IEN: Has there been a shift to COTS (commercial off the shelf) solutions in MH sector?
Knappert: In some ways, yes, in others, no. There are many COTS products in the marketplace that provide one piece of the solution, such as bar code label printers with boxed label design software, or portable readers with Windows operating systems and bundled terminal emulation software. These highly functional combinations of hardware, software, and function can be connected together to create a reasonably well-performing solution. But to call any of them an off the shelf solution tends to infer that no custom or specialty knowledge is required to make them perform work immediately upon implementation. This would be a disservice to the customers, as this sets the expectation inappropriately simple.
Virtually every Materials Handling project requires custom integration to provide the best yield and ROI.
IEN: How are vendors meeting such demands?
Knappert: Most vendors will be quick to educate the customers to set realistic expectations. Most customers lack the breadth of experience to implement a complex solution on their own, and quickly learn to take advantage of the integrator''s solution services offerings.
IEN: What innovations are in store for users of MH vehicles, equipment, systems, components, and software? Simulation? Wireless applications? RFID?
Knappert: The current buzz is RFID, of course. With all new technology there are very high expectations and very low deliverables during the initial rollouts, and RFID is not any different. Now that RFID has entered the next generation (Gen2), these significant improvements in the technology will rapidly move this great and powerful technology into the MH world over the next 24 months.
Wireless continues to be the largest rolling technology improvement by disconnecting the computer equipment from the network, and placing mobile data collection and printing devices right in the middle of the work cell. This allows the operator and the data to be interactive at the point of work, instead of at separate times or locations.
IEN: Which R & D hotspots are closest to commercialization?
Knappert: One technology nearing practical use is the use of RFID for managing, real-time, the location of forklifts. By placing an RFID tag grid in the floor of a warehouse, and mounting RFID readers on the forklifts, the forklift reader is able to tell the warehouse system the exact location of every forklift. For instance, this data can be used by the warehouse system to direct and redirect the movement of the forklift and its payload, because the system always knows what is where in real-time.
IEN: How do you cope with the pressure of evolving standards?
Knappert: Again, setting realistic expectations with the client is the most important issue. Educating the customer to the changes that are foreseen, then helping them migrate, and being willing to work with a customer flexibly is crucial.