An example of a good application of industrial computers is the Daimler Chrysler factory in Rastatt. It produces 200,000 cars every year. The beginnings of implementing a warehouse system based on industrial computers date back to 1999. The computer system determines routes and designates the most optimal transport paths for goods. It can also detect shortages of parts in the factory and issue an order to an operator to deliver the appropriate goods to the site, acting as an “electronic logistician” by indicating the place of collection and delivery of goods to the operator. A decisive role in this project was played by the selection of an appropriate solution that would enable trouble-free work for operators and easy data entry. The factory decided to choose an industrial terminal from the German company DLOG for this purpose. The industrial computer was used in two versions: mobile (used in forklifts) and stationary (used by operators). The result of these changes was a 20 percent reduction in costs associated with the logistics of goods. When we encounter a Mercedes A-Class, its origins are always in Rastatt. Since 1997, Rastatt has been solely responsible for products of this class. Apart from the branch in Brazil, this factory is the only global production center. The 147 hectares used by the concern provide employment for 4,700 people. Ten suppliers are located directly in the industrial factory park. In addition, the factory receives deliveries from twelve suppliers by high-capacity rail cars and accepts 230 trucks per day. All goods are delivered in a way that avoids the need to store them on-site in excessive quantities; the goods on-site are sufficient for 1.5 days of factory production.
In 1999, Daimler Chrysler decided to introduce a pilot project using an electronic Kanban system. The Rastatt factory headquarters was chosen as the site for the pilot optimization of the material flow organization on-site, and 580 people work in the fully automated factory, using the assistance of 330 robots.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 2003/6.