Unlock Sensor Technology for Improved Operations
Article from MHI Solutions Magazine
As supply chains have become more complex and handle greater volumes of goods at a faster pace, sensor technology has emerged as one way to improve efficiency, optimize employee skills, address labor challenges and meet customer expectations.
“Over the past 15 years, it has been startling to see how demand on warehouses and distribution centers have outpaced the ability of people in the facilities to meet the demand,” said Garrett Place, robotics product marketing manager at MHI member ifm efector, inc. “Customers used to be happy to receive an item a few days after ordering, but now the expectation is much quicker. We want the time between the placement of the order to sitting on the dock for shipment to be no more than one hour,” he said. Even if a company wants to add staff, it is difficult to recruit distribution and service associates, he added. “The push to automate more tasks using autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that rely on sensor technology is one way distribution centers and logistics companies can extend the capabilities of their current staff.”
Sensor technology and the data that it collects have evolved from “nice to have” to “required to optimize facility operations,” said John Rosenberger, director of iWAREHOUSE GATEWAY and Global Telematics at MHI member Raymond Corp. “All areas of the supply chain are moving faster now, and even the most experienced managers need the support of technology to know what is happening, and why, throughout the facility,” he said. “The size of warehouses, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers also add to the challenge…
