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Automated Solutions for the Military and Government Services

The government and military have wide-ranging material handling needs. From small parts with tight tolerances for the aerospace and military sectors to large inventories of stockpiled medical supplies, governments and militaries need innovative solutions providers with the experience and know how to handle the breadth of their needs.

At PeakLogix, we’re a brand agnostic material handling systems integrator that specializes in innovative, bespoke automated solutions. We support the research, development, and deployment of military systems and government services by offering large-scale solutions tailored to their needs.

We help improve both your material handling and logistics, increasing the consistency and efficiency of your processes, helping to increase security with limited access solutions, and reducing waste by tracking key metrics of pieces and products, such as precise locations, order shipment and receipt, and expiration dates.

Current challenges for the military and government services

Quality control from start to finish

Automation allows for the fusion of robotic and computer interfaces, allowing for the continuous monitoring of raw materials and pieces from the time they enter a facility, through production processes, and all the way out the shipping door and to the end user. This increases product quality and allows for the optimization of resources, reducing waste of both product and resources.

Depending on a site’s needs, goods can be moved with zero-pressure sortation conveyors, or stored in automated storage and retrieval systems that store and move items on sleds or in totes. Automated vertical and horizontal carousels can be used for small, high-value items. And each of these can be tied to a robust Warehouse Management System (WMS) capable of both tracking and coordinating the movement of pieces and processes throughout even the largest storage facilities.

Rising costs

When it comes to material handling, the public sector faces many of the same challenges as the private sector. The costs of real estate and construction have risen dramatically in recent years. Wages and inflation are on the rise. And the sheer scale of the global supply chain creates logistical challenges that the industry is still struggling to answer economically.

On top of that, the public sector has its own challenges related to scale, with the mandate to meet the safety, security, and emergency medical needs of an entire country. Combining that scale with the need to keep many of the materials, and the people working with them, safe and secure, creates logistical challenges that can only be met with state-of-the-art logistical software.

Government contracts hold special requirements and security protocols

While business with the federal government agency can seem intimidating to the uninitiated, at the end of the day the job needed is the same job that PeakLogix has been doing for over 30 years. We increase storage capacity by maximizing the cubic space of warehousing and storing goods in the densest possible configurations.. We increase throughput and minimize waste by streamlining processes. And we maximize item visibility and efficiencies through innovative tracking and data analysis techniques.

That being said, we at PeakLogix take the special requirements and security needs of working with government agencies at every level — local, state, and federal — very seriously. We are proud supporters of our government and military, and hold any security measures as our first priority.

Employee safety

Because the US government is involved in many industries — including weapons manufacture, medical research, and space exploration — its need for environmental control in its production and storage facilities is wide ranging.

Its operations include clean rooms where the smallest spec of dust can mean mission failure, manufacturing facilities where dust is a byproduct of production but where too much dust is an explosion hazard, and large-scale storage of medical supplies that sometimes need below-freezing and ultra-cold storage.

Handling these disparate environments requires a systems integrator with the right experience, knowledge, and skills.

Warehouse capacity

Different agencies within the federal government have different warehousing needs, such that there is no one-size-fits all logistics solution across the entire government, or even within departments. Each facility needs bespoke warehousing solutions, but at the same time is required to work interdepartmentally.

Logistics solutions need to be large-scale enough to meet the government’s needs, but granular enough to communicate with and share resources across other departments. This granularity also allows for the tracking of items and their key metrics, such as expiration dates and size. When dealing with large stockpiles of inventory, the ability to visualize these details is crucial to reducing waste and meeting mission objectives.

Important considerations when evaluating a systems integration partner for the manufacturing industry

Are they consultative?

When partnering with a systems integrator, one of the risks government agencies face is trying to work with a partner that promises more than they can deliver. The logistics integrator smiles through consultations and then, behind the scenes, desperately tries to invent the technology they need to deliver on their promises. They miss deadline after deadline until the facility director reaches a point of no return — they’re willing to justify their costs by seeing any kind of benefit from their investment. Even if those benefits are well below what was originally planned and agreed to.

