What Distribution Centres Should Consider Before Introducing Drone Inspections

Distribution centres consist of large areas, such as large warehouses, lots of storage space, loading areas and transport equipment. Inspections can take a long amount of time to complete. However, implementing drone inspections can allow businesses to gain visual data, create visuals of the distribution centre and gain valuable information on any maintenance issues that could arise. Prior to implementing drone inspections, businesses will need to consider the demands of their operations, staff, safety and equipment.

Inspection Requirements

Prior to implementing drone inspections, distribution centre management should decide what areas and assets would be best suited to be inspected. This could include large roofing areas, external walls, parking spaces, loading docks, and external storage areas. Knowing what is needed can help businesses understand if drones will give them useful information, as well as ensuring you aren’t spending money on equipment that isn’t clearly going to be used.

It may also be useful to understand how often inspections need to occur, and what they’re intended for. Some distribution centres may require frequent external inspections to identify any damage to the structure, drainage issues, or damage caused by extreme weather. Whereas others may want occasional drone inspections to create visuals of storage yards and transport areas. Having a schedule in place can help ensure the drone inspections are coordinated and won’t disrupt normal distribution centre operations. It will also help to know what kind of equipment, staff and budget will be needed.

Facility Safety

Distribution centres will have moving parts, including forklifts, deliveries, loading equipment and people. Therefore, before implementing drone inspections there should be processes in place to ensure there aren’t any clashes. You’ll need to put measures in place to ensure staff know where to fly the drones, when they should be flown and what areas to keep out of. Drone inspections may need to take place during quieter times to ensure there aren't any distractions.

You’ll need to look at any airspace restrictions and regulations. In Canada businesses should know what the requirements are for using remote piloted aircraft systems, set out by Transport Canada. This includes knowing what licence, registration and limitations are in place for pilots. Some distribution centres may be close to controlled airspace. Having clear processes prior to purchasing will ensure there’s no disruption during operations.

Equipment Selection

Depending on the size of your distribution centre and the information you wish to gain, you’ll need to choose the correct drone. If you just need images of the external area then a drone with a high quality camera and good image stabilisation may be best. If you’re performing more detailed inspections then you may need thermal imaging and sensors to detect certain issues. Rather than looking at price, you should consider what specification you need.

The battery life, flight time, collision detection and durability of the drone should be considered. Large distribution centres may need several flights so it’s important to have good battery life. The drone should also be suitable for the conditions it will be used in. Consider what the manufacturer recommends for maintenance, if spare parts are available and what warranty is offered.

Employee Training

Staff undertaking drone inspections should have the correct knowledge and skills. They should know how to control the drone, check equipment prior to flying, use the camera, what to do in an emergency and how to land safely. They should also know how to identify any risks in the environment. Assigning trained staff will ensure you’re getting consistent inspections and reducing the risk of causing unnecessary damage to equipment.

Consider if you have staff available to carry out the drone inspections or if you require specialist assistance. If you’re considering professional drone services Canada then you should compare providers based on their experience, qualifications, equipment and if they can meet your specific needs. If you only need occasional aerial inspections then it may be best to outsource. However, if frequent inspections are required then it may be more practical to have dedicated drone operators.

Data Management

Drone video services can provide a large amount of data. This can include plenty of images, videos and mapping. You’ll need a reliable system in place to ensure you can easily find the right information. Using consistent names, places to store and documentation will make it easier to compare information. You should also consider who will have access to the data.

When using aerial cameras you may capture images of staff, vehicles, neighbouring properties or confidential information. You should have rules in place for how much information is captured, how it is shared and who has access. If using an external provider then you should be clear on how the footage will be passed onto you, stored and kept secure.

Operational Integration

Drone inspections should be incorporated into your current maintenance processes. You’ll need to decide how the information will be passed onto maintenance staff and prioritised. For example, if there are issues shown in the aerial images such as roof damage or blocked drainage then this should be linked to your maintenance reporting processes. This means staff can look into any issues and organise repairs.

You should consider how drone inspections fit into your daily operations. If the drone is being flown near loading areas, vehicles or staff entrances you may need to work with your supervisors. Some distribution centres may prefer to carry out inspections outside of busy times. Having clear communication between drone operators, warehouse managers and maintenance will ensure they’re helping with your operations.

Conclusion

Implementing drone inspections involves more than just purchasing the right equipment. Distribution centres will need to consider your inspection needs, safety, staff training, regulations and data processes. By carefully planning you’ll be able to decide if using your own operations is the best value or if an external provider is best. Incorporating drones into your current maintenance processes can provide useful visual data, improve documentation and help distribution centre managers efficiently monitor large properties.