Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.41
April 27, 2021
…issue,” said Aaron Prather, a senior technical advisor at FedEx Express. “However, when it comes to mobile robotics, interoperability is already becoming an issue.” With the increases in demand and specialization of robotics, companies must find ways to improve communication and coordination, said Meili Robots. ABI Research predicts that mobile robot sales will grow faster than for other categories. Technology trends The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is among the developments that could aid businesses with robot adoption and management, the report said. With cheaper sensors, universal connectivity and 5G networking, and the application of artificial intelligence, robotics users could…
Found in Robotics White Papers & Archives, with a score of 13.20
April 16, 2021
…is in the fight right now. Companies like UPS, FedEx and DHL hired more than 200,000 workers in North America in 2020, and that trend will likely continue in 2021. These and other high-profile hiring announcements come right at a time when constrained labor availability, concerns over COVID-19 exposure, and social distancing requirements are impacting fulfillment operations nationwide. To further exacerbate this dilemma, customer expectations around delivery time have drastically increased over the last few years. With Amazon as the number-one online retailer offering free one-day shipping–and, most recently, two-hour shipping–consumers expect their packages to arrive immediately and free of…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.91
March 24, 2021
…senior technical advisor and research and development evangelist at FedEx Express. Prather is a longtime proponent of practical automation, and he discussed the difference between provider expectations and industry needs. “There are a lot of sensational things out there, such as a shelf-climbing robot, which people have sent me so many times [on social media],” he told Robotics 24/7. “It seems like a lot of tech to pick one box, when a guy on a scissor lift could pull multiple orders much faster.” “I don't see how OSHA would sign off on this, since it isn't operating where no human…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.18
February 19, 2021
…As early as October 2020, the Big Three - FedEx, UPS, and USPS - announced that their networks were at capacity, a problem that only grew as the peak season wore on. While the overall North American freight market is pretty efficient in terms of aggregate supply and demand, the niche last-mile sector is increasingly unbalanced. Regional and Local Carriers Securing capacity with regional parcel carriers is the first step to filling the gap left by the Big Three. You run a region-specific sourcing event to unlock this capacity or partner with a regional 3PL. In either case, you’ll want…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.59
February 08, 2021
…international cross shipping. With its recently launched SenseAware ID, FedEx is offering the latest sensor-based proprietary technology. The company says it provides enhanced package visibility for shipments using a compact sensor that transmits its location every two seconds. FedEx intends to deploy this innovation as a critical safe feature to the anticipated vaccine distribution efforts. “We believe the most critical attributes needed to tackle the size and scale of this monumental supply chain initiative are visibility, extensive temperature control, and intervention capabilities,” said Brie Carere, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer at FedEx. Cool boxes Among the winners…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 6.56
January 29, 2021
…customers several prominent e-commerce and logistics providers, including UPS, FedEx Ground and Amazon. “We are thrilled to have Material Handling Systems join us in South Central Kentucky. Their operations will bring diversity to our manufacturing sector as a leading provider of material handling systems that support a portion of the world’s e-commerce infrastructure,” said Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Ron Bunch. “We look forward to working with them for years to come.” This week’s announcement comes just two weeks after MHS announced plans earlier this month to acquire Michigan-based TGW U.S. Conveyors, formerly Ermanco, Inc., a…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.90
January 14, 2021
…episode of The Rebound, Dale Chrystie, blockchain strategist with FedEx, discusses the development of blockchain, and why this technology has the potential to transform supply chains. ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi and SCMR Editorial Director Bob Trebilcock are hosts. There are a lot of exciting new technologies in the supply chain management toolbox, everything from robotics to robotic process automation. The challenge for supply chain professionals in this new landscape is to identify which technology can transform a process and deliver real value for their organization. Blockchain is one of the technologies that practioners are still trying to make sense of.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.07
November 23, 2020
…6 River Systems, recalls Dieringer. He joined NFI from FedEx about the time the software integration was finishing up and operationalization of the robots was about to begin. As an example, the scanner that came with the robots wasn’t designed to scan very small bar codes, which led to an adjustment. Dieringer worked with the robot solution provider on how to release orders to the floor that optimized travel and utilization of the robots. “I wanted to be sure we were releasing the work in a way that the robots were moving 100% of the time when they were working,”…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.18
November 16, 2020
…From a distribution standpoint, the company worked closely with FedEx to develop services that could compete with Amazon. A first step was putting in place processes so orders could be picked and shipped the same day they were ordered; that was followed by weekend pickups and then seven-day-a-week deliveries. Instead of positioning inventory in multiple facilities around the country, “one central U.S. distribution center is viable for us.” The subscription model creates more predictable demand and reduces the number of rush orders. Over time, the company outgrew four facilities before the new DC went live in March 2020. The immediate…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.19
September 11, 2020
…From a distribution standpoint, the company worked closely with FedEx to develop services that could compete with Amazon. A first step was putting in place processes so orders could be picked and shipped the same day they were ordered; that was followed by weekend pickups and then seven-day-a-week deliveries. Instead of positioning inventory in multiple facilities around the country, “one central U.S. distribution center is viable for us.” The subscription model creates more predictable demand and reduces the number of rush orders. Over time, the company outgrew four facilities before the new DC went live in March 2020. The immediate…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.48
August 31, 2020
…operators and small airlines. Wing, with partners Walgreens and FedEx Corp., has been conducting limited drone deliveries under a similar FAA approval in Virginia since last year. UPS flies medical supplies within a hospital campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. Other smaller companies and startups are also seeking expanded FAA approvals. Amazon will begin its own delivery tests, it said, declining to say where and when they would occur. It operates several test sites in the U.S. Northwest and in the nearby Vancouver area. It previously performed experimental deliveries in the U.K. FAA Certification To receive FAA certification, the company had…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.09
June 26, 2020
…Amazon would be a blow to large shippers like FedEx and UPS. Amazon has become a huge shipper, and electric robotic delivery vehicles would be highly cost-effective and efficient. While Amazon has pushed the world into pretending everything has free shipping, the reality, of course, is that the cost of shipping does matter. Amazon’s competitors would face an even harder battle fighting off the giant. Related Article: 5 Impacts of Autonomous Freight Trucking on Supply Chains Related Papers TuSimple’s Self-Driving Safety Report This Voluntary Safety Self-Assessment describes TuSimple's safety processes and features as well as the progress they’ve made implementing…
