Logistics automation refers to the application of computer software or automated machinery to improve efficiency in logistics operations, typically within warehouses or distribution centers. It involves automation technologies like conveyors, sortation systems, industrial robots, and automated storage and retrieval systems. Logistics automation can increase productivity and throughput, improve quality consistency, reduce labor costs, and complement higher-level supply chain management systems. While it offers many benefits, logistics automation also faces limitations from costs, security threats, and an inability to automate all desired tasks.

1. LOGISTICS AUTOMA
TION - Uncertainty

2. Meaning
Logistics automation is the application of computer software or
automated machinery to improve the efficiency of logistics
operations. Typically this refers to operations within a warehouse or
distribution center, with broader tasks undertaken by supply chain
management systems and enterprise resource planning systems.
Logistics automation systems can powerfully complement the
facilities provided by these higher level computer systems. The
focus on an individual node within a wider logistics network allows
systems to be highly tailored to the requirements of that node.

3. What is Automation ?
Automation or automatic control, is the use of various control
systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in
factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching in telephone
networks, steering and stabilization of ships or aircraft and other
applications with minimal or reduced human intervention. Some
processes have been completely automated.
The biggest benefit of automation is that it saves
labor, however, it is also used to save energy and materials and to
improve quality, accuracy and precision.

4. TYPES OF AUTOMATION
1)Feedback control
2)Sequential control using logic

5. Components OF LOGISTICS AUTOMATION
Logistics automation systems comprise a variety of hardware and software
components:
HARDWARE
 Fixed machinery
 Conveyors
 Sortation
 Industrial Robots
Typically all of these will automatically identify and track containers based upon
barcodes, or increasingly, RFID tags
 AS/RS — Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

6. MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Radio data terminals
Software
 Integration software
 Operational control software

7. ADVANTAGES OF LOGISTICS AUTOMATION
• Increased through put or productivity.
• Improved quality or increased predictability of quality.
• Improved robustness (consistency), of processes or product.
• Increased consistency of output.
• Reduced direct human labor costs and expenses.

8. DISADVANTAGES OF LOGISTICS AUTOMATION
• Causing unemployment and poverty by replacing human labor.
• Security Threats/Vulnerability
• Unpredictable/excessive development costs
• High initial cost

9. Benefits of logistics automation
A typical warehouse or distribution center will receive stock of a
variety of products from suppliers and store these until the receipt
of orders from customers
 Automated goods in processes
 Automated Goods Retrieval for Orders
 Automated processing despatch

10. Limitations to logistics automation
• Current technology is unable to automate all the desired tasks.
• As a process becomes increasingly automated, there is less and
less labor to be saved or quality improvement to be gained. This is
an example of both diminishing returns and the logistic function.
• Similar to the above, as more and more processes become
automated, there are fewer remaining non-automated processes.
This is an example of exhaustion of opportunities. New
technological paradigms may however set new limits that surpass
the previous limits.

11. Current limitations
• Many roles for humans in industrial processes presently lie beyond
the scope of automation. Human-level pattern
recognition, language comprehension, and language production
ability are well beyond the capabilities of modern mechanical and
computer systems. Tasks requiring subjective assessment or
synthesis of complex sensory data, such as scents and sounds, as
well as high-level tasks such as strategic planning, currently
require human expertise. In many cases, the use of humans is
more cost-effective than mechanical approaches even where
automation of industrial tasks is possible. Overcoming these
obstacles is a theorized path to post-scarcity economics.

12. CONCLUSION
With some good Logistics Automation , we can make an
effective and efficient use of machines . As the work done through
machines rather than men . Logistics operations could be easily
completed in a less time . It also helps in specialization of logistics
operations done through machines .
So a good Logistics Automation can reduce the
complexity in logistics and supply chain operation and removes
certain risks concerned with time and other function .