Forklift Dispatch Application
Overview
The forklift dispatch application is a tool that will improve productivity and safety at the Danfoss Ames facility. Under the current dispatch system, when a cell needs assistance, an employee must flag down an available forklift as it drives by. Often, forklifts are already fulfilling requests for other areas, which creates bottlenecks at cells awaiting materials.
A previous solution was to issue forklift drivers cell phones, but the drivers had difficulty hearing the phones, and were required to stop before answering. The proposed solution is to create a web-based application that allows cell users to create requests for forklift drivers to see, acknowledge, and complete.
This will reduce downtime at cells waiting for forklifts. With a mobile device platform, such as an iPad, forklift drivers will be able to acknowledge requests when they are available and safely stopped, without interrupting their current task.