Why Should Businesses Use Material Handling Software?
Business success greatly depends on reduced overheads and increased productivity. In the manufacturing and distribution industry, material handling software helps companies reduce waste, automate goods movement and hence increase productivity. The combined impact of this all is a significant increase in profit margins and cost savings. Companies use automated systems to reduce human involvement in manufacturing processes – from material procurement to warehousing, production and supply chain. As a result, it decreases the chances of human errors and injuries.
Automated material handling simply refers to the automation of any kind that eliminates the need for human input in sorting and moving materials within the warehouse and logistics and supply chain. Automation helps manufacturers make the most efficient use of materials.
Material handling involves all the process that includes movement, storage and protection of raw materials and finished goods throughout the manufacturing period. It involves procurement, consumption, placement, distribution and disposal of materials. A variety of materials handling equipment are also used during this process – some are manual and others are semi-automated or fully automated.
Majority of the companies prefer automated material handling systems not only because they are more efficient, but also, they save from a lot of hassle and mitigate safety risks.
If you are a discrete manufacturer or a distributor or in any business that involves logistics and supply chain, then you must consider investing in material handling solutions like supply chain software. It is important to comprehend what type of automation you need whenever you decide to go for material handling automation.
Let’s take a look at a few convincing reasons that every manufacturer and distributor should use material handling automation.
Higher Production Rates:
Increased productivity and higher throughput are two of the primary reasons in justifying the use of modern materials handling automation. Automated systems perform manufacturing processes with more accuracy and consistency than human workers, providing you greater control, invariability and reliability of product quality. Moreover, enhanced process control makes more efficient and well-organized use of materials, resulting in less waste, and thereby ensures significant cost savings.
Better Labor Management:
Automation helps eliminate wasteful activities. Automated material handling equipment, when used wisely and effectively will help you improve labor-management throughout the manufacturing period. You can free your workers from low-value activities such as moving materials from storage to the site (use self-driving vehicles for this) and assign them more high-value jobs, requiring significant human attention and effort. This also allows quick completion of work, all while reducing the labor count required on the job.
Flexible Manufacturing:
Another benefit of material handling systems is that it allows on-demand flexibility in the manufacturing processes because of the advance delivery of material to the site they are needed. With access to complete and accurate data, you can leverage the materials retrieval from a centralized pick location which will save the time of line personnel that can be used in performing more valuable tasks. Material handling automation ensures flexible manufacturing.
Well-Connected Factory:
Material management software helps you connect your manufacturing facility in a better way. Sensors in automated material handling equipment collect, share and disburse the information within the manufacturing operations. It enables other units of the factory to anticipate results, potential delays or changes in the production line and hence plan better for quick order fulfillment and delivery. The right use of automation technology allows you to connect all machinery when and where needed and manage manufacturing functions more swiftly and accurately. Manage your future actions with easy sending and receiving of data – up and/or downstream within the operation.
Improved Customer Experience:
With the material handling solutions, you can meet customer demands and expectations in the best possible way – providing them affordable and quality products. Moreover, you will be saving a significant amount of money by producing quality products quickly and cost-effectively (less workers involved, reduced human errors, minimum reworks, etc.). Eventually, you will be in a better position to offer your customer better prices compared to the competition who’s not using automated technology for material handling and other manufacturing processes.
Check out the material handling software from MWI solutions – designed for your business growth and sustainability.