About 20 per cent of all components stored in warehouses take more than 10 minutes to retrieve, according to a survey by automated storage and retrieval specialist Kardex. The survey, aimed at warehouse and plant managers in the UK, seeks to identify the causes of operational inefficiency and learn how businesses cope with an ever increasing storage burden.
Of the companies surveyed, the average workplace consisted of 300 employees, 11 of which were dedicated to stores and warehouse functions. The primary issue faced by managers surveyed was the improvement of low picking speeds.
Clive Williams of Kardex said: “With companies seeking to diversify their stock lines, the time required to retrieve critical components in warehouses has increased, resulting in slower order completion, lowered productivity and decreased revenues.” The survey also shows that during high activity peaks, when faster component retrieval is required, a third of companies require manual handlers to work overtime, which can become costly.
Williams argues that by using high density automated materials handling solutions component delivery processes become faster, more reliable and secure.
l Adrian Golby is to be the new managing director of Kardex UK. He has 24 years of experience at industrial food process machinery supplier, Baker Perkins.
