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In the not-too-distant past, most companies that weren’t running immense distribution operations, who didn’t have multiple facilities, who didn’t run 24-hour shifts, didn’t even consider automation. Too expensive, they’d say. Too much risk. Too little upside if things go wrong.\u00a0 All valid in context, if it was 1998. But the reality is this: While most costs\u2014personnel, land, energy\u2014 have increased, automation costs have remained steady or declined across the board. The reality today is that the four guys stacking pallets at the end of a line, even for a single shift, even at low wages, are more <\/strong>expensive than a well configured palletizing<\/a> system.<\/p>\n Those costs aren’t going to do anything but escalate, either. Listed are ten ways automation has become more relevant, even to mid-size operations:<\/p>\n Automation, whether robotics<\/a>, automated picking, packing, sortation, ASRS<\/a>, industrial carousels<\/a>, WMS implementations, or other applications that can reduce direct and overhead costs for just about everything you do. This eliminates many of the costs associated with manual processes, not only in terms of wages, but also training, HR costs, and administration.<\/p>\n Robots and other automated systems can produce consistently high-quality output. These Points of Automation provide inherent accuracy and repeatability for precise, exacting work done the same way each and every time.<\/p>\n Automation makes things better for the people working in an operation by executing the repetitive, physical, most dangerous tasks. The worst steps in the process – dusty, hot, tedious tasks – can be handled by automated machinery. Automation is an ergonomic breakthrough.<\/p>\n Automation can run as many shifts as you want – overnight, overtime, anytime. The conveyor systems<\/a> roll and the picking systems pick. It doesn\u2019t lose focus as it tires. It doesn\u2019t take breaks. It\u2019s faster in every way.<\/p>\n One knock on automation is that it\u2019s inflexible. That may have been true once, but not today. Once your systems are programmed, you can easily switch tasks and maximize your spend while using the equipment for a variety of operations.<\/p>\nHow have things changed ? And what can you take advantage of?<\/h3>\n
Reduced Operational Costs<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Improve product quality and consistency<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Improve the work experience for your people<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Increase production rates<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Increase product manufacturing flexibility<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Waste less and increase your yield<\/strong><\/h4>\n