The EMSD plays a leading role in driving smart city development by leveraging I&T to construct a smart warehouse with automated stock handling process to manage warehouse resources more effectively and provide a safe working environment for its staff.
The first of its kind in the Government, our smart warehouse integrated the application of automated guided vehicle (AGV), robot control system, warehouse management system and e-locker with a four-in-one approach. In the past, stock keepers had to transport stocks from the racks. In the new warehouse, this job will be handled by four AGVs, which will automatically sort out the shortest route to transport the racks from the “no man zone” to the workstation. The stock keepers will place the required products into the boxes, which will then be put into the e-locker for collection. The system is equipped with a self-learning feature that can arrange racks with frequent retrieval to be placed closer to the workstation. It can also handle dozens of orders simultaneously, enhancing work efficiency. Using the AGVs can reduce the staff’s manual labour work, minimise the number of walkways in the warehouse and increase storage capacity. Colleagues from different divisions can submit orders through the computer system. When the products are available for pick up, the system will automatically send SMS messages to notify the relevant units to collect the parcels from the e-locker. From order submission to product collection, the fully digitalised workflow can bring more convenience to the users.
The smart warehouse project was conceived, implemented and completed in about a year's time with the concerted efforts of our colleagues, despite technical and spatial constraints. While piloted at the EMSD Headquarters as a demonstration of public sector reforming, the project also won the First runner-up in the Leading Towards Robotics Technologies Innovation Competition. The EMSD will continue to serve as the Innovation Facilitator and keep up our innovation promotion work to press ahead with I&T development in conjunction with all relevant parties.
Please visit the website at https://bit.ly/3nZNOlI, to watch the video and learn more about the application of the smart warehouse project.