Philosophies
The technologies, products and the solutions they comprise, as well as the services provided by the KNAPP group, are built upon various philosophies and concepts. The key philosophy for all our activities is making complexity simple. In a world of increasing digitalization and flexibility in processes that is becoming more and more complex, clever automation solutions are the key to success.
zero defect warehouse
New approaches to new challenges
No one questions the importance of availability of goods today. Nowadays, it’s all about service and the decisive factors for customer satisfaction are:
- Punctuality
- Accuracy
- Traceability
- Costs
Today, the key to success lies in getting the details right.
What’s more, the growing number of articles and increasing demands for flexible processes place high demands on a modern warehouse system. Creating an attractive working environment is also important, in order to attract and retain employees over the long run. A more flexible, more economical and above all, accurate intralogistics is, now more than ever, the centre of focus. These demands necessitate a new approach that increases customer and employee satisfaction, reduces costs and raises the system’s economic efficiency. KNAPP’s zero defect concept is a new type of approach to meet the challenges facing us today.
Decrease costs – increase quality
In the zero defect warehouse, KNAPP uses quality control and corrections within processing. The later an error is detected, the more expensive it is to correct. Assuming that the error is detected at all. Automatic checks within processing ensure maximal quality with optimal efficiency.
The zero defect warehouse is part of a modern working environment – one in which man and machine work hand in hand. Employees receive immediate feedback on the quality of their work. This reduces costs and raises employee satisfaction. The zero defect warehouse therefore plays an important role in a self-learning organization.
Furthermore, industry-specific legal requirements – such as 100 % check, or track & trace – are optimally fulfilled in the zero defect warehouse. The Vision technologies for image recognition and image processing are key technologies in the zero defect warehouse. For every central process in the warehouse, KNAPP has a customized solution from the Vision product line that guarantees transparent, error-free processes along the entire supply chain.
Ergonomics – the key to success
The basis for error-free work and therefore optimal quality, is an ergonomic working environment that supports maximum concentration and performance. KNAPP has been dealing with the ergonomic design of work stations and processes for many years. The result is KiDesign. This is a one of a kind design concept that unites ergonomics, efficiency, precision, profitability and high-tech design. KiDesign is therefore and important part of the zero defect warehouse. A future-oriented working environment is the result obtained by the end-to-end use of KiDesign in the design of all of KNAPP’s work stations.
low complexity warehouse
Trim processes
In the low complexity warehouse, KNAPP demonstrates just what making complexity simple is all about in the world of system solutions. By using a clever mix of technologies in the low complexity warehouse, complex processes are made manageable. Every solution is custom-tailored to the business cases at hand and individual requirements of the customer. The key to the low complexity warehouse is the flexible fundamental technologies that are capable of fulfilling several central warehouse processes. Closely tied to the low complexity warehouse is the all-in shuttle.
An all-purpose shuttle
The all-in shuttle concept is part of the low complexity philosophy, translated to the world of shuttle systems. The all-in shuttle simplifies and consolidates a multitude of warehouse processes.
The OSR Shuttle™, the YLOG-Shuttle or the Open Shuttle, used as an all-in shuttle, can handle various processes, such as:
- Storing and picking articles
- Buffering and sequencing shipments
- Replenishing and supplying picking or assembly areas
Modern man-machine communication
An important part of the low complexity warehouse is the intuitive communication between man and machine. Ever increasing digitalization represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Tremendous amounts of data need to be processed and made available to the user at exactly the right time and in the best possible form to assist them with their work. The innovative operating concept easyUse from KNAPP caters to these demands.
With easyUse, KNAPP is bringing the latest in man-machine communication to all levels of the software hierarchy in warehouse logistics – from machine control to the control centre and logistic KPIs to WMS. The easyUse design consists of three cornerstones: consistency in both look and feel, concentration on the essentials and intuitive operation, which succeed in creating a unique user experience. Moreover, easyUse presents information in a user-orientated way, adapted to the terminal used as well as the user.
Service 4.0™
A new era of service
New challenges and exciting new service solutions are waiting. Service packages are tailored to the needs of the customer and develop alongside the business. Serviceability is engineered directly into all KNAPP products as part of their product development strategy. All KNAPP products therefore leave their mark on the service of the future. With their Service 4.0™ strategy, KNAPP ensures that every customer receives their own optimal service package, paving the way to a sure service future. The Service 4.0™ vision: Every warehouse decides for itself which services it needs: when, to what degree, at which location and in what quality. All services are available, unlimited, to every customer at all times. A central intelligent software provides the network linking the services of the future with each other and coordinates all processes.
From big data to smart data
Today, big data is already incredibly important. In the future, it will all be about processing this vast quantity of data and deriving meaningful measures out of it. The mission: from big data to smart data. Data acquisition in the system achieved during ongoing operation (condition monitoring) is a fundamental element of Service 4.0™. The captured data is filtered, analyzed and visualized. Combined with self-learning software programmes, the right services can always be used exactly where they’re needed.
Service 4.0™ is a registered trade mark of the Styrian Service Cluster.