database used for the ASRS system and a NAS warehouse management
system with a Microsoft database for warehouse handling.
The customer
Back to the basic purpose of a warehouse system, maximising
capacity and operational effi ciency: nowhere understands the value WAREHOUSE
SYSTEMS
Advocating automation
Deciding whether or not
to automate is a matter of
weighing up the pros and cons,
Khoury asserts. “Automation
in logistics centres brings
mainly benefi ts to operational
processes, including space
savings, lower building costs,
improved productivity, more
effi cient material fl ow, less
manpower, safer operations,
reduction in inventory,
increased reliability, reduced
running costs, better ROI
and lower lifecycle costs.”
But there are disadvantages
too, he stresses. “We need
to mention that automation
implementation is a very costly
process and the fi nancial aspect
is usually the main concern.
That’s where an experienced
and reputed consultant would
offer the proper advice,” he
asserts.
ALS fulfi ls a mixture of
requests for both manual and
automated solutions. “We
always recommend clients
understand and evaluate the
need, the capacity required and
material fl ow level. The basic
planning and understanding
that you would like to receive
at the end can be crucial,” he
stresses. “We have always been
an advocate for automation, but
this is not the only solution.
Some customers do not require
fast and dense material fl ow and
others have huge bottlenecks in
their operation which requires
a very high level of automation
to deliver on time. Here, we
usually use the words of Bill
Gates: ‘The fi rst rule of any
technology used in a business is
that automation applied to an
effi cient operation will magnify
the effi ciency. The second is
that automation applied to
an ineffi cient operation will
magnify the ineffi ciency’.”
The giant container storage system
is visible through windows on all six
fl oors at Hactl’s facility
When asked about the most
common request received
from clients, Khoury remarks
that ensuring the space and
opportunity for a client to
expand the facility in the future,
without having to redesign the
whole site, is often an important
factor in its initial design.
ALS’ list of clients includes
DHL, SATS, Emirates, dnata,
Abu Dhabi International
airport, WFS and Panalpina,
to name a few. Recent projects
include fully automated cargo terminals at Muscat and Salalah
airports in Oman and at Dubai International and DWC; ASRS for
Bangkok Flight Services; an empty ULD handling system for WFS
in Frankfurt; the third expansion of an Order Storage and Retrieval
system for Dubai Duty Free; and an ongoing installation for a
pharmaceutical hub in Saudi Arabia.
Utilising available technology
“In the age of progress and innovation, the modern world is
searching for solutions that maximise effi ciency and boost profi ts
– and logistics is no exception,” explains Khoury. “Robotics,
Internet of Things, drones, driverless vehicles, autonomous vessels,
consumerisation of sensor technologies and the move toward 5G
wireless communications illustrate the need for prompt and reliable
logistics services.” In their day-to-day activities, logistics operations
are now leveraging the connectivity afforded by these technologies
to serve customers in the most convenient way, to minimise the
human involvement and increase the operational process, he adds.
IoT brings further benefi ts to air cargo terminals and high bay
warehousing, he continues: “The IT infrastructure is fully based on
the principles of IoT. Taking into consideration the staff availability,
high cost of equipment and their breakdown, machines such as
Elevating Transfer Vehicles and Automated Storage and Retrieval
Systems are built to speed up and effectively operate the material
fl ow inside the warehouse. The storage, transfer, sorting and retrieval
of cargo between the warehouse and landside or airside is fully
automated with interfaces to the airline and customers. All vehicle
movements are guided by the Inventory Control System without
human interference but with the possibility for operator override in
manual mode in case of an emergency,” he relates.
ALS’ most recent software integrations include the ORACLE
We have always
been an advocate
for automation, but
this is not the only
solution
Walid Khoury, Managing Director, ALS
38 February 2020 www.airlogisticsinternational.com
/www.airlogisticsinternational.com