Henry Ford established the world's first automobile production line in 1913 with the construction of an assembly line. The fastest time that Ford has ever recorded for the production of a single vehicle was 12 hours and 13 minutes; however, the production time for a single vehicle now only takes 1 hour and 33 minutes! As a result of Henry Ford's revolutionary work in the automobile industry, labor-intensive production practices were drastically reduced, and mass production was born.

Since 1913, a number of developments have been made to "processes" in industry, with the goals of making them more efficient, faster, and cheaper. In this section of the article, we are going to discuss one of those technologies known as the Automated Vertical Carousel and Vertical Lift Module, which was developed in Australia.

The Vertical Lift Module and its Principal Characteristics

1. Although it is frequently referred to as an automated vertical carousel storage and retrieval system, the Vertical Lift Module (VLM) is essentially just a more advanced delivery elevator

2.  Another common name for the VLM is the vertical carousel

3.  To begin, picture two walls that are facing each other and consist of vertical storage shelves that range in height from twenty to one hundred feet

4.  After that, an elevator or an electrical lift is installed in the space in between the two rows of facing shelves

The elevator, which is also commonly referred to as a lift, moves along the walls of the building. When the lift is directed electronically, it will stop at a shelf, collect a tray that is already stocked with selected items, and carry it to the operator. The operator will then "choose" the item from a bay that is designated specifically for that purpose. The entire wall and lift system has been completely enclosed to ensure the user's safety and security.

Vertical Carousels in Australia Come with a Range of Additional Features

A Vertical Lift Module, on the other hand, will cost you a considerable amount more. In the following, we will go over some of the most important components that give this automated vertical carousel system its revolutionary quality.

The heights of the products as they are stored on their shelving trays are measured by Dynamic Storage Sensors located in Vertical Lift Modules.

The software that was installed with the lift then calculates those height measurements and instructs the VLM to dynamically store its trays, that is, as close as 1 inch to the tray's tallest product. This allows for optimal space utilization. This design maximizes storage density by removing the empty space that would otherwise exist between the shelves.

Trays

It is possible to design Vertical Lift Modules with trays that can hold varying weight load capacities on the same shelf. This is useful for stocking a variety of items on the same shelf. Even though there is a wide range of sizes available for trays, it is imperative that the depth of each tray be the same across all machines. All trays can be partitioned using dividers, bins, or boxes of various sizes.

Single Tray

The output configuration of a VLM can either be a single tray or a pair of trays. A mechanism known as a single tray output is one in which the lift selects one tray at a time and then hands it over to the operator.

When there is a dual tray output, dual tray picking is made much simpler.

The lift is picking up one tray at the same time that it is delivering another tray to its destination.

External

An external bay is a separate operator bay that is located outside of the unit's aperture and is referred to as an external bay. It offers its operators the most comfortable and ergonomic working environment conceivable. The chosen items are taken by the lift to the storage area located outside. If the procedure requires the use of cranes or other mechanical manipulators to lift large goods on trays, then external bays are also ideal because they provide more space.

Counting Minute Components

One more possibility is the use of a picking scale for the purpose of counting smaller items. The software of the unit is pre-programmed with the inventory SKU numbers for the parts, and the scale is able to communicate with the software of the unit.

Picking Aids

Options for indicating items using electronic and visual aids are available and include the following:

Bar Code Scanners

An LED light bar located on the front of the VLM unit provides an indication of the location of the object that has been selected.

During the process of electronically picking, an image that is associated with the object is displayed on the screen. This provides the picker with the ability to perform image confirmation or visual confirmation of the item.

Put-to-light is a system that breaks down extremely large quantities of inventory into more manageable consumer orders. The system instructs employees, using various light-emitting devices, how to "insert" products from a large batch into the orders of individual customers.

A laser pointer is a device that can point at anything using a concentrated beam of light. When a tray is brought to the operator bay, a laser pointer will illuminate the specific bin or box that holds the item that is to be selected.

On the VLMs, the software known as WMS (warehouse management software) has been installed.

There is a wide selection of software programs to choose from, and the right one will depend on your needs. Some of the solutions provide inventory management systems along with a variety of other capabilities that are truly remarkable. However, the configuration of the warehouse software is always performed with the assistance and input of the customer. VLM Software is typically installed by trained personnel. The software is designed to interact with typical enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as ASCII, DRC, XML, and so on.

In what ways will the business benefit from utilizing VLMS?

Before I get into my main points, we suggest that you read through a few case studies that show how independent distributors have used Vertical Lift Modules to solve their problems with the storage and retrieval of parts, ultimately resulting in significant improvements to their businesses.

Increasing Storage Capacity While Minimizing Space Use

Let's face it: the cost of real estate is quite high. If you don't want to spend the additional money on renting more storage space or moving to a larger facility, going vertical could be the answer to your problem. By utilizing vertical space, you can save as much as ninety percent of your current floor area.

When the software and picking aids described above are used, accurate picking errors are reduced, if not eliminated entirely. This results in fewer "dos," more time for the corporation, and more satisfied customers.

Increased Effort and Productivity

Two of the most significant benefits that a VLM can provide are a reduction in the amount of time spent picking and an increase in production. The automation of the distribution of thousands of inventory items to a single user at a single location, which is analogous to Ford's assembly line, economizes both time and labor while dramatically increasing production levels.

Enhanced Rate of Tray Turnover

Depending on the size of the equipment, you may be able to process as many as 190 trays each hour with an accuracy that is unparalleled. You should expect much shorter picking times in general, but cycle times are affected by a unit's height, capacity, and setup. However, you should expect much shorter picking times.

Enhanced Ergonomics combined with Improved Safety

The user is presented with the item at a level that is convenient for them. Because of this, it is no longer necessary for a user to lift a heavy object while reaching, bending, or twisting their body, or while working from a ladder. These are all common ways that employees get hurt on the job. By minimizing employees' downtime, employers can cut costs associated with workers' compensation and legal fees, as well as employee downtime.

You will be able to determine the most effective course of action for your material handling if you are first aware of the available options and then modify those options to meet your requirements. You may face additional challenges when utilizing vertical storage systems or other types of storage alternatives. In either case, don't be afraid to get in touch with a professional who specializes in automated vertical carousel storage. Vertical Carousels Australia's team has accumulated years of experience in the field of material handling systems.