KNAPP Benelux and DRiV show practical cases logistics automation

On June 11, 2024 KNAPP Benelux invited about fifty logistics professionals to the premises of the Puur brewery Duvel Moortgat. Experts from Logflow, Manhattan and KNAPP Benelux gave fascinating presentations about logistics automation. This was followed by an extensive tour of the Willebroek warehouse of DRiV, part of the worldwide Tenneco group. The customer event ended with a tour of the Duvel Moortgat brewery.

As an entrepreneur, how do you outline a sustainable strategy to successfully automate and digitize the logistics processes in your company? How can specific software tools and new technologies facilitate this process? What pitfalls should you consider when choosing this logistics technology? And what does smart warehousing look like in practice? All these questions were discussed in detail during the customer event 'The journey towards automation | DRiV' that KNAPP Benelux organized in cooperation with Logflow and Manhattan.

Logflow outlines logistics challenges

The event started with a presentation by Simon Popelier, innovation manager at Logflow. From the observation that the importance of and interest in logistics automation is increasing year after year, he explained some of the pitfalls in choosing logistics technology. 

One is a lack of vision, with the well-known Kaizen methodology predominating. That methodology focuses on continuous implementation of small work or process improvements. Simon advocates a Kakushin approach, which stands for fundamental change. In doing so, managers take the time to think carefully about where they can work more efficiently and productively as a company.

A second pitfall is focusing too much on "cherry picking" new logistics technologies, from cobots to EDI and from RFID tracking to "live flow monitoring. After all, logistics automation is not an end in itself. The overall puzzle must be right, with automation supporting business objectives. 

Logistics operators 4.0

Other key pitfalls include the need for flexibility and scalability to deploy logistics technologies as efficiently as possible. Can storage capacity in a warehouse be easily expanded? Can peak moments be absorbed quickly? The shift from Total Productive Maintenance to Total Logistics Maintenance also deserves full attention. And of course there is also the transition to logistics operators and supervisors 4.0, with task packages and (digital) skills that are evolving at lightning speed. Here Simon Popelier refers to the term "co-warehouse supervisor," where the "co" stands for "connect
and "collaborate.

 To bot or not to bot?

'To bot or not to bot?' That was the question Werner De Swaef, Director of Sales at KNAPP Benelux, answered during his presentation. As a system integrator, KNAPP offers around 2,000 intelligent automation solutions in various sectors worldwide. With 55 locations, 7 production sites and 7,300 employees, the company has grown into a one-stop shop for automation and digitalization solutions. The focus is on five applications: shuttle systems, digital solutions and AI, AMRs, pocket sorter systems and order picking robots. Thanks to the deployment of fleet control software and digital twins, among others, KNAPP helps companies achieve efficient warehouse management from start to finish.

Manhattan Active Supply Chain

Marco Klaassen, Senior Director of Business Solution Architects at Manhattan, presented the operation and strengths of Manhattan Active Supply Chain, an advanced software solution that helps companies optimize their supply chain processes. With an integrated approach, this platform provides end-to-end visibility and real-time insight, allowing organizations to better anticipate supply and demand fluctuations. The cloud-native solution is constantly up-to-date and scalable, and thus easily adaptable to changing business needs. Functionalities such as inventory management, order processing and transportation optimization help reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Warehouse of the future

As the last speaker, Thomas Thys, Senior Program Manager EMEA at DRiV, zoomed in on the core activities of this Tenneco subsidiary and the extensive automation on the magnesium floor. As a warehouse of automotive parts destined for maintenance and repairs, the Willebroek warehouse is one of the company group's 29 distribution centers worldwide. The site evolved from a traditional warehouse to a paragon of logistics automation.

Through a three-floor mezzanine and automated handling and packaging line, DRiV is fully committed to future-proof logistics. The deployment of a KNAPP OSR Shuttle fits this ambition perfectly, with AMR's operators assisting in the internal transport of pallets.