Supply Chain Modernizations and Upgrades

Optimize your supply chain by maximizing the performance of existing automation to surpass current operational requirements

Are you experiencing any of these issues right now?

  • Your operational requirements are changing.
  • Your automation requires reconfiguration.
  • Your legacy systems are worn out and at end-of-life.
  • Your existing technology solutions can’t accommodate today’s demands.
  • Your execution and controls software no longer is supported.
  • You can’t find replacement parts for older mechatronics technology and controls hardware.
  • Your company is falling behind its competitors on the technology curve.

If any of these issues hit close to home, Dematic modernizations and upgrades can improve the performance of your existing automated material handling systems. 

Using new mechatronic automation, controls, and software optimize system performance, we’ll help you meet new requirements and replace your outdated, end-of-life technology. Explore warehouse optimization capabilities with modernizations and upgrades that significantly improve operational effectiveness. 

Reduce excessive facility noise with the Dematic Noise Reduction Portfolio

The Dematic Noise Reduction Portfolio presents comprehensive solutions that cure, not cover, your noise problem. Our portfolio is designed to reduce noise at the source by up to 15 dBA, creating a quieter work environment that supports employee productivity, safety, and well-being. Furthermore, only Dematic uses 3D noise mapping audits across your facility to pinpoint noise and measure sound levels before and after your retrofit so you can hear, feel, and see the difference.

A 3D noise mapping audit is a service that analyzes acoustic conditions in your facility by measuring sound levels produced from material handling equipment that was not optimally installed to minimize noise. The measurements recorded produce a scientific overview of conditions relative to sound levels and sound quality. Through industrial engineering methods, acoustic modeling, and mapping software, Dematic can measure the data to develop simulation models, provide analysis, create reports, and recommend improvements.

Simulation Modeling

During the site visit, Dematic places microphones, sensors, and sound level meters at strategic locations to capture and record current acoustic data to create “heat maps” showing facility noise. This information is then imported into software that creates a digital model to simulate the impact of various noise reduction technologies. After multiple simulations, the model generates new “heat maps” indicating reduced levels of sound at the strategic locations. The resulting assessment report includes: 

  • Description of data collection
  • Description of simulation modeling and mapping
  • Heat maps from the various simulation modeling experiments
  • Sound level readings by area predicted by the simulation models
  • Recommendations for noise reduction technologies
3D Noise Mapping Audit — Heat Map Before Sound Treatment
3D Noise Mapping Audit — Heat Map After Sound Treatment

Updating warehouse software and controls systems

Improve real-time performance management and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) functionality by implementing the latest versions of Warehouse Execution System (WES), Warehouse Control System (WCS) software, and controls. Dematic can also replace your existing systems with next generation intralogistics execution software and controls.

Upgrade your automated material handling system to the current release of Dematic Equipment Management System (EMS) software. Dematic EMS software versions 9.5 & 9.6 are at end-of-life.

Dematic EMS software version 9.8.19 supports Microsoft Windows Server 2019 and allows enhanced multilayer security capabilities for controlled privileged access, VM protection, and advanced protection against viruses and malware threats. Version 9.8.19 supports MS SQL 2019 with benefits such as improved database performance, intelligent query processing, and enhanced built-in security for data classification and protection. Compatibility with latest development tools enables user interface improvements, enhanced application performance, and easier troubleshooting.

Info Sheet

Equipment Management System (EMS)

Dematic EMS is a software application that controls and synchronizes material handling automation, inventory, and workflows within the four walls of a production or distribution operation. 

Sorter modernizations

Rebuild and upgrade your sorters with new enhancements and controls that improve performance, maximize sorter uptime, extend sorter life, and minimize the maintenance required.

Dematic Sliding Shoe Sorters and Crossbelt Sorters can upgrade to the next generation Sort Controller. a machine control device that processes inputs and outputs to effectively operate the sortation sub-system, the Sort Controller manages induction, scanning, and sorting. Upgrading to the Sort Controller will give you improved sorter performance, assure high system uptime, and incorporate modern data security protection.

