Small load storage and retrieval equipment

Operator-to-stock storage equipment

Bin-shelving is for tiny parts. They should just be dumped into the bins; if they look organized then they might have been handled individually, which is to be avoided.
Modular drawers in cabinets increase space utilization because there is no need to provide pick-clearance (space above the item so that it can be withdrawn from storage). Instead, pick-clearance is created by pulling out the drawer.
Shelving, or static-shelving, is a standard means of storing items of medium or low demand. Because both picking and restocking must use the same front of the rack, you must schedule these activities to avoid interference.
Carton flow rack is appropriate for popular items. It is deep so that you can fit a lot of each product and still occupy only a small part of the pick-face. (This increases the sku-density of the pick-face and therefore the pick-density of the rack, while holding down restocks.) Flow rack also spatially separates picking and restocking.
Mobile storage achieves very high utilization of space at a cost of accessibility. Here is a nice animation.
Mezzanine storage allows use of vertical space to store small parts.

Small parts are generally picked by hand, which continues to be more adaptable and efficient than anything automated.

Carousels enable a worker to, in effect, walk down several aisles at once. However, since each carousel has a single point of access, you cannot increase throughput by assigning more workers, as is possible with simple rack. Also, as requests increase, the worker must also spend increased amount of time restocking the carousel.
- Horizontal carousels
- Vertical carousels allow the use of vertical space and also can limit access to small, valuable product. However, it is important to keep the weight of product evenly distributed.
Mini-load automated storage and retrieval machine
Automatic dispenser