What do you understand by automated storage and retrieval ?

What do you understand by automated storage and retrieval ? For what kinds of goods and in which companies in India do you think such systems would be appropriate ?

The concept of a totally automated storage and retrieval system has been inviting the attention of professionals to match the storage with the rapid developments in the technology. High-rise storage systems have been commonly used in advanced countries. Automated material handling systems are used for the unit load type storage retrieval system. But for the systems in which different quantities of different items are to be retrieved the semi-automatic kind of material handling with manual operator are used. The operator carries with him the list of items to be retrieved. By making use of pre-defined system he goes through the storeroom, stops the handling equipment at respective bin and completes the list in a picking tour. He may go aisle-by-aisle or according to items in list or by any other system. Operation Research techniques of sequencing, routing, etc., can be applied to determine the optimal locations of items and optimal locations of items and optimal route in a picking tour. Some of the systems to improve the efficiency of automated storage / retrieval systems are as follows:
i) Sequencing in an optimal way by picking stops in a single picking tour.
ii) Allowing a single operator to perform all storage and order picking operations
in an aisle.
iii) Generating a picking list based on a single customer's order,
iv) Storing items in pairs, e.g. nuts and bolts.
v) Locating items from the rack as per the structure and importance of orders.
vi) Allocating all items related to a specific facility to a single aisle.
The storage system forms the key component of any materials managements system. The efficient planning and design of the store system is very much important for the efficient and smooth operation of any plant. Due consideration should be given to the Design of the store system of both physical and information processing. The stores system closely interacts with other sub-systems and these interactions must be clearly understood and interpreted. Efforts should be 'made to incorporate the latest developments in the area of stores management so as to provide the right kind of service at the right time with adequate preservation of the items and minimum blockage of capital.