AutoStore with SAP EWM SAP EWM connection for AutoStore facilities
AutoStore here, AutoStore there - that's how it might seem when you look around in the relevant trade media and at this year's industry trade shows. One thing is clear: AutoStore has become an indispensable part of the intralogistics world. And the technology is both amazingly simple and ingenious. So it's no wonder that many companies are toying with the idea of using an AutoStore system. When a company is toying with warehouse automation and the introduction of this system, it is usually in the middle of preparations for a new building or the use of a logistics property, an expansion or other conversions. But what makes AutoStore so special? And how can it be combined with existing intralogistics processes?
So-called "cube storage" systems have enjoyed great popularity in the logistics world for some years now. The inventor of these systems for warehouse automation is certainly the market leader AutoStore: The robot-assisted small parts warehouse, which does not require racking or aisles, is the talk of the town and is used by some of the world's best-known brands: Continental, Gucci and Siemens, to name just a few of the more than 6,000 customers. It has the advantage that the warehouse automation system can be retrofitted and saves a lot of space. For this, the system is also regularly honored with awards, such as most recently the "SupplyTech Breakthrough Award 2022".
SAP EWM for AutoStore Integration
The decision to automate a warehouse has a long-term impact on business development and growth. Therefore, when planning the integration of an AutoStore system, ideally an experienced logistics planner should be consulted.
With the experience of a professional, misplanning can be avoided during the logistics consulting and planning process. He will also point out how important it is to ensure connectivity between AutoStore and existing intralogistics.
This is because a suitable standard connection from the AutoStore system to SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) establishes a seamless link to the existing system landscape. This ensures end-to-end processes and thus greater efficiency in operations.
FAQs
AutoStore is considered an almost revolutionary space-saving system and is recommended for anyone who wants to gain storage space or make the best use of existing space. Designed as a storage and picking solution, AutoStore offers a wide range of applications. As a rule, AutoStore systems are designed for construction or stacking heights of up to approx. 5 meters. Basically, this system uses battery-powered robots, storage bins, operator connections and an aluminum grid. The robots move along the top of the rack grid structure (grid) in both longitudinal and transverse directions and store and retrieve bins. The storage capacity can be increased by extending the storage grid. The throughput achieved can be increased by using more robot vehicles.
AutoStore is ideally suited as a warehouse automation system for handling small-sized goods (small parts warehouses), for warehouses with a small footprint, for example, and also where land costs are high. The range extends from 1,000 totes to over 1 million totes and from a few tote deliveries to 20,000 order lines per hour. The system can be retrofitted into existing or limited operating environments. By eliminating aisle and aisle equipment, maximum storage density is achieved with optimal use of space and floor area.
- Fast integration through use of process-safe standard integration
- Higher storage capacity, maximum storage density
- Minimal space requirements, low traffic area share
- Improved space utilization
- Fast order processing, fast familiarization for employees thanks to familiar, intuitive SAP workstation dialogs
- High process transparency
- Easily scalable, flexibly expandable
- Separately controlled infeed/outfeed prevents waiting times for the storage system or downstream production machines
- Low energy consumption
- Low operating costs
- High availability
Points that should be checked by a professional regarding the suitability of AutoStore, among others:
- Ground quality of the property, available height of the warehouse.
- Necessary fire protection measures
- Dynamic and static storage capacities
- Fixed container sizes for products
- Connection of the facility to the overall system (with regard to e.g. conveyor technology and IT system)
Conclusion
AutoStore is a system that flexibly "grows" with the company. By means of a standard integration (IGZ Best Practice) of AutoStore to SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management), the system can be seamlessly integrated. Efficiency in operations is increased. It makes sense for a logistics planner to take over the planning and confirm the suitability or work out the prerequisites. A company benefits from having work taken off their hands and the right recommendation made for each application.
We present more information on other rack technology systems and their differences in the blog post of the same name "Automation of small parts logistics: stacker crane, shuttle or AutoStore-AKL?".
More about the different phases on the way to the final logistics project is explained on the logistics planning and logistics consulting topic page.
