Managing logistics in a busy warehouse is a demanding task, especially for forklift operators navigating tight spaces and handling fragile products. Elitfönster, Swedish window manufacturer, produces over half a million windows annually. With such a high volume, maintaining efficiency while ensuring accuracy and safety in inventory management is critical.
Clearing the Paper-Jam
Historically, Elitfönster had relied on paper-based systems to manage warehouse operations. Forklift operators at the company’s Lenhovda facility had to sift through piles of paperwork to track and process deliveries. This method was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, which could lead to misplaced goods and delays in production. The need for a more efficient, accurate, and user-friendly solution became increasingly apparent.
Elitfönster turned to Panasonic TOUGHBOOK to address these challenges as part of their digitisation initiative. The rugged TOUGHBOOK G1 and N1 models were introduced across the warehouse, replacing cumbersome paper trails with digital records, allowing for real-time registration, storage, and handling of goods.
Portable Devices for Demanding Environments
The TOUGHBOOK devices have proven to be a game-changer for Elitfönster. Jens Sandvej-Grandin, Head of Production, explains how the switch to digital systems has streamlined warehouse operations: “Now we can digitally register, store, and handle all the goods that come to our storage facility – and for this we use Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G1 and N1 devices. This makes tasks such as inventories easier. And that’s one of the main reasons we chose TOUGHBOOK.”
The TOUGHBOOK’s rugged design, capable of withstanding harsh conditions, has made it the perfect all-weather device for Jens and his team: “You can read the screen while scanning thanks to it suitable shape and angling. The device can also be used outside in the rain and the snow for example, which is very useful for us.”
Material handling team leader Christoffer Hult highlights how the user-friendly nature of the TOUGHBOOK, with its vehicle mounting options and the ability to detach and carry the device, make it ideal for navigating the warehouse’s narrow spaces: “You always have the computer next to you in the truck, so that you can check where all the items are placed and directly register when an item has been moved… When driving into narrow spaces, we can detach the computer and carry it with us… It’s a huge help. The computer works very fast, and as I said, is very easy to use.”
Increasing Efficiency with Greater Visibility
The introduction of TOUGHBOOK at Elitfönster has not only done away with the time drain associated with manual paper processes, but also led to greater visibility across all operations, and a range of other improvements:
“We have reduced the time from goods reception to production by half. We have above all increased security and have a better overview of our goods here on the floor. We scan our goods in the different storage spaces, so that we know exactly where we place each individual pallet.”
Elitfönster’s adoption of Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices has revolutionised its warehouse logistics, resulting in a more agile, secure, and efficient operation that significantly boosts the company’s productivity and sets a new standard for warehouse management.
https://info.business.panasonic.eu/materialhandling.html
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