PST CLC Mitsui-Soko continues to implement the plan to digitalise and optimise its processes. Work is currently under way to start processing digital twins for PST CLC Mitsui-Soko’s own logistics centres. The digital twins will gradually be deployed in more complex operations to significantly increase storage efficiency.
PST CLC Mitsui-Soko already has experience with the implementation of a digital twin in logistics operations. Last year it was deployed at its customer, Philip Morris ČR in Kutná Hora, where PST CLC Mitsui-Soko provides internal logistics. The digital twin was implemented there for the finished goods warehouse and the direct material warehouse. As the project has proven successful and delivered results, PST CLC Mitsui-Soko will deploy digital twins to other warehouses there. In addition, however, the company is also preparing to implement digital twins in its logistics centres, from which it expects to make significant savings.
Efficient automated shift management in warehouses
The digital twins in PST CLC Mitsui-Soko logistics centres will ensure efficient shift management in the warehouses from the perspective of both employees and technicians. “The digital twin allows many simple automated options for managing shift activity. In June, we began monitoring to determine where the digital twin will be most beneficial. We are currently evaluating the data. The first implementations will probably be in the warehouses in Mošnov and Úžice,” says Petr Kotora, Director of Logistics at PST CLC Mitsui-Soko. He adds that the actual implementation will then take place in the second half of the fiscal year.
Savings in human resources and costs
The deployment of digital twins pays off in large and small warehouses. Wherever more complex processes are performed.
“We expect savings in human resources and costs. In the more complex warehouses there was a head of the centre and under him worked the heads of the individual departments. By deploying digital twins, we can see the work in the warehouses in real time, so there is no need for individual department managers to react, everything can be managed efficiently by one person who can move the workforce according to the current needs,” explains Vít Votroubek, CEO of PST CLC Mitsui-Soko, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Forwarding and Logistics of the Czech Republic.
Online evaluation of the operation of handling equipment fleets
He added that digital twins are paying off in warehouses and in rugged manufacturing operations. The manager can see on one screen the movement of people and handling equipment in real time, and has an overview of where there are potential problems and where there are idle workers.
“We will also integrate our trucks into the digital twin system. We’ll keep track of their movements and workload. We want to evaluate online the motor hours driven and move the equipment if necessary so that the fleets are used optimally,” says Vít Votroubek.
