Safety at work
The extensive range of Beacons and Sounders manufactured by WERMA ensures that Logistics operations have available the widest possible range of optical and audible andon lights to ensure that the working environment is safe for all staff.
LED lights in a large range of sizes and designs are supplemented with audible products, many of which are multi tine and volume adjustable.
Case study – combi optical audible products
A well known international on line retailer with a network of regional fulfilment centres in the UK has an extensive and complex network of conveyors and picking areas to process customer orders. It is vital that appropriate warning devices are fitted to conveyors to provide warning to operators of the start and stop of operation of a line. A simple solution has been to fit the equipment with simple sounder devices which emit a warning but very often such devices can be disabled by mischievous operators and rendered useless.
Having carried out an extensive review of the operation WERMA proposed an upgrade of the handling equipment by fitting sophisticated bright flashing beacons with integral volume adjustable multitone sounders from the 444 and 423 Series products.
The plant operator was able to adjust the volume output of the sounders to ensure that the local area was being warned as appropriate and not the whole warehouse! In addition different tones could be selected which enabled staff to recognise in which are a warning was being sounded. The exceptionally bright and long lasting LED flashing beacons ensure that a clearly visible optical warning could be seen by all. Last but not least care was taken to mount the Beacon/Sounders in elevated positions to ensure that they could be tampered with.
Reduce downtime with easy to install wireless andon lights with call for action function
Disruptions to productivity can be reduced significantly by deploying andon light systems on packing and despatching lines.
Monitor the productivity
The andon light systems indicate the status of a workstation and are commonly used in some of the UK’s largest on line retail operations. In a simple traffic light configuration the green light may indicate the workstation is operative, an amber light that supervision is required to attend to a developing concern – shortage of packing material a red light can be deployed to indicate a serious disruption to the work flow.
Wireless andon light systems enhance monitoring capability
WERMA’s andon light systems can be enhanced with a simple low cost wireless monitoring package called WIN. A wireless transmitter unit is fitted to the andon light set and transmits the status light change when it occurs to a receiver unit attached to a client pc or directly into the IT network infrastructure. Multiple users in key positions can then view the status of the workstations and react to disruptions to productivity. Remote key users can be notified by screen alerts and WIN can generate Emails to be sent automatically to nominated addresses thus ensuring that the right people are notified promptly to issues the moment they occur.
Changes in the status of the andon lights are stored on the WERMA software and can be reviewed by any client operating WIN on his local PC. Runtime and productivity screens give accurate and impartial historical views on the productivity of workstations and management reports can be generated and exported to e.g. excel with just a couple of mouse clicks.
Improved transparency of the operation, identifying issues promptly as they occur and monitoring response time to fixing the issues are just some of the benefits the system offers.
Low cost, easy to install
A typical starter pack including hardware and all software costs can work out as little as €500 per workstation, and the system, being wireless is simply to install or retrofit to existing andon light systems.
Werma’s authorised distributor in Ireland – years of experience with our monitoring kit
WERMA is represented locally by ATC Automation Ltd based in Tallaght, Dublin. The highly experienced team here will be happy to help and advise you further. Get in touch with ATC to learn more about how the system could improve your operation and arrange a no obligation demonstration of the kit.
Contact them on 353 1 467 8303 for further assistance.
WERMA (UK) Ltd
11 Regent Park
37 Booth Drive
Park Farm South
Wellingborough NN8 6GR
Tel: 01536 486930
