Intralogistics comprises all internal logistical processes related to the flow of materials and goods within an organization. The term includes goods receipt and dispatch, storage technology, as well as conveyor systems, order picking technology, robotics, and the corresponding software such as warehouse management software, the warehouse management system, or control systems for automated guided vehicles.
The special feature of intralogistics lies in the most perfect and efficient interaction possible between the various processes. Efficiency is achieved through modern, innovative IT technology and the associated high-performance software. It is of great importance to coordinate production as well as storage and administrative processes. The goal of digitalizing intralogistics is to enable companies to respond quickly and flexibly to changes in the market.
The most common topics in logistics include, for example:
Control over all warehouse processes and all company procedures related to the flow of materials and goods is crucial for smooth intralogistics that reflects high quality standards. Production machines, systems, warehouses, and processes are therefore usually considered as a whole, optimized, and automated. In this way, sources of error can be significantly reduced.
Further advantages:
The acceleration of internal processes while simultaneously reducing errors is achieved through the most extensive possible automation and digitalization of an increasingly mobile peripheral environment.
The degree of optimization through digitalization naturally depends on the existing initial situation and the previous requirements within the company. The size of inventory and the type of items, among other things, must be taken into account, as well as storage strategies, interfaces to shipping, and quality control, to name just a few examples.
A warehouse should be designed in such a way that goods can be stored optimally and that it offers the greatest possible capacity. In a well-managed warehouse, all goods are correspondingly labeled in the warehouse management system and can be spatially identified at any time. A warehouse must also be structured so that warehouse employees or automated systems can work quickly and safely. The higher the degree of automation in the warehouse itself, the lower the costs. Warehouse operations should be carried out efficiently through appropriate equipment such as scanners, mobile devices, labeling machines, industrial trucks, etc.
Extensive warehouse automation is certainly a comprehensive and cost-intensive project during implementation, but it usually pays off quickly through user-friendly processes that can often even be carried out by less experienced staff. Compared to manual processes, every automation step reduces the error rate. Another major advantage of process digitalization is a higher level of safety, for example in work performed in high-bay warehouses using shuttles or storage and retrieval machines. Automation also ensures high picking quality, as goods can be delivered directly and automatically to the picking station.
Another aspect in optimizing intralogistics is the transition process, which can vary depending on the company’s previous conditions. If the warehouse has so far been managed manually, the processes for data migration to a comprehensive intralogistics system are more complex than in a partially automated warehouse. If a warehouse management system (WMS) is already in use, this data migration can usually be implemented quickly and without problems.
Increasingly, process review and optimization rely on mapping these processes in a digital factory. Here, material flows can be planned and simulated and optimized through adjustments. Thanks to the high performance and computing speed of IT systems, this is no longer a problem at all. Storage systems, conveyor routes, utilization levels, and more can be tested. Premises, the corresponding machinery, and transport processes can then be adjusted according to the simulation results.
For smart intralogistics in connection with Industry 4.0, a comprehensive transformation of processes is required. Order picking and transport should then be converted as completely as possible to "goods-to-person" or even "goods-to-robot."
In route optimization, for example, automated guided transport systems are now easily capable of continuously improving warehouse routes independently. Certain goods can be equipped with RFID chips and can thus be automatically tracked through track and trace across all material movements.
With self-controlling control loops, centralized deployment planning, AI-supported processes in the warehouse, in order picking, and in material movements, all goods receipts, relocations, and withdrawals can be transmitted paperlessly to higher-level systems such as ERP, enabling companies to operate highly efficient intralogistics.
The basis of any digitalization should be an appropriate analysis of all processes within the warehouse itself. The transition to automated workflows, the use of AI-supported robots, automated guided transport systems, and RFID technology supports goods control, accelerates warehouse operations, and more, but can only lead to optimization of the internal flow of goods if the processes have first been thoroughly reviewed and adapted according to the respective operational requirements and workflows. Efficient intralogistics then provides every company with a strong competitive advantage. With well-organized and fast processes, companies can stand out from competitors and ensure a high level of service for customers.