Engineering & Design Study
Engineering & Automation Design Services
Optimize Your ROI
Introducing order picker automation can be an operational challenge to any organization. It is a costly and complex undertaking that requires a combination of an in-depth grasp of order fulfillment processes, and the capability for long-term operational planning.
Today’s distribution facilities consist of networks of sophisticated material handling systems, which must meet and interact with each other to handle growing volumes of products, customer orders and SKU quantities. Whether you are seeking automation solutions for a new facility or as an addition to an existing one, all the primary functions (which differ from one facility to another) of your warehouse need pre-designed product queues and smooth and continuous product and information flow.
What Is an Automated Fulfillment Systems Design?
The SI Systems engineering & design services (EDS) were designed to help clients avoid common automation design and installation pitfalls for their pick technology systems. Over automation, under automation or lack of design planning for future growth are some of the drawbacks you may experience if you do not seek professional expertise when automating new facilities or expanding existing ones.
The engineering and automation design services strategically plan and develop blueprints designed to depict the most optimal flow processes amongst key warehouse functionalities and ancillary support amenities as well as information flow between integrated networks.
SI Systems expert engineers use industry best practices to construct optimized workspace layouts that are nimble, flexible, and easily scalable to handle order profile changes.
After 60+ years of supplying warehouse automation services, we understand the need for an automated fulfillment system that can serve you as you grow and help you adapt to changes in the eCommerce industry.
Benefits of SI's Automation Design Services at a Glance
Scoping & Analysis
This rigorous process will help you to precisely define a realistic automation aim that is uniquely tied to your specific business needs. This analysis is key to avoiding investments in automated fulfillment systems that far exceed or fall short of the scope of your automation goals.
Training
We supply training and consultation for solving routine issues related to software and hardware to ensure continuous flow of work and systems integration.
Project Management
We will support you throughout the stages of project implementation from start to finish to help you meet your deadlines, avoid cost overruns, finding and eliminating future bottlenecks and avoid feature creeps.
Solid Architecture
A system engineering study will provide you with a solid architectural blueprint and related information that can be repurposed for your future automation projects.
Budgeting
Our EDS program will provide you with a realistic time and cost estimate by running a thorough cost analysis of materials and processes needed to complete your automation solution. calculator icon signifying that our EDS program will provide you with a realistic time and cost estimate
The Analysis Flow Chart
Initial Set of Meetings
Information gathered in this phase is quite preliminary and relates to administrative and SKU information.
Some of the questions you are likely to meet include:
- Product sizes and dimensions.
- SKU movement data within a representative period.
- SKU images.
- An overview of the system you envision.
- Your bottlenecks and challenges.
- Your project timeline.
- Project decision makers.
Site Tour
The overarching aim of the site visit is to support clients to define automation goals that are tied to specific business needs. These goals establish the metrics by which the ROI (return on investment) is measured.
Other goals include:
- To understand the client’s existing operational processes.
- To assess two things: The amount of workspace available for the needed automation solution, and the impact of growth on the existing layout.
- To collect detailed and comprehensive operational data.
- To assess product profile and other characteristics that determine the type of pick technologies needed for the project.
Data Analysis
This phase includes a comprehensive analysis of:
- SKU volume.
- SKU dimensions.
- SKU movement.
- Throughput requirements.
The aim is to figure out rack and system placement.
SI System's Design
The output of this phase will include, though not limited to, the following:
- Alternative concept layouts in 2D and 3D.
- Concept explanations.
- List of needed equipment and workstations.
- Recommended staffing assignment.
- Budgetary estimates and lead times.
- Engineering study document.
Presentation
SI engineers will present the final outlay of the layout design.
The following actions take place in this phase:
- The client can suggest layout edits through a series of feedback loops.
- Once the revisions have been completed, the customer receives the study report and layout blueprints.
- Client has the choice to sign up with SI to complete the project, or work with other integrators to complete the automation mission.
Key Areas of Automation Design
Deliverables
At the end of the study, SI Systems will present the following information that can be reused in future automation expansion projects.
Our engineering and automation design services team will create solutions that are designed to meet your customized needs. We will provide you with the best technology and EDS reports and documents to help you with future facility design projects.