by Brian Reaves, on Aug 9, 2024 9:49:18 AM
For companies that want to increase capacity, avoid labor challenges and boost throughput, automation offers an abundance of solutions. Some vendors will try to sell you all of them!
By comparison, a trustworthy partner will take the time to learn about your operation and identify areas for optimization before recommending automated solutions.
The top three reasons automation projects are unsuccessful are:
- A poor understanding of automation technology by leadership
- Misalignment of beliefs and principles within the organization
- Lack of cohesive vision
(source: McKinsey)
An experienced warehouse automation partner will help you avoid all three problems above. Our process starts with a free site audit. We’ll get to know how people, material and equipment move throughout your operation. Along the way we’ll:
- Answer stakeholder questions
- Set realistic expectations about what automation can (and can’t) do
- Develop a technology roadmap
How to Avoid Common Warehouse Automation Pitfalls
Automation is only as good as the process it replaces. For example, if high-volume products are scattered across your facility, automated mobile robots (AMRs) can reduce labor costs, but they won’t significantly alter how much time it takes to pull orders. Reorganizing your inventory will make a bigger impact, but some vendors will fail to mention this option in their eagerness to sell you new technology.
Asses Before You Invest
A good business partner will help you identify all the opportunities you have to boost efficiency. SST follows the Toyota Lean Management (TLM) system, which is also used by Amazon, McDonald’s, Virginia Mason Medical Center and dozens of leading manufacturers.
The “best” solution is the one that replaces an inefficient process or tames an unpredictable cost center. For example, if error rates, returns and chargebacks are a problem, a put wall is a simple, effective solution.
Always running out of room in your receiving area? A conveyor system or ASRS might be what you need.
Implement Gradually
Beware of automation vendors that want you to "rip and replace." We recommend automating one process at a time because improving efficiency in one area can have trickle-down benefits.
Let’s say you get an automated guided cart (AGC) to haul heavy items from one part of your facility to another. Team members who previously lugged pallet jacks around all day now have time to help unload trucks. This alleviates the traffic jam at your loading dock and takes the pressure off hiring additional workers.
Choose an Experienced Partner
The automated guided vehicle shown in the video above uses LIDAR technology, which requires a well-lit facility. An experienced partner will advise you if lighting adjustments are needed and provide ongoing support. The wrong partner will simply sell you the new technology and leave you to figure the rest out on your own.
We’ve helped dozens of companies throughout Georgia and Florida with warehouse automation projects. Our goal is to find solutions that will integrate with your existing technology, deliver rapid ROI and remain useful to you for many years.
The Warehouse Automation Landscape in 2024
There's a lot of hype around warehouse automation. But what are companies actually investing in?
A survey conducted in November 2023 found companies large and small* use some form of automation. The majority of respondents said they use automation in order fulfillment.
The most common automated processes are:
- Conveyance
- Labeling
- Reporting
About one in ten use automation for packaging, storage and retrieval or replenishment.
The survey included 155 professionals involved in material handling and fulfillment. Respondents represented a variety of industries and applications, including warehouse and distribution centers (44%), manufacturing (20%), food, beverage, and tobacco (12%), and industrial machinery (12%).
* 24% of respondents had annual revenues of less than $10 million and 17% had revenues between $10 and $49.9 million.
Request a Free Warehouse Automation Consultation
Adding automation is easy when you choose the right partner. In our view, automation is a people first solution, and that starts with you.
If you’d like to work with an automation partner that will:
- Listen to your ideas and concerns
- Learn about your operation
- Offer Tailored Solutions that deliver rapid ROI
- Support you every step of the way
Contact us for a free consultation. Our goal is to help your business be more successful, not sell you something you don’t need. We offer flexible payment terms for cyclical or seasonal businesses and subscription-based options when available.
Contact us online, by phone at (800) 226-2345 or in person at one of our ten locations throughout Georgia and Florida.
Florida
Jacksonville
Lakeland
Ocala
Orlando
Tampa
Winter Haven
Georgia
Albany
Macon
Columbus
Valdosta
Related Reading
- Before You Invest In Warehouse Automation, Request a Technology Roadmap
- 10 Myths About Warehouse Robots Debunked
- How Much Does an ASRS Cost?
- 4 Ways Automation Will Benefit Your Warehouse
