Small parts are the unsung heroes of many industries. These lightweight, compact units encompass a wide range of items, including metal components like bolts and nails, plastic products such as bottle caps and containers and even pharmaceutical goods. While they may be small in size, these critical parts often pose big challenges for storage, retrieval and organization.
Small parts can be deceptively challenging to manage, and the need for frequent access and quick retrieval due to their high rotation rate can further complicate matters. They are prone to misplacement and difficult to track, and locating them can be a time-consuming task.
The solution to these challenges lies in embracing innovative technologies designed specifically for small parts storage. In this blog post, we'll explore the transformative power of part carousels and how they can revolutionize the way small parts are stored and accessed.
Using Part Carousels for Small Parts
Part carousels offer a powerful and efficient approach to housing small parts compared to traditional shelving and bins. The Hanel Rotomat Industrial Carousel is an exceptional system based on the Ferris wheel principle, setting it apart from conventional automated storage systems.
What makes the Rotomat stand out is its unique "goods to man" approach, where the load moves to the operator's position, reducing the need for workers to traverse the storage facility. This design not only saves time but also minimizes access time, ultimately leading to improved efficiency.
Part carousels enhance accuracy, improve ergonomic conditions for workers, and maximize available floor space by approximately 60%. The Rotomat's ability to efficiently store small parts in various containers, including cartons, bins, shelf compartments and trays, makes it an ideal choice for any facility dealing with small products.
Custom Storage Tailored to Your Needs
Small parts come in many shapes and sizes, making standardized storage solutions inadequate. Fortunately, you can customize the Hanel Rotomat's interior fittings to suit your specific requirements.
Using Hanel multifunction carriers offers effortless flexibility, adapting to different article heights and achieving maximum compaction of the storage volume. These carriers can be configured based on the size and weight of the items you need to store, ensuring an optimized space-saving solution.
Carriers can hold a wide range of accessories, including plastic boxes, tool inserts and molded trays. For instance, you can store plastic boxes of varying dimensions in the Hanel Rotomat, and those can be divided as needed to facilitate quick and error-free access to small parts.
Drawers with telescopic runners provide versatility in compartment sizes for precise accommodation of your stock. These customized small-part storage solutions efficiently use available space while ensuring the safe and organized storage of small parts.
Optimized Organization and Rapid Retrieval
Efficient organization and rapid retrieval are vital in facilities dealing with small parts. Travel time within a warehouse can account for up to 50% of the picking process, contributing significantly to warehousing labor costs. With their diverse range of SKUs and units, small parts often demand increased picking time as workers search for the specific item they need.
Moreover, the high rotation ratio associated with small-part storage requires frequent storage and retrieval, making the organization and retrieval process even more complex. The goods-to-person technology of a part carousel brings the products directly to the picker, significantly reducing overall picking time.
Part carousels employ Warehouse Management System (WMS) software solutions to streamline these operations. The WMS stores data about all small parts and items, ensuring their accurate location within the carousel.
The Hanel Rotomat system, for example, utilizes a smart-picking system based on the HanelSoft WMS. Bins equipped with web devices indicate which bins to use for each pick operation. Barcode scanners or direct data input further facilitate the tracking and allocation of bins, ensuring a seamless and efficient retrieval process.
Part Carousels: Revolutionizing Small Parts Storage
Automated small-part carousels can be a game-changer for organizations managing an expansive inventory of small parts. These systems offer the flexibility to customize storage to efficiently incorporate a variety of small parts. High-tech software ensures that parts remain organized, and the goods-to-person approach drastically reduces retrieval and picking times. The result is improved efficiency and space utilization.
Eager to explore the transformative power of automated small-part carousels? Connect with a Patterson Pope representative today. Let's elevate your small parts storage together.
