Vertical storage and retrieval systems can be controlled using PC software or hardware controls. A system can be configured for stand-alone, single-user operation or a multiuser network. The operator enters the shelf number using the controls, and the shelf and its contents are delivered automatically. For functional effectiveness, transaction information must be communicated between the operator and the control system. The level of the system's sophistication will help determine how the information will be displayed to the operator. For example, in a strictly manual system, the operator decides all location transactions and enters the shelf or tray locations via keypad. This activity is followed by manual inventory adjustments. In a fully automated environment, all information requests—from location selection, container type, inventory adjustment, activity analysis, and data—transfers between the vertical system's software and the facility's host system, such as a shop's MRP system. This can be accomplished transparently, with no operator intervention. | 