When converting a manual container terminal to automation, the first thing that comes to mind is installing automated equipment and building the infrastructure needed to run it.
However, to ensure the terminal is running optimally, the services and maintenance of an automated terminal also needs proper attention. This focus must begin in the planning phase, continue through the deployment and start-up periods, and extend into maintenance planning and optimisation over the lifetime of the terminal. Manual container handling equipment will work even if the machines are not in perfect condition, because human operators can work around the deficiencies of each piece of equipment or deal with exceptions in operational processes.
By contrast, automated equipment always needs to operate faultlessly to ensure it does not become a constraint on the performance of the terminal. In a manual terminal, replacing or repairing an individual component or machine typically has a minor impact on the performance of the terminal as a whole. In an automated terminal, the situation is very different…
