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ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

When it comes to improving road infrastructure on a facility level, Leukam says speed, safety and automation are all key points.

Investing in automation software can also help improve the flow of traffic.

“There are computer programs available today that automatically process orders as the driver pulls up to your facility,” says Leukam. “As the driver comes into the gate, they simply swipe an identification badge and the program already knows what order’s being picked up. Then it prestages the order, so by the time the driver gets to the driveway, the load is already staged up above and the truck is instantly loaded.”

Steven Day, senior product manager, John Deere Agri Services, Inc., has assisted a growing number of customers in improving traffic flow with tools like their oneWeigh™ scale automation system.

“There’s a direct correlation between improving traffic flow and enhancing productivity with automated systems,” says Day. “Our customers are being asked to handle more tasks with fewer people. Under those circumstances the chance for errors and delays rise dramatically. Automated processes reduce errors, improve traceability and keep drivers in the truck and moving on to their next task.”

Day says the key to designing a blueprint for improving speed, accuracy and flow at a facility is to take stock in how your operation is positioned to meets customer needs today and in the future.

“Look at areas that really slow down your employees,” Day points out, “and typically if you can bring efficiencies into areas like reducing handwritten tickets, automating data entry functions with RFID tags and using outdoor message boards to interact directly with drivers, you can recoup your automation investment in a relatively short amount of time.”

Although speed is important, it is essential to not sacrifice speed for accuracy. Leukam says weighing every truck on the way out to get an accurate shipping weight not only preserves infrastructure on the site level, but on the national level as well, and can help feed mills avoid fines.