The warehouse control panel in intralogistics

The control panel in intralogistics is a central point of a warehouse management system and supports responsible employees in controlling the entire warehouse operation. In addition to consolidating information (key figures), the control panel is used to process and evaluate intralogistics processes. The graphical representation of logistical and technical processes allows for targeted responses to internal disturbances and unforeseen events, so as not to endanger the smooth flow of materials within the warehouse. Since the control center usually receives all information from all sub-areas of the warehouse, its technical scope has a significant impact on the efficiency with which logistical processes are handled in the company.

Main functions of the control center

  • Visualization
  • Planning
  • Optimization
  • Comparison of target and actual values
  • Identification of performance limits
  • Controlling
  • Display of system status
  • Display of system feedback

The following questions, for example, can be answered with the help of a control center:

  • How large is the order quantity in picking?
  • In terms of stock shortages, how many rush orders are there?
  • Which goods transports are currently active in each area?
  • What is the personnel capacity of the packing area?
  • What is the personnel capacity of the picking area?
  • Incoming goods – which advices are open?
  • What is the pick rate of the pickers?
  • What is the total tag-specific order volume?
  • What is the current progress of order processing?
  • Which conveyor malfunctions are known?
  • Which software-related faults are known?

A logistics control center is an instrument of operational control that is used in intralogistics systems. It supports and optimizes the planning and control of logistical processes (operational processes). A logistics control center continuously visualizes and monitors logistical processes, identifies deviations from target values and provides users with process-related recommendations for action. (VDI Guideline 4493 ‘Control center for intralogistics’)

Control center in practice

  • Information and control relevance: The processed information must contribute to improving the control of the customer project and company.
  • Real-time: The information must be provided quickly/in a timely manner.
  • Visualization: The information must be prepared for employees in a needs-based manner and presented in an uncomplicated way.

The control center is designed according to the so-called control loop principle; in doing so, it continuously interacts with the executing parties involved in the intralogistics process (people, technical resources, goods). This means that the respective customer order is planned according to the target specifications and, as part of the control process, the respective process progress is compared with these at regular intervals (target/actual comparison). This means that logistics experts are not only able to track the flow of goods (e.g. incoming goods, picking, finishing (packaging), outgoing goods) in detail and graphically, but employees can also adjust individual and process-specific as well as cross-process details in real time depending on the customer order. In doing so, the possible process risks are analyzed in particular; these in turn can be compared with the target/actual. The control center ensures measurable improvements in throughput times through real-time analysis and the actions based on it, and leads to an increase in planning reliability.

Important: Based on the current information from the sub-areas of the warehouse, the responsible employee can intervene if necessary and expand or change resources accordingly or initiate other organizational measures. However, the measures cannot usually be controlled directly via the control center. It is usually only responsible for evaluation and processing as well as graphical representation. In addition, the special thing about the control center is that the control center employee is able to link the recommendations of the control center with his or her personal experience. The employee, and not the control center, ultimately decides which measures are to be initiated.

The control center on your smartphone and tablet

Meanwhile, the processed information from the stationary control center is also transmitted to mobile devices (smartphone, tablet). In addition to the display format adapted to the smaller displays, the data transmission of sensitive and internal data records is specifically and mandatorily linked to technical conditions:

  • Data sovereignty – for data protection reasons (German Federal Data Protection Act), the data must remain stored with the customer and not with cloud providers such as Google or Microsoft.
  • Access to data must be strongly protected by means of encryption (e.g. HTTPS).
  • User administration – the user is given individual access to the key figures that have been activated for him.

Summary

A logistics control center is the management and control instrument of modern logistics management. The graphically prepared information, be it system statuses or process progress, is the basis for making process-oriented decisions that meet all customer and company requirements. However, it is the human being who decides which measures to take; the control center merely provides helpful and processed process information.

For more information on this topic, read the articles Inventory Management and Storage Bin Management.

 

Teaser image: KNV Logistik