AS/RS Racking System & Automated Warehouse Solutions | Zithunzi za STTC Intelligence
This article is all about ASRS warehouse systems.
In it, you’ll learn:
- What ASRS systems are and their history
- The different types of ASRS systems and how they work
- The benefits of ASRS systems
- What companies use ASRS systems
- And much more!
Let’s dive in!
What Is ASRS?
The first question to answer is: What does ASRS stand for?
Answer: “Automated storage and retrieval systems.”
Now that we got that out of the way, what is an automated storage and retrieval system?
They are systems designed to automatically put materials into storage or retrieve them for order fulfillment.
ASRS Definition
ASRS systems (sometimes styled AS/RS) are makina osungira katundu technology that augments or replaces manual warehousing tasks.
Such tasks can include placing items or picking them from storage.
Makina Osungira ndi Kubweza Zokha: A History
Let’s go through the history of ASRS systems to give you the full context for what they are and what they do.
ASRS Versus The Traditional Warehouse System
Before ASRS systems were developed, companies had to manually handle all aspects of warehousing and distribution.
And over time, this led to many challenges.
Some of the challenges for traditional warehouses included:
Warehouses were wide-open and storage was spread out, which didn’t make good use of the space
As demand picked up, warehouses had to handle greater quantities of goods
The way inventory was stored didn’t lend itself to the process of demand-oriented flow and picking
As a result, orders took longer to fulfill.
And more human labor was required to fulfill them.
The Introduction of ASRS Technology
Then in 1962, ASRS systems were developed by the engineers at Demag – now known as Dematics.
These early systems consisted of mobile masts and reach trucks.
This equipment was able to move up and down storage racking while placing and retrieving items from within.
As a result of the development of ASRS systems, warehouse management was revolutionized because warehouses could now:
Make storage racking taller to increase storage density
Minimize errors by retrieving the right inventory, at the right time, and bringing it to the right place
Improve throughput by reducing the reliance on manual labor for order fulfillment
Additionally, ASRS systems meant that warehouses could now be smaller, more closed, and take up less space.
ASRS Developments in Recent Decades
After 1962, ASRS systems and technology continued to grow.
By the 1980s, companies began to refer to ASRS facilities as high-bay warehouses.
This was due to the increasing storage heights, which could extend up to 150 feet.