Logistics solutions meet the challenge of productivity

In a factory, from the receipt of raw materials or components to the final product, handling, storage and logistics as a whole are essential to the good organization and growth of a company. What form does this logistics take? What productivity gains to expect? Answers with Arnaud Debs, marketing manager at Norcan , specialist in custom-made industrial equipment based on aluminum profiles.

By organizing flows and supplies, logistics optimizes processes with a view to constantly improving customer satisfaction. Transversal to all the stations of a factory, it streamlines all the circuits in order to provide the customer with quality products and to increase the profitability of the company. Indeed, good logistics saves money by implementing more efficient systems for managing and disposing of inventory, in particular by finding the most attractive distribution solution. The teams in charge of these missions work with the methods and R&D departments, the employees in charge of purchasing, but also with the production and sales departments.

Performance of industrial facilities and flows

Leader in France and among the first in Europe in the field of modular and made-to-measure mechanically assembled solutions based on aluminum profiles, the Norcan group produces several thousand applications per year, in particular at its main site in Haguenau, in Alsace. “ Our applications respond to the performance challenges of industrial installations and flows, by improving ergonomics and safety as well as agility and productivity,” says Arnaud Debs . We are proud to accompany our customers towards the factory of the future, in particular with the integration of the SHERPA range of mobile and collaborative robots . »

SHERPA robots are AMR (Autonomous mobile robot) which differ from AGV ( Automatic guided vehicle) by their flexibility. They do not have a dedicated trajectory and are therefore a suitable solution for dynamic and evolving environments. “ These mobile robots bring a lot of flexibility, integrate perfectly into an existing environment, and interface perfectly with our lines and islands, adds the marketing manager . But the use of robotics is not systematic. It all depends on the client's objective. Our challenge is to respond to them with the right tools even if, of course, the complete solution must bring a profit and a rapid ROI. Here too, we support our clients with the aim of optimizing their thinking. »

Norcan solutions cover a wide range of application cases: from workstations and technical furniture to conveyors, including handling trolleys and means of access as well as the protection of men and machines. The place of the man and his working conditions must indeed be taken into account to eliminate the arduousness and the risks in the transport of loads. The Alsatian company also produces complete production islands, including automated and robotized ones.

Solutions that should leave nothing to chance

“ Once the need has been clearly defined by our technical sales experts, our design office provides all of its technical expertise. He defines the feasibility of the project, produces an estimate and ensures its design. A business manager monitors the file, in close collaboration with the client, from its completion to its delivery. Each project is unique and adapted to the specific business requirements of the client. The role of the design office is therefore of high added value in our value chain. Listening to the customer and his objectives, the design office co-established precise specifications, including in particular the constraints and forces of the existing environment. So nothing is left to chance!

Recently, Norcan supported its client Siemens for a parcel reception problem (DHL, UPS type delivery, etc.). “ Our technical-sales team has taken into account the needs and issues of the client, specifies Arnaud Debs. There were many questions: how to automate reception? How to optimize floor space? How to identify packages to reduce the error rate? How to put them away and retrieve them quickly so as not to slow down the next workstation? With all its expertise, our team was able to provide a completely tailor-made automated buffer stock solution. A real giant Tetris system ! This is a case that perfectly illustrates the symbiosis between our historic business around the aluminum profile, and the integration of a SHERPA mobile robot. »  

Multiple optimizations for productivity

These flexible logistics solutions can evolve according to the companies' production and be set up in just a few days, or a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the projects. The key is significant productivity gains such as optimization of space and time thanks to well-designed storage, more rational circuits or shortening of the time between production of the part and its dispatch. The circuit in the factory of the manufactured part, from the material necessary for its production, from its storage to its shipment to the end customer, must therefore be studied as a whole composed of modular elements, in a spirit of synergy.

“ Our solutions are indeed designed to support productivity: increase in speed, reduction of journeys with low added value by man, optimization of flows or even reduction of the error rate, agrees Arnaud Debs. But not only… Each of them also integrates the notions of ergonomics (posture, arduousness, practicality), employee safety and agility in a world that requires constant adaptation. » A world in perpetual evolution which is already inventing the logistics of tomorrow.