The goal of excellence and innovation drives not just the Research Centre, but the entire Caleffi Group, as can be seen by the increasing number of projects dedicated to work flow optimisation, production processes and general management organisation. From the introduction of the SAP information system to the implementation of an Enterprise Content Management system, which is aimed at reducing the time taken to produce paper and electronic documentation and rationalising content management at Group level; from the introduction of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for logistic flow management, to the implementation of the fully automated MAV (Automatic Vertical Warehouse) project, which will be up and running by the end of 2009.
The need to find a larger warehouse space for the storage of finished and semi-finished goods, has led to the definition of an innovative project: the realisation of a completely automatic, multi-level vertical structure located outside the production area but completely integrated with delivery.
The new building will provide the factory with an additional 10,000 m2 of space, which will be used for new production activities. Construction is scheduled for May 2009 and the system will be tested by December 2009.
Among the various specifications of the project, which is being overseen by Giorgio Milan, Purchasing Division Manager, the following aspects are of particular interest:
- all installed machines will be equipped with innovative systems of energy recovery during the braking phase and will be operated by highly innovative management logics, developed in conjunction with logistics experts at Milan Polytechnic.
- The system engine is a management software application capable of coordinating all the different activities and guaranteeing efficient results.
- Given that the MAV system will have to identify and operate different unit loads, it is of primary importance to understand how to manage information related to such units within the management system and, physically, in the warehouse documentation. The most innovative technological solution has been chosen, namely the extended application of radio frequency identification, which is already being used to great effect but only in narrow band and in one single section of the shipping area. The introduction of Wi-Fi will provide a more open and flexible system. It is a bold step, given that logistic processes need to be checked in their entirety: in fact, it will be possible to automate the process of receiving incoming goods as well as the logistic management flow of semi-finished goods; internal product traceability will improve; integration of the quality system in the management process will greatly improve; there will be a dramatic reduction in the number of printed documents and consequently an increase in the availability of correct information on site and in real time.
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