An unmanned warehouse saves money and time

It is fully automated, easy to use and secure. The unmanned meter warehouse, created by Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology in cooperation with Enea Operator, is designed to streamline the work of fitters and reduce operating costs. The solution will work well for all companies that operate over a large area.

Electricity meter installers work in various locations across four voivodeships in north-western Poland. However, the meters must be collected and then delivered to a warehouse. Travelling to the warehouse in Poznań was time-consuming and increasing operating costs. The solution was a network of eleven small, fully automated warehouses.

The second life of containers

They are built in unused containers that were previously used for maritime transport. Now they are getting a second life and completely new functions. What remains unchanged is that they are easy to transport to new locations where they are needed.

‘The container houses a modern, fully automated warehouse. It is easy to use and safe for the user,’ says Norbert Szczepaniak, head of the Research Group for Electronic Devices at the Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology.

The warehouse consists of two rooms. In the first room, installers hand in old meters, which are immediately identified using RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. They are then photographed and their energy consumption is recorded. The second room is where old and new meters are stored.

– Thanks to the use of various identification technologies, the time spent by the installer in the warehouse is reduced to a minimum. They do not have to read any data themselves or enter it into the system. Everything is done automatically, which not only saves time but also minimises the risk of error, explains Norbert Szczepaniak.

The container warehouse is air-conditioned and completely secure. It is equipped with CCTV and protected against unauthorised access.

Time saving

Each warehouse is fully integrated with Enea Operator’s IT systems, as well as with inventory management systems. They also work with mobile devices used by warehouse staff and fitters working for the company. For the latter, operating the new warehouses is very simple – the process has been designed to be as intuitive as possible, so employees do not even require training.

Researchers from Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology conducted a process analysis that identified the locations for new warehouses. This will save installers one day of work per week, which they previously spent commuting to the central warehouse. In turn, the company will save on fuel and vehicle depreciation, and will also reduce its carbon footprint.

Container warehouses can be used not only for electricity meters. They can be used in many industries, in companies that have large areas of operation and whose employees often have to collect and return equipment.