A large distribution center might receive and ship more than ten thousand truckloads each year, with an individual store receiving from only a couple of trucks per week up to 20, 30, or more per week. Distribution centers range in size from less than 50,000 square feet (5,000 m2) to the largest identified in 2015 approaching 3 million square feet (300,000 m2).[1]
Especially in large areas, the day-to-day, hour-to-hour operation is extremely monotonous. There’s little variation from one trailer to the next, one bay to another. From a human perspective, it's a dull and sometimes dangerous job.
A distribution center’s workload is rarely steady. Changes in demand and staffing needs occur day-to-day, week-to-week, and season-to-season. Retailers are known to use a combination of overtime, overstaffing, and temp workers to manage these fluctuations.
The efficient use of resources on site, both mechanical and human, is imperative for success. We've done tests where several people hopped into a Terberg truck, then hopped out to run to the back of the truck and hook up the gladhand to connect the air brake system. After that, each tester got back into the truck again. Some testers took a break or simulated a small break, some simulated going to the bathroom, the best case scenario was a ninety-second turnaround.
It's important to look where the time is spent when you have a human driver. Every time a driver backs up a trailer to a dock or parking spot they have to park the truck, connect or disconnect a brake line, and get back in the truck.
When you add up the time spent on this process in a 24/7 operation, it's easy to see the benefits of automation.
Effective yard management is a complex topic in today’s ever-evolving supply chain. PINC.com reports that poor planning on the part of warehouse managers can lead to extensive fees or detention charges, irritability and anger among truck drivers and employees, and excessive gait and congestion. Meanwhile, warehouse managers struggle with maintaining visibility and control over trucks, personnel, and assets in their yards. ASI's Smart Yard Shifting solution can help warehouse managers overcome these challenges.
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Quickly generate custom maps, designate lanes and roadways, set safety perimeters, and create drivable areas with Map Builder. Experience the simple, clean Mobius interface that leverages advanced design and development techniques and incorporates user testing results from industry professionals.
When multiple vehicles are on a track at the same time, Proximity Monitor tracks their location, direction and speed. If paths may cross, it directs vehicles to react appropriately to avoid collisions.
These areas exist around autonomous vehicles and can be designated around human controlled vehicles on a track. Unmanned vehicles will stop if they approach any designated safe areas.
If unmanned vehicles leave the safety area or lose signal, the e-stop override immediately applies the brake.
Enjoy greater productivity and economies of scale as a single operator controls multiple unmanned vehicles interacting in the same area or at dispersed locations.
Improve productivity with embedded artificial intelligence modules that automatically task vehicles, generate maps and paths, and more.
View real-time gauges and meters that display a vehicle’s current speed, gear, RPM, fuel level, and more...
Easily switch between autonomous mode and manual mode to control the vehicle manually when needed.
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