The life cycle of AS/RS

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 9/1/2000

Many aspects of the automated materials handling life cycle, from concepting the project to the impact of e-commerce on our industry were discussed at the 22nd annual ASRS/AGVS User Association (a council of MHMS) Conference in Reno, Nev.

Carlton Roper of St. Onge Company encouraged listeners to systematically approach the concept and design of an AS/RS project by incorporating design criteria, an operations model, collected data, a base case, and a vision to generate alternatives in his talk on concepting and planning a materials handling project.

The advent of e-commerce was covered in a conference panel on the impact of e-commerce on our industry.

Dr. Dale Rogers of the Center for Logistics Management, estimates that there are currently over 600 trade exchanges operating over the Internet.

And according to Mike Kotecki of HK Systems, the impact of such e-tailing brings the need for: Ultimate flexibility; predictability in demand planning; and possible relocations, remissioning, retrofits, and expansions of existing systems.

For more information, visit www.asrs.org .