PeakLogix is not that kind of partner. We are fully consultative, and prioritize your goals and needs. We undertake a thorough discovery process so that we understand both the roadblocks you face now and the goals you have for the future. Our solutions are designed to help you move past your roadblocks, and scale with your growth. We don’t offer solutions in a top-down fashion that refuses input and denies questions, but collaborate with you and provide the recommendations we believe will best suit your needs.

Are they vendor agnostic?

Vendor agnostic solutions providers like PeakLogix don’t push their favorite suppliers onto their clients. Instead, we work with our suppliers to find and test the applications for which their product is the best fit. We don’t pitch untested products as viable solutions, but rather look for the best solution that already has a track record of solid performance.

Being open to integrating the best solutions on the market — regardless of their manufacturer — means we can truly optimize solutions for our clients, and quickly adjust to changing demands.

Do they develop tailored solutions for your unique challenges?

Being a consultative, vendor agnostic firm means that we look at every project with fresh eyes. Yes, we have decades of experience that inform our decisions and help us quickly find solutions to problems — but we don’t try to force the same solution on every client.

Instead, we work with our clients to discover both their pain points and goals. And our approach often leads to two positive outcomes. First, the discovery of unknown root causes to problems that allow us to address systemic issues with solutions of a customized design. And second, the application of scalable solutions that will both meet today’s challenges, and scale in ways the facility needs to meet its future goals.

Can they scale to your needs?

The changing urban landscape, an aging workforce, the large-scale adoption of ecommerce, and the increased use of artificial intelligence and machine learning have created challenges and brought opportunities that are continuing to change industries in every sector. Logistics solutions need to be more responsive than ever, with the ability to scale both up and down to meet a facility’s growth as well as periodic changes in demand.

PeakLogix has been solving the material-handling needs of companies of every size, and in many industries, for over 30 years. We are dedicated to our own continuous improvement because we know that designing systems that will adapt to your changing needs means being knowledgeable about changes in the industry. By offering adaptive solutions where appropriate, we bring added value to our partners.

Are they available when you need them?

PeakLogix started in 1989 as a material handling and systems integrator serving clients across the Mid-Atlantic. Over the past 30 years, we’ve completed thousands of successful projects and have grown to become a thought leader in the industry and a national provider of innovative solutions, software systems, and automated technologies.

From the beginning of our working relationships with clients, our team works to discover your goals and challenges. We collaborate with you to develop solutions that meet your needs today and also lay the groundwork for your future growth. When your project is complete, we offer services including 24/7 system support, operator training, and maintenance and repairs.

At PeakLogix, our partnerships are our priority.

What logistics, automation, and distribution solutions should you consider for your operations?

WMS Software (ScottTech PickPro®)

ScottTech PickPro® is our proprietary Warehouse Management Software (WMS). It’s a fully independent, system-agnostic, web-based software solution that can control all aspects of distribution, and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of government agencies.

ScottTech PickPro® can serve as a standalone solution, or integrate with your ERP. It can incorporate AS/RS equipment and all the peripherals, track and manage inventory of both parts and goods, and layer seamlessly with your software architecture to provide granular feedback on, and control of, your operations.

Pick Modules

Pick modules use pallet or carton flow racks to push eaches, cartons, totes, or containers through a facility. PeakLogix integrates a variety of pick modules that can be tailored to your facility’s needs.

Pick modules can allow operators to pick small parts quickly and reliably, increasing speed and accuracy in assembly, manufacturing, or distribution processes.

Horizontal Carousels

Horizontal Carousels are a cost-effective way to quickly add storage capacity and increase put away and retrieval accuracy and efficiency. They are ideal for high throughput facilities and high speed picking, and can increase storage density by up to 75%.

Horizontal Carousels are generally arranged into pods or zones. Multiple carousels in a pod can create variable access points to create an efficient, worker-friendly layout that can triple average pick rates.

