warehousing & logistics
automation for all
Lights-out Ocado warehouses staffed by robots may appear a world away from the 20 person manufacturing company or family-run logistics operation, but that is no longer the case. Automation - including the use of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) - can play an important role in businesses of any size and it does not have to come with a ridiculous price tag or disruption. Adding just one or two robots to the business can reduce the amount of time operatives spend walking around the warehouse, or allow individuals to concentrate on added value activities such as quality checking. It can add contingency, helping a business manage the current staffing shortfalls. Plus with the ability to rent robots - including by the hour - companies have access to an affordable resource on demand. As Dr Paul Rivers, CEO of Guidance Automation explains, automation is no longer just for the big boys - any manufacturing or logistics company can now seamlessly create a hybrid workforce that truly is fit for the future.
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creating a hybrid workforce fit for the future
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very manufacturing and logistics company is facing the same pressures, irrespective of size or longevity. Spiralling costs, supply chain disruption and a diminishing workforce are creating
unprecedented challenges. For the larger businesses, the drive to automation is well established: in 2018, the global logistics automation market was valued at £30.16 billion and is expected to reach over £93.11 billion by 2027. And it is the demand for industrial robots that is driving much of that growth. Too many smaller organisations, however,
still believe that automation is simply an investment too far, especially when faced with so many escalating operational costs. On top of steeply increasing fuel and raw material costs, warehouses in Britain are paying up to 30 per cent more to recruit staff, according to the UK Warehousing Association. As a result, few small businesses have the confidence to make a big capital investment, even if demand is increasing. But automation does not have to be expensive - and it does not even need to be a capital investment. While a full, end-to-end automation project
will demand time and commitment, one or two robots can be added to any warehouse or manufacturing business without the need for any disruption or even any custom IT integration. In one small scale trial, a warehouse opted to download orders onto a memory stick to provide the robot with a list of activities for the day. The robot works alongside existing employees, showing the business - and the workforce - just how easy and intuitive the automation process can be.
Summer 2022 UKManufacturing Accessible Robots
Obviously, automation comes in many shapes and sizes. Within a warehouse operation, organisations can explore different techniques to improve picking performance and accuracy - such as pick to light and voice-activated systems. Within manufacturing, conveyors and scanners can help to improve inventory management and improve productivity. So where do AMRs fit in? Essentially, an AMR is a vehicle that uses onboard sensors and processors to
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