Dematic’s optimization assessment and technical training will help optimize your system and team performance

Dematic provides warehouse optimization services and works closely with you to propose system developments and practical solutions for optimizing your system processes.

Dematic offers two support programs for maximizing your intralogistics system performance: Optimization Assessments and Technical Training.

Made up of multiple assessment modules, the Optimization Assessment Program can be deployed all at once as part of a comprehensive holistic review, or you can select individual modules based on your company's requirements.

An audit service that evaluates overall system performance, Operational Assessment incorporates industrial engineering methodologies when observing, collecting information, identifying issues, analyzing data and making recommendations. Knowing that existing system design settings may not be applicable, the assessment focuses on system operations relative to current requirements and activity profiles.

Whether you want an overall receiving-to-shipping analysis or one focused on specific operational areas like order picking or shipping, Operational Assessment evaluates metrics like system throughput, inventory location management, labor productivity, space utilization, processing time, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, and system performance during peak and low volume time periods. Upon completion of the assessment, you'll receive an appraisal report summarizing the findings and the recommendations for operational improvement.

Key factors and benefits

  • Learn the current state of your operation's intra-logistics system performance
  • Understand system settings and the impact of adjusting to more appropriate settings
  • Identify gaps between current operations and best practices
  • Learn about potential system enhancements
  • Review a menu of options for consideration including impact, cost and scope
  • Get recommendations on system revisions to meet your operation's changing requirements
  • Understand how to extend functionality, agility and throughput
  • Realize new ways to rebalance resources, processes, and workflows
  • Understand ways to better accommodate fluctuations in volume
  • Get the insights you need for building a more robust and scalable system

Intra-logistics automation is not a “set it and forget it” investment. By proactively evaluating whether adjustments, modifications or software upgrades are necessary, Software and Controls Assessment gives operations managers a comprehensive view of the execution software and controls that manage their intra-logistics automation.

A review of the software system configuration as originally designed plus any post-implementation modifications, Software and Controls Assessment includes an analysis of current requirements relative to activity profiles, throughput, processing time and peak period performance. Upon completion of the assessment, you'll receive an appraisal report summarizing the findings and the recommendations for operational improvement.

Key factors and benefits

  • Reveal the current state of your intra-logistics execution software
  • Understand current software settings and the impact of the revisions
  • Identify gaps with current software and controls
  • Receive insight about potential software enhancements
  • Know which software upgrades will meet your operation's changing requirements
  • Understand new software options to extend functionality, agility and throughput
  • Consider new software that automatically rebalances resources and workflows
  • Reduce risk by considering upgrades that make your software more stable and reliable

Every year, organizations lose millions of dollars to downtime caused by reactive IT approaches focused on fixing problems instead of proactively identifying and addressing them. By thoroughly examining your intra-logistics application software, databases, servers and controls infrastructure, Software Infrastructure Assessment provides a current state analysis of your execution software, operational technology (OT) networks and machine controls.

This proactive service helps operations managers pinpoint the adjustments, modifications or upgrades that will help sustain maximum system uptime and performance. Upon reviewing and collecting information about the current state of the execution software, digital infrastructure and network—all of which are managed remotely by Dematic IT specialists—you'll receive an appraisal summarizing the findings.

Key factors and benefits

  • Reveal current state of the IT infrastructure intra-logistics OT networks
  • Understand current software settings & impact of revising
  • Identify gaps with controls and software infrastructure
  • Receive insight about potential enhancements
  • Obtain recommendations on upgrades to meet changing requirements
  • Understand new infrastructure options
  • Consider new infrastructure configurations
  • Reduce risk by considering upgrades that make the IT and OT networks more stable/reliable

To support optimal uptime, your automated material handling equipment must be productive, efficient, consistent and responsive. Material Handling Automation Assessment provides a current state analysis and appraisal of Dematic conveyors, workstations, pick modules, sorters, ASRS and shuttles. The assessment may also cover any scanners, print/apply devices, case sealers, weigh scales and other products that are part of the Dematic integrated system and provided by a third party.

