ASRS Limits Risks for Warehouse Workers
Article from MHI Solutions Magazine
Among the most prominent ways that sophisticated technology has helped make warehouses safer for workers is the emergence of Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems (ASRS). An ASRS is a combination of equipment and controls that handle, store and retrieve materials under a defined degree of automation. Systems vary from relatively simple, manually controlled order‑picking machines operating in small storage structures to extremely large, computer‑controlled storage/retrieval systems totally integrated into a manufacturing and distribution process.
The types of ASRS technologies include categories such as horizontal carousels, vertical carousels, vertical lift modules and robotic storage retrieval systems. Not only are all the systems developed with operator safety in the foreground, but they also provide key safety benefits that improve the working experience of warehouse team members.
Because of the variety of systems that fall into the ASRS category—and the wide variety of raw materials and products that the systems handle in warehouses—the safety benefits of the solutions can also vary. Regardless of their form factor, these advanced systems combine both equipment and controls to handle, store and retrieve materials as needed with precision, speed and accuracy. Across the board, by automating tasks traditionally performed by workers, ASRS solutions can reduce the risk of accidents and help maintain a safe working environment.
