Category: Uncategorized

Introduction

In today’s competitive manufacturing environment, businesses are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity. One promising way to do this is by using AI-powered machine vision.

Machine vision is a technology that uses cameras and computer vision algorithms to automatically interpret and analyze images. AI-powered machine vision takes this a step further by using artificial intelligence to make decisions based on the data it collects.

How AI-powered machine vision can improve manufacturing

AI-powered machine vision can be used to improve manufacturing in a variety of ways, including:

• Quality control: AI-powered machine vision can be used to inspect products for defects, which can help to improve quality and reduce the number of rejects.
• Process monitoring: AI-powered machine vision can be used to monitor manufacturing processes to identify potential problems early on, which can help to prevent downtime and improve efficiency.
• Inventory management: AI-powered machine vision can be used to track inventory levels and identify potential shortages, which can help to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Robotics: AI-powered machine vision can be used to control robots, which can automate tasks and improve productivity.
• Safety: AI-powered machine vision can be used to detect hazards and prevent accidents, which can improve safety in the workplace.

The benefits of using AI-powered machine vision

The benefits of using AI-powered machine vision in manufacturing include:

• Increased efficiency: AI-powered machine vision can automate tasks that were previously done manually, which can free up workers to focus on other tasks.
• Improved quality: AI-powered machine vision can detect defects that would be missed by human inspectors, which can help to improve product quality.
• Reduced costs: AI-powered machine vision can help to reduce costs by reducing waste, improving efficiency, and preventing accidents.
• Increased safety: AI-powered machine vision can help to detect hazards and prevent accidents, which can improve safety in the workplace.
• Compliance: AI-powered machine vision can help manufacturers to comply with regulations, such as those related to food safety and quality control.

The challenges of using AI-powered machine vision

The challenges of using AI-powered machine vision in manufacturing include:

• The cost of implementation: AI-powered machine vision systems can be expensive to implement.
• The need for data: AI-powered machine vision systems need to be trained on a large amount of data in order to be effective.
• The need for maintenance: AI-powered machine vision systems need to be maintained and updated regularly in order to keep them working properly.
• The risk of bias: AI-powered machine vision systems can be biased, which can lead to inaccurate results.

Conclusion:

Despite the challenges, AI-powered machine vision is a promising technology that can help manufacturers to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity. As the technology continues to develop, it is likely to become more affordable and easier to implement, making it a more attractive option for manufacturers.

Casagrand Industrial Parks creates customized plans to meet your business goals

The problem: Finding the ideal industrial park for your unique requirements. 

The solution: Examine the infrastructure, the resources available, the facilities provided and the support services in the surrounding areas. Examine your own business goals. Do the two sync?

The best industrial parks go beyond providing generic facilities and services. They take the customised path to helping you meet your goals. It’s an increasingly competitive environment out there, and gaining an edge lies in carving out strategies tailored to each unique need. 

At Casagrand, the first step we take when you approach us as a prospective tenant is to understand your business goals. An open dialogue will give us a comprehensive understanding of your requirements. We strive to understand your priorities, including larger goals like the expansion of market reach, optimisation of supply chains, improvement of operational efficiency and fostering of innovation.

What do we offer in our customised plans? Flexible infrastructure, tailored amenities and services, strategic partnerships within our ecosystem, and a supportive regulatory environment. We engage in crafting tailor-made solutions that cater to the distinct and unique demands of each organisation with client-specific improvement, design & construction.

Business models

Based on continuous communication and feedback, Casagrand Industrial & Warehousing offers you various business models tailored to your unique goals. We provide our tenants and business partners with flexible engagement models, ranging from ready industrial & warehousing assets to land plus contractor model. 

PROPOSED BUSINESS MODELS

Built to suit – Lease

• Land and buildings owned by Casagrand, offered on a long-term lease basis to our clients.
• Flexible lock-in period.
• Increased rental efficiency.

BTS – Lease with Purchase Option

• Similar to BTS-Lease with a purchase option  to our client.
• Asset ownership with potential upside valuation is enjoyed by the client.

BTS – Sale

• Casagrand can work with client-recommended locations.
• Can include bespoke building specifications based on the client’s preferences and needs.

Land + Contractor Model

• A client-owned SPV will be transferred with the land price paid upfront.
• Casagrand will enter into a contractor agreement with the client based on the actual cost + margin basis.
• Construction can be tailor-made in house using a client’s existing land.
• We will acquire land in preferred locations and construct in-house.

By offering flexible Infrastructure, Casagrand enables you to expand or downsize according to the evolving needs of your business. This maximises operational efficiency and saves costs. Modular spaces that can be reconfigured to accommodate different kinds of scale and operations can be adapted to your specific needs.

