Consultation

Every project begins with a free consultation so I can gain an understanding of your business and the project objectives.  Each Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) implementation is unique and yet rooted in a common goal to streamline the operation and provide resiliency to shifting labor markets.  Armed with 25 years of  AGV/AMR deployment experience, I am uniquely positioned to provide unbiased guidance to facilitate informed decisions.

Analysis

SAMHI can assist you in identifying complimentary material flows and processes to automate.  Estimating the initial fleet size, vehicle capabilities, and degree of integration is critical to ensure your project will be within your budget.  Understanding your vision, can also help us to build a roadmap, entailing multiple projects over a longer period of time.  In my experience, most customers will deploy fleets with varying types of vehicles, necessitating strategic planning and careful vendor selection. 

Scope of Work

The greatest risk in an AGV or AMR project is having a poorly written Scope of Work document (or none at all).  Customers often rely on the vendors to fill in the details which can lead to scope changes, project delays, and unforeseen costs after the contract is awarded.  Conversely, providing details about the materials to transport, pick and drop locations, volumes, interface types, and expected Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) enables you to evaluate project bids more easily and select the right partner.

Vendor Selection

The number of AGV and AMR companies is ever-growing.  Empowered with a well-defined scope of work and a roadmap of future projects, SAMHI can canvas the market and introduce a few suitable candidates for your project(s).  We can also assist you in the technical review of vendor proposals and assess the merits of each offering.     

Site Preparation

Automated Material Handling projects are truly transformative and require the end-user to undertake numerous tasks during a successful implementation.  On the operations side, these include application risk assessments and associated mitigation efforts, staffing and training, creation of new work instructions, and sometimes out-sourcing of maintenance activities.  On the project technical side, your team may need to modify equipment and WMS interfaces to enable exchange of information between systems.  SAMHI can help your team prepare for a successful launch and improve technology adoption.