Material Flow & Internal Logistics - Processes, Systems and Automation
What is material flow and internal logistics?
Material flow and internal logistics describe the movement and coordination of goods between all functional areas within a warehouse, production facility or distribution centre.
They connect processes such as receiving, storage, picking, sorting and dispatch, ensuring that goods are transported to the right place at the right time.
As operations become more complex and throughput requirements increase, efficient material flow is essential to maintain performance, avoid bottlenecks and ensure a continuous and controlled operation.
How material flow systems work
Material flow systems coordinate the transport of goods between different process steps using automated technologies such as conveyor systems, sortation systems and integrated control software.
Goods are moved from receiving to storage, supplied to picking or production areas and routed to packing and dispatch. The flow of materials is controlled by warehouse and material flow control systems, which determine routing, timing and priorities.
By integrating transport with storage, sorting and picking systems, material flow solutions create a seamless and continuous movement of goods across the entire operation.
Benefits of optimised material flow
Efficient material flow improves the overall performance of warehouse and production operations.
By reducing manual transport and unnecessary handling, processes become faster and more consistent. This enables higher throughput and ensures that goods move efficiently between all functional areas.
Optimised material flow also reduces bottlenecks and improves coordination between processes, leading to more stable and reliable operations.
At the same time, automation increases safety by minimising manual transport tasks and enhances transparency through real-time visibility of material movement.
Material flow use cases
Material flow systems link receiving, storage, picking, sorting and dispatch into one integrated system.
They ensure that goods are transported efficiently between each process step, enabling a continuous flow and reducing delays across the warehouse.
In manufacturing environments, material flow systems ensure that components are delivered reliably to production lines.
Automated transport reduces manual handling and ensures that materials are available exactly when needed, supporting stable and efficient production processes.
In distribution centres with high volumes, material flow systems handle large quantities of goods and route them to multiple destinations.
By combining transport and sortation technologies, goods can be moved and distributed quickly and efficiently, even in complex operations.
GEBHARDT Automates Internal Processes at JAKO
JAKO is a well-known German manufacturer of team sportswear and has been using the products of GEBHARDT Fördertechnik GmbH from Sinsheim for a number of years. Approximately 30,000 items in different colours and sizes are stored at the Mulfingen site. New projects and innovations have been implemented together since 1997. At JAKO, this allowed the automation of internal processes from incoming goods to outgoing goods with 1,000 m of conveyor technology and other GEBHARDT technologies.
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