A proactive service that helps managers pinpoint any adjustments, modifications, upgrades and enhanced maintenance procedures required to sustain optimal performance, Material Handling Automation Assessment includes a report summarizing the findings and recommendations for improvement.

Key factors and benefits

  • Gain more value from your existing automation
  • Provide insight on what upgrades can or should be implemented
  • Reveal hidden issues that are diminishing current effectiveness
  • Identify worn components that may fail in the future
  • Define corrective action required
  • Identify any safety issues

Some of the mechatronic automation in your operation may be producing un-necessary sound levels that could be unsafe for employees working nearby. An audit service provided by Dematic, Acoustics Assessment analyzes the actual acoustic conditions in the intralogistics facility. As part of the assessment, measurements are recorded to obtain accurate data about actual sound levels experienced during normal workday activity.

Focused on providing a scientific overview of current state conditions relative to sound levels and sound quality—and using acoustic modeling and mapping software—Acoustics Assessment leverages industrial engineering methods to make observations, collect information, identify issues, analyze data and make recommendations.

Facility and convey/sort system treatments

Facilities can achieve significant sound level reductions using facility absorption treatments and retrofit sound containment for convey and sort systems.

Key factors and benefits

  • Reveal current state of facility acoustics
  • Understand all elements impacting acoustics
  • Identify key areas for sound containment
  • Determine potential impact of sound containment modifications
  • Review options for sound containment and improved acoustics, including impact and scope

Automation is playing a larger role in supply chain management and in helping companies address labor shortages, optimize inventory management processes and improve throughput. To help companies evaluate worker safety relative to intra-logistics automation, Safety Assessment provides an extensive review of:

Automation is playing a larger role in supply chain management and in helping companies address labor shortages, optimize inventory management processes and improve throughput. To help companies evaluate worker safety relative to intra-logistics automation, Safety Assessment provides an extensive review of:

  • Current safety codes and regulations
  • Ergonomic conditions like worker comfort and exposure to noise
  • Tasks that interface with automation (e.g., access, reach, etc.)
  • Procedures associated with job tasks
  • Equipment guarding and sound damping
  • Ease of interface with control panels and software screens
  • Mechanical equipment operating performance
  • Safety related to electronic sensing devices & controls
  • Emergency stop controls, buttons and cords
  • Safety related to maintenance procedures

Key factors and benefits

  • Reveal current state of facility acoustics
  • Understand all elements impacting acoustics
  • Identify key areas for sound containment
  • Determine potential impact of sound containment modifications
  • Review options for sound containment and improved acoustics, including impact and scope

How is your system operating?

It may be time for an Optimization Assessment to:

  • Evaluate current system condition
  • Get recommendations to maximize system performance

The Optimization Assessment Program consists of analysis and evaluation services for users of existing intralogistics automation. These services are offered to help production and distribution operations develop a plan to maximize system performance, adjust functionality to current requirements, upgrade/modernize and enable best practices.

Optimization assessment program

The Optimization Assessment Program is a series of analysis and evaluation services that provide a plan for production and distribution operations to maximize system performance, adjust functionality to current requirements, upgrade/modernize, and implement best practices. 

Picking, storage, and transport modernizations

If your pick-to-light or put-to-light order fulfillment system is underperforming due to wear, age or changed operational requirements, consider replacing it with next generation pick-to-light technology, system design and software. Upgrade the software to latest version and replace slot displays, bay color displays, power rails, comports, controllers. The results include increased uptime, improved reliability, and improved system performance.

If your voice-directed order fulfillment system is underperforming due to changing operational requirements, age, or wear, consider replacing it with next generation technology. Upgrade the software to the latest version and replace the existing voice devices to get increased uptime, improved reliability, and improved system performance.

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