Automatic storage system: when warehousing, finished materials can be stored in logical cells according to preset procedures according to transportation routes and paths. When leaving the warehouse, the goods are taken out from the logical cell according to the transportation route and path through the logistics control unit according to the preset program. By automatic storage management system and automatic storage of all kinds of data reports.

Automatic storage system is the key node of modern logistics. It is paid more and more attention and favor by the characteristics of three-dimensional material storage, digital storage management, unmanned material handling, automatic transmission and information transmission network. Stability, reliability, practicability, economy, progressiveness and openness are the key factors to be considered in the construction of a logistics project, among which economy is the most important.

With the rise of e-commerce industry, the market size of automated logistics system in China is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan in 2020, and the growth rate of the industry is expected to maintain more than 15% in the next few years -- Amazon's $775 million acquisition of KIVASYSTEM, JD.com's heavy investment in self-built warehouses, Chinese logistics companies, More suitable for their own, with independent intellectual property rights of intelligent logistics system.

I. Composition and function of automatic storage system

E-commerce automated storage system consists of hardware equipment and software system.

1. Hardware devices

The complete hardware is usually composed of conveying equipment, storage equipment, loading and picking equipment, Rebatch equipment, Rebin equipment, packaging equipment, and sorting equipment. If the investment budget is small, or the degree of automation is low for the actual needs, it is possible to build a partially automated warehouse system without all kinds of hardware equipment. For example, most of the domestic transport equipment is used to complete the construction of automatic storage system, through the transport equipment to replace manual handling, to improve the efficiency of storage operation.

2. Software system

The software part of automatic warehouse system mainly refers to WMS (warehouse management system) and WCS (warehouse control system).

(1) the WMS

The application can be divided into two categories: logistics enterprises and enterprise logistics. Compared with the WMS used by the manufacturing industry, the WMS of logistics enterprises not only has the basic functions of purchase, sale and inventory, but also has the powerful storage operation process management ability, which is a bit like the combination of traditional WMS and manufacturing MES (manufacturing execution system). Design flexible warehouse operation process, obtain optimal customer order processing method, monitor and analyze various data of warehouse operation process, three basic characteristics of WMS.

(2) the WCS

WCS is a control system that realizes the action management of automatic equipment. It is responsible for the information translation and transmission between WMS and automatic equipment, and controls the equipment to work according to the designed operation mode. It should be noted that although WMS focuses more on warehouse management and order fulfillment, WCS is only responsible for equipment movement control, but there are still some parts of the boundary is not very clear.

For example, when using stackers or shuttles and their associated shelves as storage devices, the access computing module of the turnover container (pallets or frames) can be placed under either the WMS or the WCS each time goods are placed on shelves or picked and placed. If placed in WMS, only need to pass clear instructions to WCS, WCS control equipment to the corresponding cargo position to complete the operation; If placed in the WCS, then the entire automated storage devices for WMS, is equivalent to a black box, WMS as long as inform WCS to get the container code can be used by WCS will complete turnover containers out of control equipment and storage, and will inform the WMS, while the WMS don't need to responsible for container storage allocation of calculation. In general, the control logic and optimization algorithm of WCS for the equipment will directly affect the realization of the maximum capacity of the equipment.

Two, the implementation of automatic warehousing system key points

1. Determine the warehousing strategy and warehousing operation process before planning and designing the automation system

When starting to build an e-commerce automated warehousing system, first of all, do not consider what types of equipment to choose, but should determine the warehousing strategy and operation process. For example, fixed storage mode or random storage mode? Do warehouse goods need to be distinguished between fast and slow moving goods? Is it necessary to set up a separate storage area and adopt the mode of sorting and separation, or only set up a picking area in the whole warehouse and use the mode of sorting and integration? Does picking technology use order picking, batch picking, or process picking? Does the picking method use relay picking or region picking?

2. Focus on capacity balance and redundancy design throughout the operation process

Usually after the warehouse strategy and operation process is determined, the warehouse layout design, such as warehouse partition, regional function setting, storage location, etc. In order to realize the regional function, the internal need to choose which automation equipment, how much area; In order to realize the function of the whole warehouse, each area needs to use what conveyance equipment to connect the various areas of the whole warehouse. At this point, attention should be paid to the capacity balance and redundancy design throughout the process.

3. System design should give full consideration to flexibility, expansibility and maintainability

In the system design phase, it is best to know the confidence interval of the forecast data, analyze the potential forecast errors, and evaluate the impact of the forecast distortion on the entire warehouse automation system. This is predictive failure analysis. Design redundancy and secondary extensibility of the system are used to cover the effects of prediction distortion. In addition, in the layout design of all equipment, it is important to consider future maintenance and maintenance operations, leaving space for maintenance operations.

Automatic storage system is an intelligent storage management system specially developed for the storage management needs of manufacturing factories. It can effectively deal with the complex material in and out business of the factory, improve the execution efficiency of material flow, and lay a foundation for complete batch traceability and MES process control.

Centralized management of online and offline inventory, support different business models such as multi-warehouse and multi-cargo owners, support multi-department and multi-role collaborative office, support RF handheld device operation, can accurately track the whole process of goods from warehousing to warehousing.

Overview of distribution centers, locations, inventory levels and relationships throughout the supply chain network.

(2) Check the four dimensional model and storage level by level.

3. Graphically display the storage of goods in each reservoir area, the full degree of the warehouse and the structure of the warehouse.