This is because they have been able to increase the efficiency of many workplaces, making operations slicker and quicker, freeing up employees for other more important tasks. So, how do AGVs work and in what ways can they improve the way that your business runs.
What is an AGV?
An Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) is a mobile unit that can navigate its way around a warehouse or factory using markings on the floor or its own on-board navigation systems. AGVs com in a number of different forms and are extremely effective when it comes to performing high volume tasks such as moving loads around. It can function as a tow vehicle which can pull carts or trailers around, unit load vehicles which transport pallets and large loads, forklifts, and assembly line AGVs which transport items along an assembly line.
These vehicles use sensors to follow the lines that have been marked out for them or have their own navigation systems which give them a map of the area that they need to cover. Once they have been programmed, they only need instructions on the tasks that need to be carried out, and they can be left to perform them without any other human assistance.
AGV Efficiency
One of the biggest advantages of an AGV is that no-one is needed to drive or command it, and so it can be left to get on with the task on its own. That means your staff members are then free to carry out other tasks and you are able to focus your workforce where it is needed most.
As it doesn’t need a human being in order to work, your AGV can operate at any time of the day, meaning that it can keep working long past the point when everyone else has gone home. It is also less susceptible to any distractions, which means its jobs are all carried out quickly and efficiently.
An AGV can also help with your planning. Knowing what it is capable of and how long each job will take means that you have more precise timings to work with when planning how much time you will need to complete a task or order.
AGVs have also been found to be incredibly accurate. As they follow strict instructions and a precise path, there is much less room for error in what they are doing. This means that operations only need to be carried out once, and a lot of time can be saved.
Whilst an initial investment needs to be made when buying an AGV, it can still provide you with some significant savings. Not only will it help you to be quicker and more efficient, but it can also reduce your labour costs by eliminating the need for human operators.
As they improve, AGVs are proving to be an incredible way to improve efficiency within many different types of businesses, as their accuracy and flexibility become an increasingly essential feature.
Aerocom are leading specialists in pneumatic tube systems and AGV Systems for the education, retail and healthcare sectors.
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