Loading
Case Study | Logistics
Recent ActivityRecent Activity

Brewer Distribution Center Modeling

Arena® Simulation Software identifies improvements on storage and retrieval system.

分享:

LinkedInLinkedIn
XX
FacebookFacebook
PrintPrint
EmailEmail
Brewery worker validates warehouse and stock

Challenge

Verify the functionality of the automated storage and retrieval system and integrated conveyor system.

Solutions

The identified and unexpected bottlenecks were later confirmed by the designers of the system, and feasible modifications to the design were tested and incorporated into the final system.

Results

The results showed, that the system was very robust in being able to cope with the peaks and troughs of pallet inputs and outputs anticipated.

Background

The brewery distribution center has a volume of 71,600 cubic meters and contains about 8,000 pallets. Every day 1,800 pallets are handled in or out of the system, and the object of this study was to verify the functionality of the automated storage and retrieval system and integrated conveyor system— including elevators connecting five levels of the distribution center. The complex system is modeled with the powerful Arena simulation software.

Challenge

The brewery distribution system is required to store beverage bundles (supplied from production, train, or trucks) and to consign for delivery via train and trucks. The core of the distribution center is a four-level conveying system, conveying up to 800 different products into and out of a 7,600 pallet AS/RS system. The conveyor system is designed for a daily performance of 1,800 pallets in normal operation. Four automatic narrow-aisle cranes are installed in two aisles, each moving 300 pallets an hour. Ten rail wagons and 30 trucks are loaded and unloaded every day. With such a high volume, an efficient storage and retrieval system was needed to reduce delays in transportation.

Solution

From the main level, where the scanner is positioned, the pallets move in pairs via two elevators to the next two levels above, feeding the four pick-up points for the narrow-aisle crane. For each aisle, two pickup and two dropdown stations are placed asymmetrically on each of the levels. Each of the aisles are divided into two sections, each with a narrow-aisle crane and individual unloading and loading stations. After unloading two pallets, the narrow aisle crane has to move vertically to load the next pair of pallets for storage.

Individual animated statistics are placed on the overall layout. These include histograms for the usage of each individual narrow-aisle crane, the number of pallets in the system in different sections, and the congestion level of different conveyor units and rail-guided vehicles.

With Arena, all complex situations could be modeled easily. The results of the simulation study surprised the end user and the main contractor. Although the system design could handle the required throughput of pallets, bottlenecks at different times of the day occurred in unexpected areas.

Results

The simulation project provided them a greater understanding of the system characteristics through the need to collect more detailed information, and analyzing the performance thus reduced the risk of unexpected problems in the design. After installation, a comparison of simulation results with real output was found to be 100 percent accurate.

  • The narrow-aisle cranes were underused
  • The input and output pallets could be processed in the required time span; however, during breakdowns, pallets coming from the production, train, and truck areas should be handled alternately for maximum throughput
  • The buffer sections, with a few exceptions, have sufficient capacity
  • The rail-guided vehicle QVW2 will be a bottleneck unless a higher velocity can be obtained 
  • The elevator SF3/4 will be a bottleneck during breakdowns of other units, and breakdown strategies need to be developed
  • One I-point (scanner) is sufficient, but strategies for building pallet pairs are necessary
  • Elevator SF1 will be a bottleneck if only one pallet can be handled at a time

发布时间 2014年7月31日

主题: Arena Simulation Software Logistics Simulation Software Food and Beverage Simulation Software

Ready to Order Your Software?

Ordering Options
Software SubscriptionsSoftware Subscriptions
Ordering Options

One stop shopping for software and subscription services.

Explore Our Ordering Options
Talk to a Consultant
DistributorDistributor
Talk to a Consultant

Work with your local Rockwell Automation sales consultant to discuss your software requirements.

Contact Us

Recommended For You

Loading
  1. Chevron LeftChevron Left Rockwell Automation 主页 Chevron RightChevron Right
  2. Chevron LeftChevron Left 产品 Chevron RightChevron Right
  3. Chevron LeftChevron Left 软件 Chevron RightChevron Right
  4. Chevron LeftChevron Left Arena Simulation Software Chevron RightChevron Right
  5. Chevron LeftChevron Left Arena Simulation Software Case Studies Chevron RightChevron Right
  6. Chevron LeftChevron Left Brewer Distribution Center Modeling Chevron RightChevron Right
请更新您的Cookies偏好以继续.
此功能需要Cookies来增强您的体验。请更新您的系统偏好以允许使用这些Cookies:
  • 社交媒体Cookies
  • 功能Cookies
  • 性能 Cookies
  • 市场营销Cookies
  • 所有Cookies
您可以随时更新您的系统偏好。如需了解更多信息,请参阅我们的 {0} 隐私政策
CloseClose