It wasn’t long ago that the thought of handing over tasks to machines that were previously completed by humans sent shivers down workers’ spines. But today, the benefits gained from automated manufacturing—thanks to tech innovations—show how automation can help to optimize operations.
Robotics, the internet of things (IoT), advances in digital barcodes, warehouse management systems (WMS), and so much more have made it not merely feasible to increase automation, but a must.
While we could spend all day listing the benefits of automation in warehouse and DC settings, we’ve narrowed them down to a list of 10:
Automation allows for more dangerous tasks to be handled by machinery. Robotics don’t worry about lifting or squeezing into tight spots. With high-risk duties performed by steel and wiring instead of flesh and blood, workers are protected.
But automation to improve safety isn’t solely about machines doing dangerous work. Collaboration with automated guided vehicles, for example, is safer than working around fork trucks driven by human operators. Why? Lights, sensors, alarms, and navigation capabilities make AGVs more predictable and safer compared to that human forklift driver. And that’s just a start. The possibilities for added safety are nearly endless.
The days of a worker walking to a pallet and marking off a package with a clipboard are on their way out. Modern technology and automated processes are taking the reins.
Warehouses and distribution centers now turn to radio frequency identification, or RAIN RFID. This technology—which wirelessly sends information from tagged assets using radio frequencies—allows data capture from as far as dozens of metres away. RFID technology vastly reduces the costly waste of resources that can occur with picking or packing errors.
Automated equipment is engineered and programmed to such precision that they don’t drop or mishandle items nearly as often as human workers do. And AGVs and AMRs are less likely to collide with pallets or shelves—keeping products safer from damage.
The reach of automation to reduce costs extends across an entire operation. Wasting human workers’ time on non-value added tasks, unnecessary healthcare costs due to injuries or repetitive stress, even high recruiting, hiring, and onboarding costs can be reduced with increased use of automation technologies.
With AGVs and AMRs doing the heavy lifting, there’s a lower chance of employee downtime due to injury. Manual processes won’t need to stop every so often to recheck or reconfigure settings. And since RFID technology is making for fewer mis-ships, your business doesn’t have to waste time scrambling to find, recover, and correct shipping errors.
Try as we might, most of us will never be as fast as a machine or a computer.
Scanning, sorting, arranging, tagging—those tedious tasks can all be performed much quicker through automation. Round-the-clock operation is also possible, and all together, that means better quality and productivity at a faster pace, and higher overall output at lower costs.
A modern, efficient, safe, and forward-thinking business will attract top talent. Whether it’s at the executive level or hourly workers, highly skilled people will want to work for a company that’s demonstrated practices that have made for an overall better environment while working with the latest technology.
Automated data capture paired with IoT capabilities means you and the rest of the management team will have access to a richer store of data, constantly captured, collected, and analyzed. Depending on the data you need, you can implement and program solutions to translate all that data into easy-to-digest, targeted insights for users.
How many units are you moving per day? Are all assets properly organized? How much money did you save after implementing RFID technology?
Automation enables you to get more data—and better insights—that translate into real continuous improvements.
What’s your plan for a sudden or unpredictable spike in demand? If you don’t have enough workers on the job, how will you adjust? What happens if market demand nosedives and you have too many workers?
You don’t need to add, replace, or dismiss automation tools. Automated systems give you added flexibility to scale up or down with ease.
Many of the points we’ve mentioned here lead to one overarching point: resilience. With automation keeping your operations more productive, your technology more advanced, and your entire organization more efficient, you’ll be much more resilient to the shifts and sways that happen naturally—you’ll be future-proof.
These benefits are key in positioning yourself to be a leader in storage and distribution. That’s why we encourage embracing automation in its many forms to set yourself up for success now and in the future.
We briefly mentioned autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), but if you wanted to take a closer look at how they can optimize your space, reduce management burdens, and more, we’ve created a useful infographic you can keep. Download your copy of How Autonomous Mobile Robots Improve Warehouse & Distribution Center Operations.
