Before the modern fire engine, bucket brigades were the go-to method for fighting fires.
An organized group of volunteers would form a human chain and pass buckets of water from person to person. Working together, firefighters could get more water on the flames faster. Still, it wasn’t very efficient or effective. Hand-pump fire engines changed everything. By using hand pumps to pressurize water, even a small team could fight fires more efficiently, getting water on the flames faster and reaching heights inaccessible to bucket brigades.
If you still rely on human transportation for your intralogistics, you’re working like a bucket brigade.
Shuttling products back and forth by hand is an inefficient use of your warehouse staff. Humans move at inconsistent speeds, take breaks, and can’t access vertical space without equipment.
Like hand-pump fire engines, warehouse conveyor systems improve efficiency and efficacy.
These customizable automation solutions handle repetitive transportation and sortation functions, freeing up your human staff to add value elsewhere. These systems keep your products moving at a tireless, consistent rate and utilize space your staff can’t access. For many high-throughput facilities, conveyor systems are a game-changer.
Read on to learn more about industrial conveyor systems.
A warehouse conveyor system is an intralogistics tool for autonomously transporting goods and materials within a facility. Over twenty different conveyor types exist. A variety of factors influence which design choice is best for a given application. These factors include:
While all conveyor systems transport product from one place to another, they can do more than just shuttle groceries to the cashier.
Conveyor systems reduce manual labor, saving money and preventing injuries.
Your associates spend an average of 60% of their workday walking in your facility.
That means they spend only 40% of their day adding value. Traditional transportation forces them to waste over half of each day. Conveyor systems dramatically reduce that wasted time, sharply increasing productivity. That productivity increase becomes faster picking, shipping, and restocking.
Each reduces waste and improves customer service, advancing your business on all levels.
Ergonomic guidelines typically recommend workers never transport more than 35 lbs unsupported.
Yet a pallet jack and a forklift are excessive for many products that are only slightly heavier. Consequently, workers rely on brute strength and push carts to transport these goods. This increases the risk of overexertion injuries. Every time an associate lifts or carries a heavy object, they risk injury. These injuries cause over half a million days away from work each year.
Conveyor systems reduce the risk by limiting the exposure.
They can easily transport heavy goods throughout your facility with minimal human intervention. Reducing physical labor reduces the risk of injury.
Ultimately, conveyor systems protect your staff and prevent expensive workers’ compensation claims.
Human pickers and forklifts compete for aisle space.
One can’t use the aisle while the other works there. This slows down intralogistics and reduces productivity. Conveyor systems can work at different heights and levels, opening up floor space by moving products above high-traffic areas or even other conveyors.
In this way, conveyors help maximize vertical square footage.
Material handling conveyor systems are a broad category.
Grocery store belt conveyors and luggage claim slate conveyors are two easy examples. However, many more exist, each serving a specialized role. By combining several different conveyor types, you can create an integrated system that matches your workflow. Here are some of the most common conveyor systems on the market:
Most facilities combine conveyor types to create customized conveyor systems. Combining types allows warehouses to maximize efficiency, minimize costs, and reduce power consumption.
Conveyor systems are an intralogistics solution customized to your facility.
Automation of any kind is an investment, and conveyor systems are no exception.
Some conveyor types benefit certain industries more than others. Some warehouses only need a few different designs. Other warehouses don’t need conveyors at all. Your process will determine whether conveyor systems offer sufficient ROI. However, conveyors offer many beneficial combinations that aren’t intuitive. Consequently, you’ll need expert advice to determine the true ROI.
Our experts have you covered.
We’ve seen every combination of conveyor designs and created customized solutions to fit even the most niche processes. Our team has the experience and training to assess your process and provide detailed recommendations to help you make an informed decision.
At The Lilly Company, we keep you moving forward no matter what lies ahead.
To learn more about warehouse sortation systems, contact us online or visit one of our locations:
Arkansas - Jonesboro
Alabama - Birmingham, Dothan, Irondale, Madison, Mobile, and Montgomery
Georgia - Atlanta
Mississippi - Belden, Tupelo, and Richland
Tennessee - Jackson, Memphis, Knoxville, and Kingsport
Further Reading
Trail Mix Mentality: Why You Need To Blend AGVs Into Your Forklift Fleet
Why Fleet Tracking is the Missing Link in AGV Integration
Warehouse Automation: What to Automate First and Why