ASRS Systems Streamline Throughput, Cost Efficiency
Food processors and distribution centers that operate cold storage, deep-freeze warehouses are saddled with definite challenges, particularly when wanting to run these facilities at a high level of efficiency. Maintaining a high throughput rate with inventory and fulfillment accuracy at -10°F is more challenging than in a chilled or ambient temperature warehouse above 32°F.
Compared to non-deep-freeze facilities, most manually-operated sub-zero warehouses have a higher incidence of wrong item fulfillment and poor product rotation, which increases returns, shipping costs and labor. Deep-freeze warehouses also have heightened facility, equipment and product damage, primarily caused by manually-operated forklifts impacting racks, doors, walls and product cases—significantly higher than what’s found in warehouses where temperatures are above 32°F. Personnel turnover in sub-zero warehouses is also higher than in non-deep-freeze facilities because the extreme temperatures create difficult working conditions for personnel, heightened safety issues and staff recruitment and retention problems.