There are many kinds of loading bay handling operations, each having their own potential problems and each requiring a certain unloading/loading approach. To exacerbate the problem, operatives must now contend with the fast-changing retail world that will demand a more flexible approach to handling a wide variety of delivery vehicles, which may or may not have palletised loads. Then there is the question of whether to automate the loading bay or not if the volumes are high enough and homogenous.

Some operations that involve many pallets entering and leaving a hub-type business have their own special problems of a security nature and could be enhanced with improved monitoring schemes. It should go without saying that the higher the likely complexity involved in a new loading bay project the greater the need to employ leading loading bay specialists, preferably members of ALEM, or engage the help of a specialist loading bay consultant.

Even so, while the loading bay equipment suppliers have been commendably pro-active in spawning better, safer ways of enhancing loading bay efficiency, sometimes it is the warehouse operators themselves that devise solutions highly specific to their own problems. A good recent example is Ocado’s development of an automated handling solution incorporating an air traffic control algorithm.

The pallet exchange network model is another example where the operators themselves devised a solution to improve pallet flow through loading bay areas. In this case the country’s first pallet exchange network operator, Palletways UK, developed an archway scanning system that captures data on every pallet and vehicle entering its hubs, because a few years earlier there were problems addressing the quality of data arising from increasing volumes. Previously, scanning was manual, but that raised the error risks, which could cause big problems. There was also no way of capturing and viewing information on the condition of individual pallets. By automating vehicle and pallet scanning to provide a photographic image of every pallet, customer performance could be improved by practically eliminating missing pallets, damage, theft, security issues and the possibility of false claims for loss or damage of goods. Whereas once it took 24 hours to access information on every pallet passing through the hubs, now it is instant. There has also been a 23% rise in pallets processed and a 1.5% improvement in network service performance.

Sometimes safety is the mother of invention when a keen eye at the sharp end sees a potential safety problem begging to be solved. Such an example occurred at mop makers, Robert Scott, who receives incoming container loads of unpalletised, boxed loads at ground level because there are no docklevellers. Boxes were packed right to a vehicle’s back door but that meant space had to be made available in the back of the vehicle before mobile conveyors could be used. The procedure clearly needed to be improved to eliminate any potential safety problems caused by the height of the vehicle decks.

The solution was specially designed, mobile loading platforms from Thorworld. Not only do these platforms eliminate the risks from the initial container unloading process, they also hasten the unloading process.

Perhaps a keen eye on the bay could prompt improvements in your business.

CHARLES SMITH

Feature Writer

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