FULFILLMENT GOES MOBILE
The Mobile Fulfillment System (MFS) from Kiva Systems is a material handling system using fleets of mobile robots to solve bottleneck issues in distribution centers. It transforms traditional serial processes into a parallel processing system, resulting in a wide range of operational and strategic benefits.
The mobile robotic drive units bring inventory on movable shelves directly to workers, allowing efficient access to all inventory items. Flexibility is provided via the system components being mobile and modular, allowing the distribution center to add new products or expand throughput without disrupting ongoing operations.
Elimination of operator walking and waiting enables worker productivity that claims to be two to four times higher compared to sorters and other “bolted down” automated handling systems. Sorters also have very high capital cost, require long design and integration periods before they can be fully ramped, and create serious bottlenecks when they fail.
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