Casagrand enhances the value proposition for businesses by tailoring amenities and services. For instance, a technology-focused business may require access to cutting-edge research and development facilities, high-speed internet connectivity, and collaboration spaces to foster innovation. On the other hand, a logistics-oriented company may prioritise efficient transportation networks, warehousing solutions, and customs clearance support. 

Industrial parks are evolving from generic spaces into dynamic ecosystems that cater to the diverse needs of businesses. By embracing this approach, Casagrand drives business growth, fosters innovation, and contributes to the overall economic development of the regions we operate in. 

At Casagrand, the client is our priority while your business goals remain yours.

The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Abraham Lincoln

Receiving, storing and shipping. That’s all there is to warehousing, in simple terms. The future is about going back to that initial simplicity. Where nothing is wasted, and each step of the process is clear and visible. Casagrand Intell stays ahead of the future by reshaping warehousing to meet consumer expectations of speed and accuracy in e-commerce operations. With e-commerce being the new way of life, particularly post-pandemic, these expectations have inexorably led to the emergence of smart warehousing. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and IoT (Internet of Things) are the future of warehousing technologies. And the future is now. 

Six developments that are revolutionising the world of warehousing are automation, AI/ML, IoT, WMS, AR/VR, and sustainability and green warehousing. Here’s what we can look forward to: 

Warehouse Automation

Automation is at the heart of smart warehousing. Robots equipped with sensors and AI algorithms are being introduced for goods handling, order picking and inventory management. Robotic systems are replacing manual systems and automating processes that once required many hands and hours. Freeing up man hours for more high-value tasks is the objective.

Benefits: 

• Reduces labour costs
• Minimises risk of human error
• Speeds up operations
• Improves efficiency, accuracy and precision

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

What can AI-powered algorithms do? Analyse data collected from sensors, cameras and other automated devices. Whereas ML algos allow us to learn from historical data and make decisions based on it. Both AL and ML technologies are important cogs in an automated environment.

Benefits: 

• Optimises inventory management, demand forecasting, and supply chain operations
• More efficient resource allocation, demand prediction, and inventory replenishment
• Aids in anticipation of demand patterns, optimisation of stock levels, and ensures the availability of products when and where they are needed.

Internet of Things (IoT) Connectivity

IoT is crucial in creating a network of real-time data exchange. IoT connects the various devices and systems in a smart warehousing environment. With the use of sensors and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags, warehouses can constantly monitor inventory levels, temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions. An instance of practical use is IoT-enabled smart shelves: when stocks are low, replenishment orders are triggered. 

Benefits: 

• Instant visibility into the supply chain 
• Facilitates better decision-making and proactive issue resolution
• Ensures seamless operations

Enhanced Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

Warehouse Management Systems are sophisticated platforms on which rest the entire smart warehousing process. Such modern solutions integrate with various smart technologies and provide advanced functionalities such as predictive analytics, route optimisation, and labor management. They give a macro view as well as enable the analysis of specific tasks.

Benefits: 

• Seamless data flow and real-time visibility
• Intelligent allocation of resources
• Easy monitoring of workflows to spot deficiencies
• Faster order processing and fulfillment
• Improved customer satisfaction

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): 

Both AR and VR technologies are immersive technologies with applications in training, order picking, and inventory management. Workers with AR headsets can receive real-time information, guiding them through the most difficult task, reducing errors and creating safer environments. VR greatly enhances the role of training by allowing employees to experience a wide range of scenarios through virtual simulations. 

Benefits: 

• Reduces errors
• Raises productivity
• Enhances efficiency and safety
• Reduces training time and costs

Sustainability and Green Warehousing

Eco-friendly operations are the buzzword, and the focus is on sustainability through smart warehousing. Energy-efficient practices save both the environment and costs and it’s becoming increasingly common to use LED lighting and optimise HVAC systems. Advanced analytics are being developed to help warehouses optimise transportation routes, reduce fuel consumption, and minimise packaging waste.

Benefits: 

• Reduces carbon footprints
• Meets evolving customer expectations

Smart warehousing solutions are the future and will also include: 

• Automated inventory control systems
• the digital twin concept that will virtually recreate the real supply chain 
• 5G
• Automated storage and retrieval systems
• Automated Guided Vehicle

A study by Research and Markets predicts that the smart warehousing market size will reach USD 9400.10 million by 2027 to meet increasingly more evolved supply chain demands. At Casagrand Intell, we are future-ready!

Location matters when it comes to business. Whether it’s physical or virtual or both, it’s important to have a presence where your clientele are present. – Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Popular American banker, and author

True to the words of a popular American banker and author, the location of a warehouse plays a critical role in the success of any commercial venture. Apart from reducing time, effort, and costs, it helps to streamline the whole process. Several key factors like distance, storage requirements, flexibility, supply chain logistics, environmental conditions, transport network, and other requirements should be considered while selecting the location for the warehouse.

