Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.53
April 12, 2018
…system that manages a warehouse from the perspective of inventory and people activity, to one that can also manage activity in tight concert with automated systems. The march of ecommerce, labor shortage issues, and the addition of more automation makes an “automation aware” WMS approach a natural direction, said Elliott. “You can’t live now without automation in many warehouses. “You can’t just rely only on systems for managing people.” Automation-aware WMS will keep close tabs on machine and labor capacity issues, Elliott said, and provide visibility into automated machinery, such as whether goods are accumulating on a conveyor or a…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.69
April 11, 2018
…do not need to know the storage location for inventory required for each order; rather, they can focus on picking and packing orders as quickly as possible from the inventory brought to them by a robotic solution. Implementing robotic lift trucks does not take away high-value-added jobs from human workers. In fact, U.S. warehouses had 600,000 unfilled jobs as of May 2017. Using automated solutions like robotic lift trucks can help managers address the labor shortage and free employees to advance to more engaging, meaningful positions – helping curb turnover. Lower long-term costs and investment When automating processes and calculating…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.45
March 05, 2018
…hubs,” he said. “We have robots working side-by-side with our people, smart glasses helping with accuracy and drones doing inventory management. All designed to grow with our customers’ needs. The foundation of our technology strategy is agile product development. Our entire platform is on the cloud. We can make updates in real-time, so our apps and other programs are constantly being enhanced at a rapid pace.”
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.98
March 01, 2018
…using antiquated processes like pen-and-paper and spreadsheets to manage inventory and track product movement within the four walls of the warehouse. “The majority of companies out there are still using basic 101 warehousing at this point,” says Norm Saenz, managing director at supply chain consultancy St. Onge Co. “Even the larger shippers are trying to get better in areas like automation, robotics, virtual reality, voice and radio frequency identification, in an effort to get to the ‘next level’ with their warehousing.” The good news is that software and equipment vendors aren’t resting on their laurels, nor are they standing by…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.31
March 01, 2018
…managing waves, or managing some of the movement of inventory and people.” Also down were a few indications on spending on mobile computing solutions. In this section of the survey, 54% are using or have plans for mobile technologies, which is down from 62% in 2017, though close to the 57% for this question in 2016 and 2015. However, when asked earlier in the survey about bar coding and automated data capture, 48% have plans for these functions in 2018, up by 3% from 2017. Under the mobile computing section, respondents indicate growing interest in some of the newer technologies.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.37
February 06, 2018
…Autonomous drones are also being evaluated for use in inventory warehouses and external deployment as last-mile and direct-to-consumer delivery solutions. And that's just one of many recent technological developments. This up-close and personal consumer interaction with autonomous machines is a relatively new phenomenon and still needs to mature. As technological breakthroughs continue at an extraordinary rate, it becomes less clear where the next material handling innovation will come from. Self-driving vehicles? Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Alternate/Virtual Reality? Only time will tell. Download: The Robotics Solutions Brochure Related Articles: Smart palletizing drives more efficient supply chains More palletizing flexibility - hold the…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.42
February 01, 2018
…scenes, these systems require an accurate, real-time view of inventory across the company’s warehouse and store network, together with fast picking and packing operations ready for that on-demand last-mile delivery. According to Knut Alicke, a partner in McKinsey’s Stuttgart office, supply chain technology development has entered “a most exciting” phase. “Available and emerging solutions have the potential to transform the speed, flexibility, and efficiency of organization’s existing processes, and to enable entirely new business models and service offerings,” says Alicke. “For global shippers, the challenges lie in understanding which solutions will work for them, and in implementing those solutions faster…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.29
January 25, 2018
…rise of e-commerce and multi-channel fulfillment has caused distribution centers to experience ever-growing numbers of stock-keeping units and more inventory turns, up to an average of nine in 2015. Download Now!
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.76
November 14, 2017
…the agreement, Bell and Howell will manage Seegrid’s field inventory and provide services on products installed at customer sites in the U.S. and Canada. Bell and Howell will also provide technical training on Seegrid’s products at Bell and Howell’s headquarters in Durham, N.C. “Bell and Howell will support Seegrid’s promise to deliver flexibility and reliability to its customers by leveraging both the latest technology and our extensive expertise and service capabilities,” said Ramesh Ratan, Ph.D., Bell and Howell’s CEO. “Major brands in multiple industries are using Seegrid’s proven and unique platform for efficient and connected material movement. By teaming up…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.89
October 30, 2017
…new world of labeling that links all parts of the supply chain, both internally and externally. Download Now! Move Inventory Faster. It Starts with the Label This special report details how enterprise labeling significantly improves your supplier transactions, and by using a simple formula, you can calculate potential savings when you eliminate the relabeling process and reduce costly inventory. Download Now! More Resources from Loftware
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.90
October 11, 2017
…on the East Coast, with the majority of their inventory there,” Tompkins says. “In our West Coast facility—don’t think of it as warehouse, but more as a forward pick location—we will only have the inventory we need, replenished weekly from the main facility. This way, their investment in the Atlanta facility doesn’t have to be thrown away.” Tompkins partnered with JDA to build out the IT resources to connect alliance partners and developed a robotic, track-less variation of a tilt-tray sorter capable of handling unit and parcel sortation on the same system. As of the holiday season of 2018, the…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.86
October 11, 2017
…their own stand-alone e-commerce business with the geographic and inventory positioning capability to meet same-day/next-day delivery expectations, they’re asking 3PLs to help,” Lieb adds, noting it’s become the fastest growing part of the 3PL business in the last five years. “Last year, of the 3PLs I surveyed, almost 14% of their revenue consisted of e-commerce. The year before it was 18%.” “If a 3PL specializes in doing a certain service well, they can better scale their operations and offerings to price themselves to be profitable” Brian Gibson, Professor of Supply Chain Management, Auburn University Brian Gibson, professor of supply chain…
