Automation of Intralogistic Processes through Flexibilisation - A Method for the Flexible Configuration and Evaluation of Systems of Systems

Abstract

Abstract:The high system flexibility necessary for the full automation of complex and unstructured tasks leads to increased technological complexity, thus to higher costs and lower performance. In this paper, after an introduction to the different dimensions of flexibility, a method for flexible modular configuration and evaluation of systems of systems is introduced. The method starts from process requirements and, considering factors such as feasibility, development costs, market potential and effective impact on the current processes, enables the evaluation of a flexible systems of systems equipped with the needed functionalities before its actual development. This allows setting the focus on those aspects of flexibility that add market value to the system, thus promoting the efficient development of systems addressed to interested customers in intralogistics. An example of application of the method is given and discussed.

Autonomous and IoT‐driven intralogistics for Industry 4.0 warehouses: A thematic analysis of the literature

“…Further, these 3D-shuttle systems are equipped with modular assembly kits that allow for easy exchange of components in response to individual requests (Schadler et al, 2016). Such flexibility and modularity are essential for warehouse operations as they must rapidly adapt to the uncertain warehouse environment (Bonini et al, 2018).…”

“…For instance, AMRs come with add-ons such as automated hooks and collaborative arms that allow them to perform intricate tasks such as binning, kitting, or automated pick-up and towing carts in warehouse facilities (Fragapane et al, 2020;Harrison, 2019). Similarly, smart intralogistics can improve scalability by enhancing the capacity of its systems with respect to the required throughput in the facility (Bonini et al, 2018). For instance, 3D shuttle systems and selforganizing storage systems are scalable in regard to storage requirements (Winkler & Zinsmeister, 2019).…”

“…Deploying scalable intralogistics systems extends the service life of technology, which could otherwise be short due to consistent fluctuations in demand, thereby reducing the risk associated with technology investment and resulting in massive cost savings (Bonini et al, 2018).…”

“…For a warehouse firm to successfully adopt smart intralogistics systems, a robust analysis of baseline operational parameters is crucial, such as existing KPIs, plant layout, energy consumption, product mix, processes, employee competence, asset operating parameters, and so forth (e.g., Bonini et al, 2018;Fusko et al, 2017;Schuhmacher & Hummel, 2018;Winkelhaus & Grosse, 2020). Developing quantifiable expectations and boundary conditions around throughput, utilization rate, system scalability, and economic viability can help build the actual need for the technology (Güller et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016).…”

Coordinating large distributed relational process structures

“…In the following, the challenges and solution concepts are discussed alongside their illustrations in form of a running example. The solution concepts are by no means limited to the domain of the running example, but are generic and may be applied to other fields, such as logistics [9] and healthcare [11]. The running example represents a recruitment business process (cf.…”