One company that has made each one of its warehouses a profit center is Amazon India. It has established and successfully maintains over 70 warehouses all over India. The location of the Indian Amazon warehouses makes all the difference. The warehouses are located near population centers so it makes it easier to deliver online orders quickly and stay ahead of the competition.

Distance

The location of the warehouse is critical for the success of the business. The distance between the warehouse, manufacturing facility, the end-users, and customers need to be taken into consideration when selecting the location.

Accessibility

The location of the warehouse should be accessible by roads and highways if trucking is the main transportation mode. Apart from road transportation, if the business ships nationally or internationally then it should have clear access to railway links and ports. Multiple transportation options will be ideal. It provides businesses with the flexibility to intake and distribute goods.

Also, a warehouse location that has good transport links makes it easier for the employees to access the workplace.

Flipkart’s warehouse near Hyderabad is a perfect example. Ideally located on the outskirts of the city, the well-connected warehouse not only makes it easier to sort and deliver products but also uses the local workforce to take care of its staff requirements.

Storage requirements

The size, capacity, and infrastructure facilities available at the warehouse should meet all the specific requirements of the business. It should also take into consideration the immediate future plans of the company. Adequate care should be taken to ensure that the warehouse has the right size to store all the goods properly and safely. Not to forget the other special requirements like cold/warm storage, fire-resistant fittings, extra security, etc.

Another important feature of the storage part is the layout of the warehouse. Ideally, it should fit the type of operation conducted within the warehouse. The layout should allow the workers to easily store and maneuver around the warehouse.

Supply chain logistics

A warehouse location, easily accessible by the business’s supply chain partners helps boost business efficiencies and reduce costs and delivery times. This will also attract more potential partners to the company.

Environmental conditions

Finally, make sure that the warehouse is located in a safe locality. If the warehouse is located in an area prone to natural disasters, it may lead to major disruptions. Choose a place that is safe to operate.

Smart warehouses are set to transform the commercial space in India.As quick commerce takes off, the new-age customers, B2B and B2C, realize a fast turnaround time is critical. Logistics companies that are unable to meet these expectations may struggle to stay relevant.

As a result of these changes, the warehousing industry is witnessing the emergence of newer trends and ways for warehouses to operate, including processes like storage, picking, packaging, and shipping.

Here are some smart trends and technology upgrades that are fueling the forward march of the warehousing industry.

Robots and automation

Robots and cobots (collaborative robots) are now playing key roles in smart warehouses. From sorting and packaging to batching and transportation, they offer an enhanced range of services. Global giants like Amazon and DHL have successfully implemented robot-driven warehouses in India too. Apart from increasing the picking speed, robots don’t need breaks and if one malfunctions, it can be replaced without slowing down operations.

Another technology feature that is making the warehouse smarter is wearable technology. Smart technology tools like wearable computers with sensors, smart glasses, and voice headsets operating on voice commands have made it easier for workers to pick the required products without the need to scan labels.

Vertical storage capabilities

More business means the need for more space. But the warehouses located in cities and metros come with high real estate costs. One smart way that is making better ergonomic sense as well is vertical storage. With the help of racks and vertical carousels, smart warehouses are solving this problem.

Maximizing energy usage

With rising energy costs, warehouses have started incorporating newer ideas and technologies to optimize energy use. Smart sustainable solutions like skylights to utilize natural light and roof-top solar panels not only help optimize energy use but also make operations more efficient.

The Internet of Things

The IoT isn’t just the latest trend in smart warehousing. It is a key technology concept that is driving the current warehouse automation trends. Warehouses now are leveraging tools like video analytics to monitor the behavior and flow of workers and machinery within the warehouses. Apart from implementing safety measures in the warehouse, it can be used to measure the flow of people in certain areas of the warehouse at certain times and help in smoothening out processes.

Changing roles

 From a place for storing, warehousingis now being seen as a profit center that has the potential of making the company profitable.

Reduced inventories and increased profits

By tracking inventories in real-time, smart warehousing helps business owners to avoid overstocking products and tracking costs will also become easy. This ensures reduced inventory costs. This will lead to a significant increase in the company’s profits across the stream which includes wholesalers, retailers, distributors, and eCommerce websites.

A big boost to order tracking

Another big benefit of smart warehousing is enhanced order tracking. It enables business owners to pass single-speed instructions to multiple recipients. Thereby allowing warehouse managers complete control over customer information, orders, and inventory. It also results in faster order delivery to the customers.

AI and enhanced labor efficiency

Smart warehousing is the upgraded version of traditional warehousing. While manual work plays a big part in traditional warehousing, which includes tasks like ordering, assigning serial numbers, and checking in and out of the warehouse physically. But these actions are automated in smart warehouses.

AI helps to predict the sales volume and notify the team on the fly if it detects that the stocks are running out. It leads to an increase in productivity, which means an increase in labor efficiency.