The Stevens Company Ltd. planned to enhance operational performance to meet the growing demands of healthcare providers. The provider of medical supplies and equipment this week announced that it has deployed automation from AutoStore and OTTO Motors in its warehouse in Brampton, Ontario.
Founded in 1830, the company worked with Bastian Solutions, a division of Toyota, to integrate the new technology into its daily operations.
“Automation and robotics represent the future of medical distribution,” stated Jay Stevens, president of The Stevens Company. “It was important that we found a way to integrate these new technologies into our operations rather than change everything we do. Having robots and staff work side by side, we’re aiming to transform inventory management and productivity.”
AutoStore and OTTO Motors move materials
The AutoStore automated storage and retrieval (ASRS) deployment is built for 24,000 bins and up to six ports, and it currently has 11 robots. The Brampton warehouse is 11,150 sq. m (120,000 sq. ft.). The storage array takes up 740 sq. m (8,000 sq. ft.) and replaces 1,800 pallet positions in the racks.
AutoStore, which has offices in Nedre Vats, Norway, and Salem, N.H., recently released several new features to help clients improve their systems.
In addition, Stevens Company uses high-speed sorters to streamline order fulfillment. Its setup also includes autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from OTTO Motors, now a part of Rockwell Automation.
The AMRs navigate the warehouses and help distribute materials outside the AutoStore array. The mobile robots increase efficiency, reduce human labor in repetitive tasks, and enhance safety, said Stevens.
Stevens expects significant output increase
Stevens Company said it expects output at the Brampton facility to increase by five times and add 25% to space capacity.
The company added that the AutoStore system will manage 78% of the items that pass through the warehouse. In addition, real-time inventory tracking provides visibility into stock levels, ensuring optimal inventory control and reducing waste, it said.
“This type of technology is common with retail distributors, but not as common in the medical distribution industry,” Stevens said. “We are committed to improving the Canadian healthcare system, and this type of enhancement will decrease delivery times and create efficiencies across the supply chain.”