will create more friction , adding stress and heat to each piece , shortening the life of that part . It is important to inspect and clean the parts so the system can run without excess wear .
Stretch wrap is also found on moving parts . This film can wrap around the sprockets to the point that the sprocket cannot move . The strength of the drive motors have no problem overpowering the sprocket . The chain then starts to act like a chainsaw and grind down anything that is in its way . Proper maintenance can catch the issue early , instead of turning into a larger problem .
L – Lubricate
There are many moving parts to an AS / RS that need to be properly lubricated in order to reduce the friction , minimize wear and prevent corrosion . However , if you add lubricant to dirty parts , it can mix with the debris and lose its lubricating properties . This can turn into a paste that will harm the equipment and cause it to fail . It is best to first clean the parts thoroughly , getting rid of any debris , then apply a thin coat of lubrication .
Be careful not to over lubricate either . When parts are over lubricated , they tend to splatter oil onto surrounding parts , and may even drip onto the floor . The oil can find its way onto the brake pads , rendering them almost useless and the oil on the ground can create a dangerous area for the maintenance team . Make sure your team knows the proper lubrication to use , when to apply it , and how much to use .
A - Adjust
During regular maintenance , the chain condition and tension should be inspected to see if they need to be replaced or adjusted . Loose chains can jump teeth and over-tightening can cause the motors to use extra power to move or bearings and shafts to fail , shortening the life span of the motor . It is also important that parts are assembled straight . A misaligned chain can cause abnormal wear on parts and decrease the life of the chain , sprocket , and bearing .
S - Service
When evaluating automation for your warehouse , discuss a service and maintenance contract and outline expectations . Most suppliers have a recommended service plan that may include spare parts for the machine . A proper service contract can help reduce the down time of your system , assuming spare parts are readily available and a service technician can be onsite quickly . Likewise , with frequently scheduled preventive maintenance inspections , pending issues can be identified ahead of causing unplanned downtime . An AS / RS is a unique and fairly new technology that technicians must be educated on to ensure proper service . Discuss necessities and available options with the system provider to determine which service package would be best for the application .
S - Support
What good is it to have an AS / RS if a problem occurs and there isn ’ t anyone available to help ? Support , whether it be over the phone , online , or in person is vital to successful production . If a smaller problem or fault arises , typically a service technician can troubleshoot the issue over the phone , and try to propose a solution . Oftentimes , they also have the ability to log onto your software instance from their computer to see what the specific problem is . Proper support is also great to have when there are questions about the equipment . For example , service technicians at Westfalia are experts that work on these systems daily . The ability to talk to one of these people can be very informative and it is likely that they have dealt with your issue before and can give you a quick , concise answer .
Proper maintenance of an AS / RS is important to keep the system running efficiently and accurately now and into the future . It is important to work with your supplier to develop a custom and thorough service plan . Ace your next inspection and prolong the life of your system with these tips .
And the
Award
Goes to ...
Westfalia Technologies , Inc . has earned the following awards :
• SDCE 100 Top Supply Chain
• FL Top Green Provider
• Top 10 Food and Beverage Companies to Watch in 2017
• FL 100 +
• SDCE Green Supply Chain
www . WestfaliaUSA . com The Satellite Review 31