by Emily Newton
Today’s warehouses are perpetually busy places. However, even with so many things happening simultaneously, these facilities usually run smoothly and efficiently — thanks to emerging technology. How can people make the best decisions when assessing how and when to use those technologies?
Set a Goal and Run a Trial
Many technologies seem extremely promising but don’t necessarily provide the expected payoffs in real-world situations. Anyone considering using emerging tech for their warehouses should determine what they hope to accomplish. Merely being persuaded by the marketing buzz associated with many innovations is insufficient. Instead, people must also create clear plans for what they want to achieve with technology and verify that no other possibilities would get the same or better results.
Once decision-makers agree on a reachable but challenging goal, they should proceed with a trial. It should be small enough to remain manageable but large enough to indicate if the company would get a strong return on investment by scaling up tech integration.
Wearables Reduce Manual-Handling Dangers
In one example, warehouse leaders believed wearable devices could capitalize on earlier efforts to reduce strain and injury caused by manual handling tasks. Executives had made changes such as raising workstation heights and installing overhead devices to relieve tool-weight burdens.
However, they wanted to go further and focus on reducing warehouse workers’ spine-related hazards. Decision-makers chose a keyfob-sized wearable that attached to the back of users’ shirts. They then worked with a third-party vendor to plan a pilot program.
The device beeped or vibrated when workers made hazardous movements. That feedback continued until they made adjustments to prevent themselves from getting hurt. The real-time alerts also helped employees create new, better habits to gradually learn to move correctly and become less reliant on the wearable.
It didn’t take long for leaders to see positive results once the trial began. After only three weeks of using the wearable, 62% of workers at one of the company’s warehouses decreased their hourly hazard rate by at least 50%. Additionally, the team achieved a 39% reduction in their manual handling risk.
The trial data also indicated how warehouse leaders could improve processes. One worker found the wearable alerted him during every floor-level task. He remedied the issue by slightly increasing the height of the products associated with his job. Once executives learned about the matter, they purchased an adjustable-height mobile lift truck and used it as an elevated work platform. That led to an ergonomic improvement, resulting in less spine stress.
Executives deemed the trial a success, and the workers embraced the technology, too. Due to that outcome, leaders began planning to introduce the wearables to other warehouses.
Target the Most Disruptive Issues
Determining the best ways to bring emerging technologies into a warehouse also requires knowing which problems cause the most severe issues and why. Many leaders understand the importance of regularly checking their mechanical equipment for abnormalities. A worn or misaligned component could make a machine inoperable for days or weeks. However, IoT sensors can warn maintenance personnel of issues before failures happen.
That makes it less likely people will waste time and harm their bottom line by waiting for service appointments to be scheduled or spare parts to arrive after a machine breaks down. Instead, the IoT sensors warn people to respond appropriately and prevent equipment outages.
Automation Investments Support an E-Commerce Surge
In one case, decision-makers from the Chinese logistics company Cainiao recognized the importance of integrating automated solutions to coincide with high-demand periods. China’s Singles’ Day began as a cynical response to couples-centric holidays, and it has become one of the country’s biggest shopping events.
Cainiao executives recognized the importance of consumers getting their e-commerce goods on time and their company’s role in that achievement. Delayed packages could cause attention the company’s clients want to avoid.
Decision-makers responded with targeted automation investments, including an artificial intelligence-powered, cloud-based warehouse management system. Such solutions help companies remain competitive and pursue growth.
Cainiao executives also wanted to expand the company’s delivery network and doorstep services, and they brought many real-time solutions to operations in and outside their warehouses to support that goal. Employees can look at current, relevant data feeds to identify and address bottlenecks. Additionally, the company’s automated guided vehicles reduce the distances workers must travel, helping them spend their time more productively.
These investments paid off by enabling Cainiao to deliver more than 200 million parcels to customers in mainland China for Singles’ Day. Besides resulting in happy clients around the country, this result emphasizes that the logistics company can adapt to meet challenges.
Emphasize Safety and Get Employees’ Support
Even as leaders get excited about how emerging technologies could boost their warehouse workflows, they must prioritize safe and effective solutions. That approach is an excellent way to earn workers’ trust. People often resist doing things differently, especially if they worry the new processes might introduce additional risks. However, once they see leaders have selected safe technologies, they’ll be more likely to embrace what’s new and see how it could help them.
A Wireless System Makes Mobile Robots Safer
One client used automated mobile robots (AMRs) in a warehouse, several of which operated in a gated zone. They wanted a solution that would automatically stop all the AMRs once an employee entered that area.
The best option proposed was to equip each AMR with a wireless electronic braking system that would signal each robot to stop whenever a worker opened the door in that part of the warehouse. Built-in safety features ensured all AMRs maintained contact with the master controller that sent the braking signals.
Deploying this technology improved warehouse workflows by increasing workers’ peace of mind and making it safer to share the area with the robots, including when performing maintenance tasks.
Adopting a safety-centered mindset shows workers that their leaders care about safety and want to integrate technology thoughtfully and responsibly. Such circumstances can make employees more receptive to new equipment and processes, helping them anticipate a bright future.
Ready to Use Warehouse Technologies?
These tips and case studies will help managers discover the best ways to use emerging technologies in their warehouses, immediately or within the next several months and years. It’s also wise to stay informed about other possibilities not covered here, including those not widely used. That way, people can stay maximally informed about what could improve their facilities and support employees the most.
