Vertical Storage Solutions Help Medical & Pharma companies manage high demand
Medical and pharmaceutical companies are under pressure to cope with the uncertainties and complexities caused by Covid-19, moving toward vertical storage solutions to contain costs and promote efficiency.
Even before the onslaught of Covid-19, cost pressures were pushing medical and pharmaceutical companies to adopt leaner inventory and logistical models. With the disruption, the pandemic has caused in the market and normal operations, manufacturers are analyzing every aspect of cost optimization – from logistics and supply chain to production costs. Many have determined that a move toward digital solutions and automated technologies can help through saving valuable floor space, increasing productivity and ensuring accuracy within a controlled and secured inventory environment. This is where Modula’s Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) come into play.
Modula VLMs are helping medical and pharmaceutical facilities maximize storage space
Designed to meet all these needs, Modula’s VLMs are being installed in many medical and pharmaceutical facilities at an increasing rate across the United States.
Thanks to the enclosed system of vertically arranged trays, Modula’s VLMs maximizes the available room height from floor to ceiling. Items can be stored up to 53 feet high in a safe and secure unit that automatically delivers them to the operator with a simple touch on the user-friendly Copilott controller or the scan of the barcode. This feature eliminates the need to search for items and ensures that the right part is delivered to the right person, at the ergonomically optimal retrieval height.
Quality assurance has long been critical in the industry, and Modula units are designed to keep products of any size and shape in a secure and clean environment. The machine itself is fully enclosed with an automatic door which prevents goods from being damaged while minimizing exposure to the warehouse environment.
Trays can be organized for items of all sizes. By using partitions and dividers, medical and pharmaceutical manufacturers can create the exact number of storage locations required in each tray. Configuration settings can also be adjusted at any time to accommodate changes in the size or quantity of the stored items.
Modula’s WMS software easily integrates and provides accurate and continuous inventory management
In terms of inventory software integration, vertical lift modules can be easily integrated into any existing local IT system, thanks to Modula’s warehouse management system (WMS). This software provides an accurate and continuous exchange of information with minimal impact on the pre-existing procedures. As a result, the risk of human error is significantly lessened. Harnessing all available inventory data, Modula’s software system facilitates complete control and worker accountability. Users can monitor stock levels in real-time, speed up order execution times for both picking and replenishment operations, and avoid the accidental release of obsolete, expired or on-hold products. Therefore, medical and pharmaceutical companies can gain the visibility required to make critical inventory decisions and reduce unnecessary costs.
Modula’s traceability and validation features, such as controlled restricted access and barcode verification, are also key features for the medical and pharmaceutical industry where precision, safety and accuracy are fundamental. All units are password-protected, allowing only authorized operators with a personal badge and/or access code entry, to operate the machine. All picking operations are monitored and log-ins are tracked, even down to specific trays, depending on the chosen level of security. Tracking access to specific trays is also beneficial for inventory control, as this prevents operators from picking the same items while minimizing the risk of high valuable product theft.
From adopting these automated storage and retrieval solutions, our medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing customers have been operating in a more efficient manner and are reducing unnecessary operating costs.
Benefits at a Glance:
- Decreased storage footprint: Saving up to 90 percent of valuable floor space compared to traditional storage methods.
- Full traceability and real-time inventory: All picking operations are monitored and documented to offer full traceability of the parts and products, while monitoring stock levels in real time.
- Security and inventory control: Enabling controlled, restricted access and barcode verification.
- Increased productivity and accuracy: Using simple visual picking aids, operators are quickly and easily able to identify the items that need to be picked or replenished.
- Secured and clean environment for products: Operating units are fully enclosed with an automatic door, preventing goods from being damaged or exposed to dust.
- Easy software integration: Integrating Modula’s warehouse management system (WMS) with any existing ERP or host systems is a simple process, with no customization required.
- Stock density optimization: Using a height-detection system, the unit determines storage location in real time and maximizes storage density within Modula’s unit.
- Ergonomic storage and retrieval workstation: Automatically delivering items to the optimum ergonomic retrieval height.
- Quick return on investment (ROI): Generating ROI within six to 18 months, depending on the overall size of the project.
- New revenue activities: Reclaiming otherwise-wasted space and labor.
Watch our video case study of Innomed (USA):
Modula streamlines operations and efficiency at Innomed, a lead manufacturer of surgical instruments for orthopedic surgery based in Savannah, GA. Thanks to two Modula Lift VLMs, Innomed now stores over 90 percent of its inventory within the automated storage units. This allowed them to recover previously used floor space while increasing user productivity and ergonomics. Items are now safely delivered to the operators at the optimal ergonomic work height, avoiding unnecessary bending, walking and reaching for parts.
Watch our video case study at Santé Service (France):
Santé Service – a French healthcare facility with over 1,300 patients, chose Modula to increase productivity and accuracy in their picking and storage operations. With more than 800 packages a day and 1,000 requests per hours to be shipped, Modula’s Vertical Lift Modules were the perfect solution. The 2 ML25 Lift stored up to 90% of their medical stock and items were automatically delivered to the operator in a safe, accurate and speedy manner.
Watch our video case study at Orfit Industries (Belgium):
Orfit Industries is a world leader in the development and production of thermoplastic semi-finished medical devices. With the introduction of 4 Modula ML50D Lifts, Orfit was able to significantly increase accuracy and speed in their picking operations – going from 40 order lines per hour to over 220 order lines per hour.
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Our references in the medical and pharmaceutical industry:
