Telemetry and forklift operator assistance system can help warehouse managers obtain data about forklift usage.
Inflation pressure and rising costs are the most important issues in the whole food and beverage supply chain, especially in warehouses, because enterprises want to protect profit margins. The tight order execution deadline and long time work push the personnel and process to the limit. Enterprises need advanced solutions to make full use of their equipment and staff. With the inflation rate reaching the highest level of 9.1% in 40 years in June, it is particularly important to maintain cost control.
Many businesses are turning to technology to collect and use data to improve efficiency, whether it is to improve productivity or optimize the equipment fleet. According to the annual industry report of MHI in 2022, the adoption rate of the Internet of Things, wearable and mobile technology, predictive analysis, inventory and network optimization tools is expected to rise significantly, reaching or exceeding 75% in the next five years.
Telemetry and forklift operator assistance system (OAS) are examples of these types of technologies. The warehouse manager can capture the data about the use of the forklift through the telemetry tool to monitor the operation and make wise decisions in the future, and realize the real-time performance adjustment and amplification sensing capability through the OAS software package. These solutions are designed to improve efficiency, help improve the situational awareness of operators and comply with best practices, and reduce costly damage to 名媛直播, equipment and facilities - ultimately saving money.
Understand the difference between OAS and telemetry
Before delving into the details, it is important to define each solution and their differences. OAS is an all-inclusive term, including various 名媛直播 and technologies. It aims to do exactly what the name implies - to assist operators. It includes telemetry and other features, such as pedestrian awareness lights and alarms, as well as recent advances, such as automatic performance tuning, to proactively help operators comply with best practices that support safety and efficiency.
The telemetry system captures and reports the status and usage of forklift trucks, and provides data to inform fleet management, equipment maintenance and operator behavior management, all of which are reactive methods. The automatic performance tuning mentioned above is a key difference between the newer operator assisted solutions. These are the first systems to implement automatic performance tuning in real time, rather than collecting data for management review afterwards.
Optimize warehouse expenditure and maintenance with telemetry technology
One way to control the cost of the food supply chain is to reasonably adjust the size of their forklift fleet. For the cold storage environment, the cost and other challenges are magnified compared with the normal temperature environment, and this process may be particularly valuable. Telemetry technology can provide a data-driven picture, enabling managers to eliminate the cost of running redundant forklifts. By checking the service time of the lift truck, we can clearly see which equipment types are used most and which are used least. If the data shows that some equipment is accumulating dust, it is better to move these forklifts to another place where they can make better use of their capabilities, or replace them.
case
A food dealer started the fleet optimization process to reduce operating costs while maintaining flexibility to adapt to seasonal peaks and future growth. Based on the current and future forklift application, labor resources and demand, the staff of the distribution center determined the requirements of the fleet and established a telemetry system from local dealers to provide a data-driven view of fleet utilization and productivity.
Over time, the facility staff identified the idle area of the forklift, found the opportunity to reduce the fleet size by improving the process, and determined the specific order selector model that is very suitable for the picking process. The company's fleet size has been reduced by 10% by reducing redundant forklifts, establishing more effective processes, and adopting forklifts tailored for the implementation of applications.
The streamlined forklift fleet eliminates idle time and reduces costs, but it makes enterprises have a low tolerance for downtime. The telemetry function includes a summary of the equipment that displays the performance and health indicators of the forklift, and reminds the operator of the problem before the equipment stops. These systems have complete sensors. If something reaches a critical level or notices dangerous operation behavior, such as excessive speed or impact, an alarm will be triggered. The dashboard can also include planned maintenance information to track maintenance days and know which forklifts can be used and which cannot.
In order to control the maintenance cost, the telemetry system can achieve a more streamlined service plan. With the key maintenance data and analysis, it can help improve the regular maintenance plan, so that the operation only needs to pay for necessary services, and achieve sufficient support without overspending.
With such data, enterprises can isolate and try to remedy the problem areas and strengthen best practices to protect their fleets, 名媛直播 and bottom lines. In practice, a telemetry system can.
● Trigger service call according to equipment diagnosis results
● Only authorized operators are allowed to enter the forklift
● It is required to complete the OSHA pre-shift checklist before forklift operation
● Determine effective routes through GPS monitoring to affect the layout of facilities and traffic patterns
Use OAS to exceed standard telemetry tools
Collecting telemetry data to make informed decisions is valuable, but being able to make real-time performance adjustments changes the rules of the game. Advanced OAS integrates different technologies to promote operators' awareness of the situation and compliance with best practices, issue dynamic alarms, and start the performance reduction of lift trucks according to the rules of specific facilities, while allowing operators to control the equipment finally.
Of course, not all OAS 名媛直播 can provide the same functions. Some 名媛直播 may have a unique combination of sensing technology and performance reduction functions. The system uses these functions to provide a series of functions in real time according to established traffic rules and operating environment. For example, some packages may use lidar-based technology to detect obstacles on the road. Proximity detection can be provided through labels on equipment, pedestrians and infrastructure to provide detection of forklifts to forklifts, forklifts to pedestrians and forklifts to beacons. These tags can also work together with anchors placed around the facilities to form a mesh network to realize real-time position sensing of equipment and pedestrians. The information from laser radar, proximity detection and real-time position sensing can be combined with equipment-level sensors and inputs to trigger the performance adjustment of driving speed, acceleration and hydraulic functions, and will not damage the stability of the forklift.
OAS functions to look for
● Slow down at the end of the walkway. When the operator reaches the end of the walkway, it can reduce the performance of the equipment.
● Sight support provides the operator with additional reaction time by adjusting the performance of the forklift, and actively promotes the operator's awareness of objects and pedestrians not in his direct sight (blind spot).
● Lateral stability can automatically reduce the speed according to the comprehensive center of gravity of the forklift and cargo when turning to increase stability
● The rear-end collision prevention function enables the forklift to maintain an appropriate following distance when moving
● Forks are highly conscious. Fork height limit based on position to avoid low hanging beam or other obstacles
Take it to the next level
Many enterprises are aware of existing new technologies, but less than half of the warehouses have adopted and fully implemented innovative technologies such as telemetry and OAS. This technology provides real opportunities for operational leaders who want to control and promote positive revenue results. In the past, these benefits were lost and accounted for afterwards. The advanced innovations available in the warehouse continue to develop and become more accessible. Therefore, it is not a question whether your enterprise will implement telemetry, OAS or other advanced technologies, but when.
