Gartner, the world’s leading IT research and advisory company, predicts that digital twins will be one of 2018s industry-shaping trends and that, by 2021, 50% of large-scale companies will use them. A ”digital twin” is a simulation, a digital replica of a process, product, or service through information gathered by built-in sensors on equipment inside manufacturing centers.
How can simulation be applied to a supply chain or in my warehouse?
India will soon move towards Industry 4.0. That means there would be more facilities with sensors and data-gathering devices than ever before. All these tech innovations will soon yield a better and efficient logistical system. Data collection using sensors and smart technology also means that there will be more sophisticated simulation systems in place. Now the vital question arises, that what can a good simulation system do for my warehouse and logistical efficiency.
Owing to the technological advances, now it’s pretty easy for any company using high-end sensors and data To test any process or equipment in a virtual environment before actually deploying it in real-life situations. When it comes to warehousing and logistics solutions, the same technology is nothing short of a boon. Using the advanced predictive models and real-time data, it becomes really easy for a logistic service provider to simulate the entire logistical flow and tweak things accordingly before even starting the actual construction of the warehouse.
Advantages of simulation
Simulation for warehouse and logistics design gives many distinct advantages to the company using it. The biggest off all is virtually error-free design and cost efficiencies. We have mentioned below some of the pivotal advantages that simulation brings on board in the case of warehouse and logistics solutions.
Continuous process improvement: Simulation gives planners the ability to formulate the process flow first on paper that is the initial ideation and understanding on paper how things would be working inside a warehouse. Secondly, simulation gives debility to test the initial logistic plan in a virtual environment; furthermore, it also allows for running an enhanced level of tests, thus pushing the entire process for maximum efficiency in a completely virtual environment. In the long run, it proves to be a highly cost-efficient solution.
Cost-saving: In the simulation, there is no actual construction or infrastructure being developed, and it provides the best process flow calculation in a virtual world; hence, the factor of saving on expenses born due to error and miscalculations are completely removed.
Lesser malfunctions: simulation also allows for almost zero process malfunctions as everything is tested thoroughly in a virtual world, and once everyone is satisfied with the machine-generated calculations, only then the real construction of the systems begin.
Supply chain simulation: in the case of warehouse and logistics, the benefits of simulation does not end at the design level. Using simulation, a service provider can completely test and forecast the entire supply chain even before the first pieces of inventory arrived at the warehouse. Furthermore, we can even test different scenarios and situations completely in a virtual world and providing for concrete future planning.