Toyota Material Handling – in partnership with Bastian Solutions – is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company’s AutoStore facility at its parts distribution center in Columbus, Indiana.
In the photo (in front of LR): Hito Matsuoka, president of Bastian Solutions, Joe Elie, AutoStore Sales Director – North America, and Brett Wood, President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America (back left to right): Bret Bruin, Vice President of Aftermarket Operations of Toyota Material Handling, and Bill Finerty, President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling.
Toyota Material Handling unveiled an upgrade to its Parts Distribution Center (PDC) at its Indiana headquarters on October 28, in collaboration with Bastian Solutionspart of Toyota Automated Logistics. This stage marks the arrival of Bastian 100th AutoStore system installation, highlighting its expertise in automation and enhancing Toyota’s ability to efficiently process and deliver parts.
“At Toyota, we will always be driven by what is best for our customers. This AutoStore integration will allow us to deliver parts to our customers across North America faster than ever, ensuring their forklift fleets are operational when they need them most,” said Bret Bruinvice president of aftermarket operations of Toyota Material Handling. “It’s incredible to see this project come to fruition, in partnership with the Bastian and AutoStore teams, to eliminate unnecessary waste and increase efficiency for the benefit of our customers.”
AutoStore integrates cutting-edge robotics, automation and artificial intelligence into Toyota operations. In alignment with Toyota’s 2050 vision For sustainabilityThe AutoStore system runs on rechargeable battery-powered robots, consuming power only when they are in motion.
The innovative system leverages vertical storage, maximizing unused space within the PDC. While the facility typically stores an average of 55,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs), the new system significantly increases storage capacity, from 40,000 to more than 128,000 storage locations, allowing Toyota to accommodate more parts. This contributes to operational cost savings and demonstrates Toyota’s philosophy of Kaizen – or continuous improvement.
“Today, we can reach more than 80% of our customers with two-day shipping. Our goal is to reach 98% of our customers with next-day ground access by 2030,” Bruin said. “This new AutoStore integration and enhanced parts distribution center will play an important role in helping us achieve this goal.”
Minimize manual labor
The AutoStore system minimizes manual labor by using 28 autonomous robots that operate on a grid. These robots collect and deliver bins to four picking ports, each capable of processing up to 175 bins per hour. With the capacity to process up to 700 orders per hour, the system ensures faster and more accurate order processing.
To further improve operational efficiency, AI-powered software strategically positions high-volume inventory for faster access and provides real-time visibility, ensuring Toyota genuine parts are readily available. The natural placement system places low-volume parts at the bottom of the grid while keeping high-demand parts easily accessible to speed up order processing time. With the AutoStore system, Toyota ensures reliable order fulfillment, faster turnaround times and better customer satisfaction from its customers. North American dealer network.
“Bastian is proud to support Toyota Material Handling in its efforts to provide even better customer service through an innovative and sustainable automation system,” said Aaron JonesPresident and CEO of Bastian Solutions. “This focus on continuous improvement and quality solutions is at the heart of everything we do as Toyota Group companies, and leveraging an incredible partner like AutoStore is the final link to ensuring the success today and in the future. »
As robots and AI handle repetitive tasks, Toyota’s commitment to Jidoka – or automation with a human touch – allows associates to spend their time on more strategic tasks. This allows Toyota to focus on problem solving, innovation and quality control, emphasizing the importance of human understanding in driving operational excellence.
During Toyota’s grand opening at the Indiana headquarters, executives led tours to give stakeholders an exclusive look at the cutting-edge innovations and capabilities of the new AutoStore capabilities.
Learn more about Toyota Material Handling parts distribution at ToyotaForklift.com.