Title: Question & Answers Section
Date: Monday, January 19, 2009
Q1) Linda's Group: As stated in the paragraph, each location has their own barcode or chip to store information about the item location. However, is it necessary to implement the barcode system?
Answer: It is not necessary to implement a barcode system. It depends on the company's budget and other affecting factors such as space capacity of the warehouse, number of product lines and etc. The investment cost in the RFID barcode system is high and company has to evaluate whether they are able to recover their capital within a period of time. However, it is definitely an advantage to implement the barcode system.
For example, it can be used to prevent and reduce pilferage and also, once there is a transaction at the point of sales, information from the RFID in the product will be exchange with the inventory management system of the company. Hence, there will be records of the details of the product transaction. RFID allows 100% real time tracking inventory, and thus location of each and every item will be known.
The video shows how RFID is being used in today's supply chain. Data are exchanged through the RFID without any physical contact and products are able to be located anytime. Once the products have pass through the scanner, information is sent and received by the inventory management system. This will allow 100% inventory accuracy.
Q2) Delia's Group: In your different types of ASRS, your group mention "Robotics". May I know what is that?
Answer: There are 2 types of robotics. They are the 'Floor mounted' and 'Overhead' robotics. It is a robot (machinery) that is used to pick and stack a range of products onto several palletized load. It is most commonly used in the end line packaging as it is extremely fast, flexible and cost effective as well.
Q3) Steven's Group: May I know how it helps to increase inventory control and tracking?
Answer: By using the ASRS, it helps to reduce human error as machinery are almost error free when it comes to accuracy. Hence, Inventory control is increased as the level of inventory can be obtained through the use of computer system and this will lower or eliminate the inventory required to be stored as safety stocks.
The details of the inventory items are recorded in the system once they are stored in the warehouse, and therefore, inventory tracking process can be conducted much faster and more convenient.
Q4) Roland's Group: How tall can VLM reach and how heavy can it handles?
Answer: The Vertical Lift Modules (VLM) can reach up to a height of 65 ft and is able to handle up to 132 000 lbs. It also depends on the height of the ceiling of the warehouse to decide the height of the VLM.