Pick to Light

Pick-to-light is a cost-effective solution that streamlines warehouse picking operations and increases picking speed, accuracy, and productivity. Especially in omnichannel fulfillment centers, pick-to-light solutions enable the reliable processing of high numbers of SKUs, while increasing efficiency.

Pick-to-light solutions are often a good entry point for a warehouse’s automation transformation. They can work as standalone systems or integrate with Warehouse Management Software, enabling them to easily scale with a company’s growth.

Print and Apply

Print and apply labeling reduces the number of touches, labor, and costs associated with shipping processes, improving shipping accuracy and warehouse throughput. Print and apply allows a facility to process hundreds or even thousands of packages an hour, all with accurate weight, measurements, and freight costs.

Shipping manifestos and labels can be automatically printed and applied to a variety of packaging materials, shapes, and sizes. They can be combined with accumulation conveyors and other automation to further increase shipping efficiencies.

Robotic Palletizers

Robotic palletizing increases the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of palletizing operations. This not only increases throughput, but also lowers shipping fees and optimizes the use of space in a warehouse by palletizing items more compactly.

Automation can eliminate, or at least reduce, the manual labor associated with palletizing, freeing that labor to move on to more value-adding and rewarding tasks. With the right end-of-arm tool, they can handle everything from the heaviest boxes and pails to the thinnest slip sheets and dunnage.

AS/RS

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RSs) optimize productivity and operational throughput through the combination of data-driven optimization, warehouse management software, and labor reallocation. Especially when dealing with small pieces, the manual storage and retrieval of eaches can lead to wasted labor. By automating this non-value-adding task, companies can increase both profitability and employee morale, while reducing opportunities for theft.

Any industry that deals with the movement and storage of physical goods needs fast, accurate, and efficient storage and retrieval systems. AS/RSs integrate with a facility’s WMS to allow for increased throughput in decanting, reracking, and conveyance of goods; expanded floorspace through the maximization of vertical storage; reduced or avoided capital expenses related to expansions and reallocations; and lowered labor costs.

AGV

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) enhance productivity and workflow in both manufacturing and distribution facilities. AGVs help streamline processes, decrease delays, and move heavy, bulky materials efficiently and safely.

Guided vehicles use a number of navigational methods, tailored to your facility’s needs. They can be customized and programmed to follow the paths in a facility that are safest for staff and most efficient. They can be an integral part of a facility’s material handling and also programmed for complementary tasks such as trash collection or other housekeeping tasks.

Vertical Lift Modules

Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) are ideal for expanding a facility’s footprint by maximizing vertical storage while also improving throughput rates and reducing labor costs. Vertical lift modules can be ideal for small parts and pieces, as they use inserters and extractors to automatically move trays of goods in and out of compact storage. They can also work with cases, totes, and large items.

VLMs provide user-level access for restricted goods, have basic user controls, and integrate with existing software management systems. Because of their small footprint, they optimize vertical space while freeing up valuable floor space.

Sortation Conveyor Systems

Automated sortation is the process of first identifying and then diverting items on a conveyance system. The conveyor is connected with the facility’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) and, depending on the system, can identify items by weight, color, shape or identifying tags.

Conveyors might use a number of sortation systems to get product to the right destination, including pushers, paddles, shoes, cross belts, and more. In the right applications, automated sortation systems are both faster and more accurate than manual sortation and picking.

PALLET RUNNER®

Especially in large warehouse environments, deep lane, high density pallet storage is key to an efficient process that maximizes pallet density. PALLET RUNNER® from Automha can be configured to operate either with both first-in, last-out (FIFO) and last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory models, making it ideal for nearly all large scale inventory models.

With the semi-automated PALLET RUNNER storage system, you can store more while optimizing the flow of your operations. With deep lane storage, each item has a discrete channel in the racking system, which makes both put away and retrieval more efficient and keeps items properly rotated.

Advance your operations.

Schedule a consultation.

Tell us about your needs and we’ll have someone contact you to talk about the various automated material handling solutions for your government and military operations.