Pallet Rack - Pallet Racking - Racking System - Warehouse Racking - Automated Storage and Retrival System

What is AS/RS?

Automated storage and retrieval systems—often referred to as AS/RS, but sometimes also AS-RS or ASRS—are a kind of warehouse technology wherein goods are automatically brought out of, and placed back into, storage. This is typically achieved by pairing the technology with Warehouse Management System(WMS) that manages the process and helps warehouse personnel process orders.

AS/RS brings with it a number of advantages that help you make your warehouse or order fulfillment operation more efficient, but perhaps the largest is the fact that it allows you to more smartly allocate personnel to higher-value tasks. By automating labor-intensive and repetitive tasks—such as product retrieval and replenishing, for example—with an AS/RS, those labor hours can now be reallocated to other important areas of your business.

Types of AS/RS Technology

Automated storage and retrieval systems come in two main varieties: Unit-Load AS/RS and Mini-Load AS/RS. Some of the most popular types of AS/RS technologies include:

• Fixed-Aisle Unit-Load AS/RS Cranes
• Movable-Aisle Unit-Load AS/RS Cranes
• Mini-Load AS/RS Crane
• Mini-Load AS/RS Shuttle
• Carousel-based AS/RS
• Vertical Lift Module (VLM)

Advantages

An effective automated storage and retrieval system provides several benefits for supply chain management:

• An efficient AS/RS system helps companies cut expenses by minimizing the amount of unnecessary parts and products in storage, and improving organization of the contents of a warehouse. Due to automated processes, it also allows for more storage space due to high-density storage, narrower aisles, etc.
• Automation reduces labor costs while lowering workforce requirements and increasing safety.
• Modeling and managing the logical representation of the physical storage facilities (e.g. racking, etc.). For example, if certain products are often sold together or are more popular than others, those products can be grouped together or placed near the delivery area to speed up the process of picking, packing and shipping to customers.
• Enabling a seamless link to order processing and logistics management in order to pick, pack, and ship product out of the facility.
• Tracking where products are stocked, which suppliers they come from, and the length of time they are stored. By analyzing such data, companies can control inventory levels and maximize the use of warehouse space. Furthermore, firms are more prepared for the demands and supplies of the market, especially during special circumstances such as a peak season on a particular month. Through the reports generated by an AS/RS system, firms are also able to gather important data that may be put in a model for it to be analyzed.

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