Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
Computer-controlled systems that automatically store and retrieve loads in a compact footprint and deliver items to workers — goods-to-person instead of person-to-goods.
When it fits
- Operations needing to reclaim floor space and go vertical while improving pick accuracy and safety
- Steady, predictable throughput where a designed cycle rate can justify capital (actual rates are site-specific — scoped on quote)
- Environments where reducing labor walk-and-search time and shrinking the storage footprint are primary goals
When it does not
- Highly variable or unpredictable volume that cannot sustain the designed cycle rate
- Very small operations that cannot cost-justify fixed automation (a smaller buffer module is often the better first step)
- Product or pack profiles outside the system load envelope
How it pairs with equipment
- Unit-load (pallet) AS/RS still needs conventional trucks for inbound/outbound at pickup-and-deposit stations — Big Joe equipment territory.
- Goods-to-person AS/RS pairs with pick-to-light and ergonomic workstations at the end of the retrieval loop.
- AS/RS is frequently fed and drained by conveyor and, increasingly, AMRs for the last hundred feet.
Plan the supporting racking
Unit-load AS/RS uses dedicated single- or double-deep crane-served rack; it typically interfaces with selective racking at P&D and pick faces. It is the automated alternative to conventional drive-in / push-back density.
Racking & warehouse design →Considerations for your site
For Carson-area distributors fighting high per-square-foot costs, AS/RS trades floor area for height and density. Tall, crane-served rack structures are engineered systems that trigger California seismic design and, for tall combustible storage, Fire Code Chapter 32 review — plan permitting with the AHJ early.
Related systems
FAQ
What is an AS/RS?
An automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) is a combination of equipment, controls, and software that automatically places and retrieves loads — pallets, totes, cases, or trays — in a dense, mostly unmanned rack structure. Instead of workers traveling to inventory, the system delivers items to an operator at an ergonomic station, saving floor space, improving accuracy, and increasing safety.
When should a warehouse consider an AS/RS?
Consider an AS/RS when floor space is scarce, throughput is steady enough to justify a designed cycle rate, and labor spent walking and searching is a major cost. It suits operations ready to trade a larger up-front investment for density, accuracy, and reduced labor dependence, and is often phased in alongside existing manual areas. Performance is site-specific — scoped on quote.
What's the difference between unit-load and mini-load AS/RS?
Unit-load AS/RS handles full pallets with large cranes in wide, tall aisles. Mini-load AS/RS handles smaller loads — totes, cases, and trays — with lighter, faster crane or shuttle mechanisms. The choice follows your load: palletized bulk versus small-parts and each-picking.
Evaluate as/rs for your building
Tell us about your building and material flow. We can review system options with integration partners; performance and return depend on your site.