, all aspects from the height of the system, the environment in which it must run, the size and type of the load, will have an impact on the final product. Cost of the new system. However, it is important to keep in mind that these factors represent only the required up-front capital investment and do not take into account the potential productivity gains that AS // brings, improved inventory control / accuracy, and the potential for other operational and maintenance savings. On the desktop. Whether seeking to optimize existing facilities or design new facilities, AS / RS should be seen as a small part of the warehouse automation challenge.

The cost of the ASRS system can be quite expensive, but considering the subsequent economic benefits it brings, investing in ASRS is still a cost-effective business. If you are looking for a company that will take the time to understand your personal business needs, products, future growth plans and space requirements, Jiangsu NOVA Intelligent Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. will be a wise choice.