Pittsburgh, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/29/2011 -- In the current issue of Business Excellence magazine, supply chain best practices include a discussion that vision-guided robotic trucks are a better solution than expensive automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), according to manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, especially when you do not need all the bells and whistles.

Cutler profiles the YUSA Corporation is based in Washington Court House, Ohio, and how the firm is determined to grow and satisfy its customer base. The executives at YUSA were looking for ways to gain efficiencies when moving raw materials to production and finished goods to the warehouse.

A clear lean objective of the company was to improve service levels for customer shipments and increase customer satisfaction. The company deployed Seegrid Robotic Industrial Trucks and developed specific measurable impacts, including ease-of-use, avoidance of training and costly maintenance practices, flexibility of route selection, familiarity with existing equipment types (forklifts and pallet jacks), along with workforce acceptance, labor savings and general comfort working alongside manned equipment.

“The warehouse group took to the robotic industrial truck right away when they saw how it helped with their workload,” said John Welling, plant manager for YUSA Corporation. “On the manufacturing side, an unexpected secondary benefit is that we removed clutter and unsightly pallets from the work areas so the trucks can maneuver, providing a cleaner, safer work environment. Additionally, two full-time material handling associates have been reassigned to areas where they can provide a greater impact to our manufacturing efforts.”

Many companies can neither afford nor require all the bells and whistles of an enterprise-wide AGV (automated guided vehicle.) The robotic forklift solution is far more affordable and produces a rapid return-on-investment. The reduced labor costs means that full-time employees are reassigned to value-added work activities and reduced maintenance costs allow employees to perform routine maintenance and trouble shooting.

Unlike the costly AGV solutions, the robotic industrial trucks require no facility change; they were set up in less than one hour at YUSA.

There is also less manual labor, controlled travel speeds and a system driven workflow that promotes consistent safe behavior.

Seegrid will be a significant part of MODEX 2012 in Atlanta, GA February 6 – 9th. Exhibiting at booth 3100, Seegrid is proud to participate in one the largest expositions for manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the Americas in 2012. To view a one-minute video about Seegrid, go to http://www.modexshow.com/attendees/youroneminute.aspx video link. Registration is required to vote for the video. MODEX is designed to offer supply chain efficiency solutions, learning opportunities and information by showcasing the products and services of exceptional companies, like Seegrid.