The Satellite Review Magazine The Satellite Review Magazine Vol 3 | Page 16

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GREEN BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Easing Recall Burdens at the Warehouse (cont.)

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Green Business Initiative #1: automation
By Gary Frank

VP Automated Systems, Westfalia Technologies, Inc.

G

oing green means practicing certain actions in
order to benefit the environment. As seen in recent
headlines, major companies like Kellogg Co., UPS
and Google are executing large sustainable and “green”
goals not only to benefit the company’s bottom line but
to accommodate consumers. An online study by Nielsen
found that three out of four millennials are willing to pay
extra for sustainable products. Companies that market
their sustainability practices are more likely to build brand
reputation and grow loyalty among younger consumers.
Three popular ways to “go green” in the workplace are to
reduce carbon emissions, purchase green products and
implement automation into your warehouse. Adding automation, like an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/
RS), to a warehouse not only improves operational efficiency but is also a great way to “go green.” A few of the areas
where the AS/RS can help provide efficiency improvements
include land use, waste consumption and energy consumption. Compared to conventional storage systems, an AS/
RS decreases the need for space by 40%. So by utilizing the
smaller footprint more efficiently, the remaining “green”
space doesn’t need to be removed in order for the company
to add onto their warehouse. Westfalia’s AS/RS is designed
for each specific business model, maximizing space for
more storage. Systems can be designed to store single deep,

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double deep or up to 18 pallet loads deep. Don’t let the
misconception of needing to have a specific size building or
number of SKUs scare you away from automation. In fact,
an AS/RS can be implemented into a variety of facility sizes
helping large, medium and small companies create a more
sustainable company.
Waste often occurs within a warehouse because of damage
caused by manual handling of product by fork trucks, etc.
Rather, an AS/RS uses conveyors and a storage and retrieval machine (S/RM), which eliminates human error and
can reduce damaged product. Incorporating a warehouse
execution system (WES) with the AS/RS increases product
picking accuracy, thus decreasing the amount of waste. The
WES also optimizes material flow, which will add to providing more efficient use of your equipment and warehouse
space.

patient in realizing results. Usually, you must implement progressive
steps over time before obtaining return on investment (ROI).
Involve operating personnel from the get-go. Do not wait until the system
is about to go live to involve key staff—operating personnel should be
part of your project team from the start. This reduces the learning curve
and helps with buy in.
Be proactive. Follow recommended preventative maintenance schedules
instead of waiting for something to break at the most inopportune
moment. You will not have to pay for expensive, major repairs down the
road and will avoid delays that negatively affect customer satisfaction.

Positioning for the Future
While warehouse automation technology—a WES and an AS/RS—can help
food professionals keep products fresh, prevent and mitigate recalls, enable
compliance with industry regulations and protect consumers, they also provide long-term benefits that generate additional cost savings. Th