Autonomous Mobile Robots have appeared as the optimal answer
In the era of digital transformation and modernization, the application of smart robots such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to improve productivity and reduce risks in production is a growing trend in many enterprises in diverse business fields. Many manufacturing facilities, factories, warehouses, transportation and logistics businesses involved in the supply chain are looking for a new solution to improve efficiency, accelerate speed, ensure accuracy and safety in operation. And AMR has appeared as a new step, the most optimal answer today.
WHAT IS AMR?
Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) is a type of self-propelled robot that applies technology that can automatically determine the path, and have the ability to identify and move to avoid obstacles on their journey without direct supervision by humans.
AMRs are material-handling robots, used in automated warehouses with the primary function of choosing, picking, and transporting goods.
AMR can be considered as a new generation AGV robot, capable of self-determining the path and identifying obstacles on the travel distance.
ADVANTAGES
IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE
Pressure from society forces companies to constantly improve production efficiency and upgrade processes. AMRs will be an effective solution for businesses to develop with the market while boosting output, reducing production time and avoiding unnecessary wastes from human mistakes.
Rozitek’s AMR can operate non-stop for 6-8 hours and complete deployment of a solution in just 2 weeks.
The intelligent Intralogistics system helps the Information and Material Flow to move smoothly in the factory
Information flow management is an important process of supply chain management, specifically for logistics activities inside factories. As materials move from the warehouse to the production lines, the information must also be updated. Every day, these tasks are repeated hundreds of times in a factory. Updating inventory status and warehousing information is still done manually by employees on paper or in Excel. This procedure is prone to the following limitations:
- Information is easily misinterpreted
- Slow, inefficient processing time
- There is no information storage system, making information fragmented and easy to lose.
- There is no system for analyzing, synthesizing, reporting and predicting the future
- It is difficult for managers to update information in real time
Rozitek provides plant material and information flow management solutions, including the Intelligent Warehouse Management System iWMS-1000; Robot Management System RCS-2000; AMRs; and integrate and operate the system and related equipment. The schematic diagram of a simplified system is as besides.
Thanks to these 2 warehouse control system software, the manager can accurately track every movement of the goods in real-time. Enterprises can reduce personnel at the steps of data entry, and inbound/outbound warehousing.
These data are presented in the form of charts and reports. Based on these metrics, the software will use AI-based Dispatching to predict task completion time, pickup time, delivery time, and assess route status to optimize AMR’s duty assignment.
REDUCING COST FOR BUSINESS
If effectively applied to the AMRs system, it can help manufacturers reduce production costs significantly in many aspects:
- Reduce labor costs, reduce labor and associated costs for labor
- Reduce production time, effectively increase throughput
- Accelerate payback time
- Reduce production risks and subjective mistakes of labor
As a result, businesses can choose to reduce final product costs to increase competitiveness or increase profit margins when input costs have been reduced. In addition, businesses can also focus their resources on activities that bring higher value such as marketing or sales. Along with improved productivity, cost reduction will positively impact the rate of return on investment (ROI) that businesses use to invest in AMR solutions.
According to AMR manufacturers, implementing AMR into production operations will help businesses reduce labor costs by 58% on average, increase logistics efficiency by 84% while taking only 1.5 – 2 years to pay back.
INCREASE FLEXIBILITY IN OPERATIONS
The AMR can easily be reprogrammed routes and factory maps
Unlike AGVs that need magnetic tape, a path to support navigation and a fixed route, AMRs create their own route and avoid obstacles along the way. This means that the AMRs are more flexible when it comes to changing the original duty. They can easily be reprogrammed routes and factory maps, while it is more costly and time consuming to assign a new route to a AGV, due to the need for hardware changes such as new magnetic tapes.
AMR automatically assesses and reacts to its surroundings
The AMR automatically assesses and reacts to its surroundings, all without direct operator supervision. SLAM navigation technology allows AMRs to understand and adjust to changes in their work environment.
Rozitek offers a wide range of AMR products that can do a variety of tasks in a production line. These robots are like a network, flexibly coordinating with each other under the management of RCS software.
MINIMIZING RISKS FOR WORKERS
Many businesses use AMRs for tasks that are hazardous to workers. For example, they can operate during disease outbreaks, carry heavy loads in industrial environments, or work in extreme conditions where humans cannot and should not work.
In a manufacturing environment, workers are at risk of injury while handling materials, or face potential hazards from large production machinery and transport equipment such as forklifts. Replacing humans with robots will help lessen these risks.
DISADVANTAGES
HIGH INVESTMENT COSTS
Along with sophisticated technologies and complex mechanical engineering, implementing AMRs will require assembling the appropriate shelves and building the accompanying software. Therefore, the investment cost of a complete AMR solution will not be low.
However, Rozitek’s AMR system has a good ROI payback rate. In the long term, using self-propelled robots will help businesses reduce costs for employees, increase labor productivity, and focus resources on specialized and high-value activities. So it’s a worthy investment.
EXISTING SOME RISKS IN OPERATIONS
Using AMR may present some safety risks. For example, overloaded, bulky materials, goods may fall out causing damage. In addition, due to unpredictable events in the industrial environment, some robots may experience navigation problems and affect operations.
As for the Intralogistics solution from Rozitek, all the robot products have CE and CR safety marks, are equipped with sensors and lasers, and stop mode when detecting danger to ensure 360° protection. In addition, Rozitek’s engineering team is always available 24/7 if the operation has problems.
AMR'S APPLICATIONS
The manufacturing industry today poses many challenges for businesses. The market requires product diversity, orders are increasing, many businesses appear to be labor-intensive, lack of human resources, inflation, expansion speed cannot keep up with demand due to limited production space and human capacity.
With the market volatile and difficult to determine, the problem of inventory and surplus storage needs a reasonable solution. Thanks to that, AMR robot with its outstanding features, has been widely applied in manufacturing industries and automated warehouses:
3C (Computers, Communications, and Consumer Electronics): requires very diverse and complex technological processes and equipment, and strict production environment requirements.
Apparel and footwear: large inventory units (SKUs), market fluctuations depending on seasons and promotions, production processes not yet fully automated, need human and collaborative robots together.
Automotive: high-value end products require minimal manufacturing errors. In addition, products are large in size, requiring strict standards to ensure safety for workers as well as consumers.
Pharmaceutical and medical device: the unfinished product of each stage of pharmaceutical processing is very sensitive to the environment, long exposure can lead to transformation. Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers must adhere to strict shelf life and constant product lifecycle changes.
Moreover, other industries such as Food Production, Renewable Energy, Mechanical Engineering, Plastic Processing, Rubber, Retail, E-commerce… are also facing many challenges in production and warehouse management. AMR is a new technology, the answer to the challenges that businesses are facing.
To learn more about Rozitek’s Intralogistics and AMR solutions, contact us for a consultation. With a team of experienced engineers, high expertise and comprehensive solutions, we are confident to bring a difference to our customers.
ROZITEK – INTELLIGENT INTRALOGISTICS SOLUTIONS
Email: info@rozitek.com
Hotline: (+84) 36 918 3998
Learn more about: intralogistics, intralogistics solutions, autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, handling materials, material transfer, good to person solutions, AMR, AGV, smart warehouse, smart factory, smart production, sustainable production, green manufacturing, black factory, fully automation, carton transfer units, CTU, solutions, carton transfer,…