Are Automated Guided Vehicles right for the business?

The use of Automated Guided Vehicles is not limited to distribution and manufacturing appears in the healthcare and retail industries and some military branches. The number of potential benefits can drastically reduce labor costs, time, and resources.

The Working of Automated Guided Vehicles

An AGV is a self-propelled vehicle controlled by software and sensors. Most AGVs follow defined paths, but AMRs often possess more advanced navigation with dynamic routing capabilities.

AGV for the Business and its Benefits

Automated Guided Vehicles can be helpful tools that can aid order fulfillment operations in increasing productivity and profitability. Using AGVs can complement or hinder operations depending on how the benefits compare. Different automation technologies (like autonomous mobile robots or AS/RS) might be more appropriate for the project, depending on the details. To determine whether implementing Guided Vehicles makes sense for the facility. The client should speak to a warehouse design consultant or systems integrator to learn more about the factors that influence the implementation of a system. The Automated Guided Vehicle market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% by 2021-2027.

Benefits of AGVs

Automated Guided Vehicles provide some of the following benefits that show whether or not it’s good for business, operations, and the industry.

• Reduced Labor Costs: 

  The benefits of using Automated Guided Vehicles in your operation are numerous: AGVs replace a human worker, and companies pay only one cost of the equipment –the initial investment — instead of adding to ongoing expenses, such as insurance, payroll taxes, salary increases, and vacation time.

• Increased Safety: 

  The cameras, lasers, and other sensors on Automated Guided Vehicles are all programmed for safety. Also, they can operate safely around people and structures. The human operator’s equipment has fewer safety features built-in and ultimately relies on the operator’s input, which can fail at any point. While human operators can become distracted and worn out, causing accidents, AGVs do not have these concerns. The Guided Vehicles can also operate in conditions that humans cannot function in or can only operate at reduced efficiency, such as working in extreme heat or cold and around hazardous materials. By increasing safety reduction, operational downtime and costs can occur. It results in higher profits for many operations.

• Increased Accuracy and Productivity:

  The truth is that humans make mistakes. Automated Guided Vehicles reduce the likelihood of errors in workflows because they remove the human element. Thereby decreasing waste, increasing output, and improving your operations. While human personnel may have limitations on the number of hours they can work, Automated Guided Vehicles operate continuously. AGV integration with warehouse control systems significantly improves accuracy and productivity. Most notably by streamlining inventory and material management processes.

• Modularity: 

  The addition of additional AGVs as needed is easy as your business expands. It is possible to avoid an incredibly high initial investment by starting with one or two AGVs. Hence, gradually increasing the fleet to a fully automated operation instead of buying many of them at once.

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