What is intralogistics?
Intralogistics in industry (as defined by the VDMA in 2004) generally describes the entire process within a company that involves the coordination and interaction of internal systems for material flow, automated guided vehicles, logistics, production, and the transport of goods on the company premises.
Intralogistics encompasses the planning of solutions, the automation of material handling systems in warehouses, material flow, notification processes, the optimization of control systems and machinery, as well as the implementation of projects.
On the other hand, this also includes the implementation and development of systems in the areas of software, warehouse management, warehouse management systems, networking, robotics, and plant engineering.
Intralogistics and People
In intralogistics, the challenges extend beyond technology, material flow, and product transport to include information flow and the internal organization of employees. From goods receipt to goods issue, processes and technologies must be operated correctly. It is essential that intralogistics processes offer benefits to people and enhance their performance in their daily work. It is not just the equipment that matters.
Intralogistics and Automation
The level of automation and the flow of information in intralogistics processes play a crucial role in efficiency and operating costs. The integration of individual systems within the flow of goods, digitalization, control, and scalability are key factors in determining the performance and cost-effectiveness of warehouse operations.
Intralogistics and Technology
The use of automated driverless transport robots in high-bay warehouses, forklifts, and industrial trucks plays a crucial role in internal material flow, warehouse system operations, and order picking. Picking systems efficiently support pickers in internal order processing. Logistics solutions such as Pick-by-Light, Voice Picking, Pick-by-Point, Pick-by-Frame, etc., manage information flows, serve to optimize warehouse operations, and support management.
Intralogistics Interfaces
Coordinating the interfaces between the assembly line and warehouse systems sometimes requires significant development effort due to differing intralogistics requirements. A clear delineation of information systems within the individual applications in the material flow helps address this. Distribution centers use different components, sensors, and software solutions than a manufacturing plant. The speed must be right.
Conclusion
The applications of intralogistics are therefore very diverse. It involves not only warehousing but also the internal management of all processes related to the movement of goods. Establishing an effective intralogistics system takes several years and is a never-ending process.
Other relevant topics
Supply Chain Management, retail companies, retail, industries, manufacturers of logistics systems, examples of IT implementation and deployment, distribution centers, batch sorting, system providers, an overview of trends and the future, transport control systems, optimization potential of conveyor systems, transport robots, networking technologies, buffer techniques for goods flows, the transport industry.
Intralogistics material flow planning, material flow analysis in logistics centers, process analysis and planning, process design with low failure rates, improving the efficiency of workflows, highly automated and semi-automated systems, barcode and image processing.