FEATURE
Automated warehousing
Telematics for vital statistics
Telematics systems deliver vital statistics to warehouse and distribution centre managers, so they can derive the most from their materials handling equipment, writes Steve Ross, Operations Manager – Connectivity and Digital Products, at Toyota Material Handling UK
B
y using a combination of GPS technology, sensors, and the vehicle’s electric motor or engine performance information,
telematics systems deliver the vital statistics that every warehouse or distribution centre manager needs to understand precisely materials handling equipment (MHE) is – and above all, how safe it is to be operated.
Questions to ask
It is generally understood that getting the best value from any material handling budget means constantly reviewing intralogistics systems to make certain that throughout every shift. Truck-connected Data generated by telematics to highlight trucks with lower-than-expected usage rates could prompt users to take necessary actions to drive down their monthly MHE running costs. This could mean trucks are moved to other areas of operations, or removed altogether, if the attained telematics data shows its exact usage. about more than just knowing how often a truck is used: managers need to consider how operators are performing, too: How busy are they at certain parts of the day? Should they be reassigned elsewhere for their optimal usage? How many drivers are required to run the operation optimally? Are drivers operating the trucks safely? By tracking individual driver activity, telematics delivers actionable data that will answer these questions and many more.
On-site safety is another cornerstone of be improved with telematics data. With losses incurred because of accidental damage to either the goods, building or the truck itself typically representing 5-15% of a forklift’s operating expenses, if on-site safety is considered in monetary terms quickly become clear.
38 September 2024 | Automation
Telematics systems, such as Toyota’s I_ Site, can help safety-conscious companies reduce the potential for accidents in several ways. These include precisely pinpointing where forklift mishaps occur. If the data indicates that a certain location within the warehouse is something of an accident ‘black spot’, management will be alerted and, if necessary, additional safety measures taken to cut any future incidents. Some telematics systems require each operator to use a unique PIN code or smart access card to operate a truck. This feature from operating the machinery, but it makes operators accountable for their actions during a shift.
MHE budget can be taken up by the recharging process but, by using data supplied by on-truck telemetry to monitor its parameters, potentially costly problems can be avoided. Failure to properly oversee the critically important recharging regime could also damage the environment and will certainly result in more operating costs.
Companies want to collect as much data about their business processes as possible, and there’s almost no limit to the type of information that can be supplied by telematics-enabled trucks. But if the statistics can’t be harnessed because they are presented in a way that only a professional data scientist could understand, they will be of little or no value. In fact, having plenty of data can become more of a liability than an asset if users feel overwhelmed by it or have no idea how to use the information in the Toyota is a known supplier of telematics solutions, with its I_Site MHE telematics technology available for over 20 years. From the outset, I_Site has been designed to deliver valuable business insights, rather than simply supply users with logistics professionals knowledge that they by presenting data as meaningful, helpful and actionable information. I_Site enables logistics managers to take the best possible actions to keep full control of the intralogistics processes they oversee. And by doing so, their companies will experience the true value of telematics.
automationmagazine.co.uk
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